Transformation Programme Director - Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC)

UK Research and Innovation · Swindon, England

Transformation Programme Director - Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) at UK Research and Innovation, based in Swindon, England, paying £94,931 per annum. This is a permanent role.

Salary
£94,931 per annum
Location
Swindon, England
Contract
Permanent
Posted
19 hours ago
Closes
24 Aug 2026
Sector
Local Government

About 114% above the going rate for local government

Reference e83e220da90fe9ffaa5ba858534e27bd61132864

About the role

Job summary

This is a rare opportunity to lead one of the most significant organisational transformation programmes within UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). As the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) Transformation Director, you will provide strategic leadership for STFC's transformation, shaping the future operating model of an organisation of approximately 3,000 people and ensuring it remains financially sustainable, operationally effective and fit for the future.

Working at executive level, you will lead a complex portfolio of change spanning people, culture, governance, processes and organisational design. You will build alignment across senior leaders and stakeholders, translating strategic ambition into deliverable outcomes and ensuring transformational benefits are realised at pace.

The role is critical to delivering sustainable financial, operational and cultural change, strengthening STFC's long-term resilience and enabling the continued delivery of world-class science, engineering and technology in support of UKRI and government priorities.

Job description

  • Provide executive leadership for STFC’s Transformation, acting as the senior accountable leader responsible for shaping, mobilising and delivering transformational change which enables STFC’s strategic ambitions, UKRI priorities and government objectives.
  • Translate the strategic vision into an integrated transformation strategy and roadmap, defining the future operating model, required capabilities and sequencing of change across the organisation.
  • Lead the development and implementation of STFC’s future operating model, ensuring alignment across strategy, governance, organisation design, culture, people, processes, technology, data and delivery capability.
  • Establish and lead effective transformation governance as a complex portfolio of programmes, projects and activities. Ensuring alignment with the Government Functional Standards, including clear accountability, proportionate assurance, investment governance, risk management, dependency management and transparent reporting.
  • Own the business case and benefits framework, ensuring investment decisions are evidence-based, affordable, deliver value for money and realise measurable organisational benefits.
  • Provide executive oversight of major transformation initiatives, ensuring programmes and projects are appropriately designed, resourced, assured and delivered through effective portfolio management disciplines.
  • Create the conditions for sustainable organisational change, embedding new capabilities, behaviours, processes and ways of working.
  • Lead enterprise-wide engagement and communications, building understanding, confidence and commitment among colleagues, leaders, UKRI partners, government stakeholders and external communities.
  • Build maturity and capability across STFC, developing the people, structures, tools and delivery practices required to successfully manage complex change at scale.
  • Provide constructive challenge and strategic advice to Executive Board and governance forums, enabling informed decisions on priorities, investment choices, delivery confidence, risks and organisational readiness.
  • Champion evidence-led continuous improvement, using insight, performance information and lessons learned to strengthen STFC’s effectiveness, resilience and ability to deliver world-leading science and technology.
  • Ensure effective transition and embedding of change, transferring ownership into operational teams and ensuring new capabilities deliver sustained benefits beyond programme closure.
  • Represent STFC within UKRI-wide transformation activity, providing effective, collegiate interacting to ensure STFC’s Transformation actively contributes to and benefits from UKRI’s Shaping Our Future agenda whilst preserving the distinctive capabilities required to deliver national research infrastructure.

Person specification

  • Strategic leadership capability, with the ability to shape transformation, influence senior stakeholders and translate strategic ambition into measurable organisational outcomes.
  • Ability to lead through ambiguity and complexity, exercising sound judgement, balancing competing priorities and making effective decisions at senior leadership level.
  • Exceptional communication and influencing skills, with the ability to build alignment, secure commitment and provide constructive challenge with Executive Boards, government stakeholders, partners and wider communities.
  • Collaborative and inclusive leadership approach, with the ability to build high-performing teams and create the culture required to deliver sustained change.
  • Ability to lead an enterprise transformation portfolio comprising multiple interdependent programmes or projects, with effective governance, assurance, risk management, dependency management and benefits realisation.
  • Strong understanding and application of transformation and project delivery disciplines, including operating model design, organisational change, business improvement and transition into business-as-usual.

For more information about the role please click 'apply' to visit our careers page.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £94,931, UK Research and Innovation contributes £27,501 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

UKRI can offer the successful candidate:

  • flexible Working
  • 30 days annual leave + Public Holidays
  • access to Civil Service Pension Scheme
  • various everyday discounts through our dedicated provider

Visit our dedicated benefits webpage for more info: Benefits of working at UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

To find out more about the role and to submit an application please click 'apply' to visit our careers page.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).

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Reference: e83e220da90fe9ffaa5ba858534e27bd61132864 · Posted 19 hours ago · Closes 24 Aug 2026 · Listed via UK Research and Innovation

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