Horizon Europe Guarantee Programme Manager

UKRISunday 31st May 2026.
About the role
The Horizon Europe Guarantee team manages and coordinates the delivery of the UK Governments Horizon Europe Guarantee on behalf of the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology (DSIT).
A key part of the team’s role is to ensure that the UK Research and Innovation (R&I) sector remains supported via underwrite funding for Horizon Europe calls not covered by the Horizon Europe association deal announced by the UK government on September 7th 2023. This is a live programme with an expansive and diverse portfolio that requires high levels of attention to detail, a proactive nature, and an ability to build collaborative relationships across the organisation.
The team:

• Engages widely to ensure that the Guarantee is understood and trusted by the R&I community, working across UKRI, DSIT, and with partners to deliver proactive communications, including success stories and detailed briefings.
• Coordinates delivery of the Guarantee across UKRI to a high standard, ensuring grant processing times are short and remain so, and that grant holder enquiries are answered in a timely manner.
• Resolves policy questions around the guarantee in agreement with DSIT and in accordance with the overall goals of the Guarantee.
• Supports UKRI and DSIT engagement and planning for ongoing and future engagement in Europe’s R&I Framework Programmes.

Exact portfolios will be allocated based on team requirements and the skills and experience of team members.
Reporting to a Senior Programme Manager, you will support delivery of the Horizon Europe Guarantee. This will include identifying process improvements, policy gaps and areas for policy improvement, undertaking options appraisal and making the case for change; providing timely advice and information to colleagues, across UKRI, and key collaborators; engaging with the UK research community; leading/supporting project sprints; and supporting the wider team to ensure overall effective delivery of the Horizon Europe Guarantee.
You will collaborate within the Guarantee team and across UKRI to deliver flexibly and at pace. The role requires a proactive approach as well as excellent planning, engagement, and communication skills. The role holder will need to build positive relationships and work effectively across UKRI and with external partners, including internationally.
You will be expected to work collaboratively across the International directorate and UKRI to support efforts to boost the UK’s participation in Horizon Europe and planning for the next European Framework Programme (FP10).
Your Responsibilities

• Developing policy and process recommendations for the Horizon Europe Guarantee across the team remit.
• Support the implementation of new policies across UKRI, drafting briefing documents and guidance as required.
• Develop resources and guidance material for areas within your portfolio that 1) help enable the UK research community to understand Horizon Europe and the Guarantee fund, and 2) support UKRI colleagues in their role delivering the Guarantee and European focused activities.
• To work collaboratively with teams across UKRI to understand emerging issues, conduct an option's appraisal, and present recommendations.
• Working with the team to triage and raise any complex queries and issues as required.
• Manage grant change requests and support grant holders with post-award grant management.
• Supporting UKRI engagement with the UK research and innovation community via the team mailbox, and in-person and virtual meetings.
• Supporting activities to ensure awareness of the Horizon Europe Guarantee, internally and externally.
• Developing and maintaining relationships with key collaborators, internally and externally.
• Contribute to ongoing fund management activities (e.g., working with colleagues in the International and UKRI central Evaluation teams).
• Leading/supporting on project sprints as team workload and priorities dictate.
• Contribute to committees and working parties across UKRI, including preparing for and participating in meetings, and proactively identifying opportunities for communicating with colleagues across UKRI.
• Support the wider activities of UKRI International, taking on ad hoc activities as need to deliver the objectives of the wider team.
• Exemplify and promote the values of UKRI International.
• Deputising for Senior Managers as required.

Please note, these are not exhaustive lists and you might be expected to undertake any other duties, commensurate with the Band and level of responsibility of the role, for which you have the necessary experience and/or training.
Personal Specification
The below criteria will be scored during Shortlisting (S), Interview (I) or both (S&I).
Essential

• Educated to degree level or able to demonstrate equivalent experience (S).
• Sound project management and organisational skills, with experience in delivering accurate, high-quality pieces of work at pace and to short deadlines (S&I).
• Ability to investigate and analyse problems systematically and develop reasoned proposals for action (S&I).
• The ability to multi-task, work flexibly and to plan, prioritise and manage delivery of a diverse portfolio of projects and activities with different timescales priorities and delivery mechanisms, working individually and as part of a team (S&I).
• Effective written and oral communication skills, including the ability to tailor information to a wide range of audiences, including senior decision-makers (S&I).
• Ability to influence and persuade others and negotiate diplomatically, with experience of establishing effective working relationships and networks with internal and external stakeholders (S&I).
• Ability to work collaboratively and build effective working relationships and networks with people at all levels, both internally with colleagues across an organisation and externally with key stakeholders (S&I).

Desirable

• Knowledge of Horizon Europe and international research policy (S).
• Knowledge of UKRI funding policy or research and innovation environment (S).

Benefits
We recognise and value our employees as individuals and aim to provide a favourable pay and rewards package. UKRI are committed to supporting employees' development and promote a culture of continuous learning!
A list of benefits below:

• An outstanding defined benefit pension scheme.
• 30 days' annual leave in addition to 10.5 public and privilege days (full time equivalent).
• Employee discounts and offers on retail and leisure activities.
• Employee assistance programme, providing confidential help and advice.
• Flexible working options.

Plus many more benefits and wellbeing initiatives that enable our employees to have a great work life balance!
For further information on our benefits please see: Benefits of working at UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)
Please apply online, if you experience any issue applying, please contact Recruitment@ukri.org
Please note, if you will require sponsorship to work in the UK, as part of your sponsorship application, you and any dependants travelling with you, will be required to pay costs directly to The Home Office for the application before you start your role with us. UKRI is normally able to reimburse some, or all of these fees after you have become an employee and this can be discussed with the Hiring Manager. For more information, please visit https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa/how-much-it-costs or contact Recruitment@ukri.org.