Evidence and Evaluation Manager

Job description

Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)
Salary: £37,841 per annum.
Band: UKRI Band D.
Contract Type: Fixed Term (23 Months).
Hours: Full-time/ Part Time (minimum 0.8 FTE) (flexible working available).
Location: Polaris House, Swindon, Wiltshire - Hybrid working available.
Closing Date: Wednesday 11th November 2026.

Job Purpose

This is an exciting time for the Evidence and Evaluation Team as we seek to further develop our analytical capabilities to provide new insights into the BBSRC portfolio of research investments.

Enabling data driven insights, this role will progress strategic analyses looking for trends and patterns in these data and providing the evidence base which helps to inform BBSRCs strategic planning and decision making. Spanning the full remit of BBSRC science, you will work with colleagues across BBSRC and the wider UKRI.

In your analysis you will make use of a range of data analytics approaches to enable insightful analysis. Approaches currently used within the team span text analysis (text mining, searching, clustering), network analysis (to explore collaborations and interactions), research classification, and a range of data visualisation approaches to support the dissemination of analyses to our key stakeholders.

Your responsibilities:

This role is integral to the development of a robust Evidence base across BBSRC and the wider UKRI.

The main activities of the role will include but are not limited to:

• Contributing to responses for requests for information on BBSRC research investments, including Parliamentary questions, Ministerial briefing, and Freedom of Information requests. Ensuring the data underpinning responses are robust and provided with appropriate context.
• Working closely with UKRI-BBSRC subject matter experts to define and analyse research portfolios, identifying relevant grants by text searching, document clustering and auto-classification approaches.
• Contributing to strategic analyses of the UKRI-BBSRC grants portfolio working with a variety of data sources, relating to BBSRC and other funders both nationally and internationally.
• Supporting the development of various corporate analyses relating to BBSRC investments and outputs data (e.g. by Institution, region or research topic) ensuring that source datasets are produced accurately and ensuring analyses are fit for purpose and aligned to business need. Promoting the resources across the office and exploring the potential for new analyses.
• Assisting in the monitoring of research investments data quality, arranging amendments as necessary and ensuring data accuracy and timeliness; this includes ensuring BBSRC core research classifications are maintained.
• Summarising and visualising data relating to research portfolios, tailoring analyses to the needs of stakeholders both within UKRI-BBSRC and externally.
• Continuous improvement to develop your knowledge and skills actively applying your learning to activities in the role. Including: machine-learning, text-mining and data visualisation approaches.

Personal Specification

The below criteria will be scored during Shortlisting (S), Interview (I) or both (S&I).

Please ensure your application addresses the shortlisting criteria with examples.

Essential

• Strong data analysis skills, with an ability to work efficiently, accurately, and in a highly organised and reproducible manner when handling, analysing, and interpreting data. (S&I)
• IT literate with working knowledge and practical experience in programming languages such as R, Python or SQL and an aptitude to learn new analytics tools. (S&I)
• Scientific literacy with an interest in the biosciences or related subjects (S&I)
• Effective communication skills, including the ability to present data clearly and concisely with thought for the needs of your audience. (S&I)
• Effective team working and interpersonal skills: able to establish relationships and work with colleagues to deliver results. (S&I)
• Genuine interest in the aims and objectives of BBSRC. (S&I)
  

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)

UKRI is an Equal Opportunity & Disability Confident Employer.

Please apply online, if you experience any issue applying, please contact [email protected]

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 [email protected].

UKRI - UK Research and Innovation
UKRI is an organisation that brings together the seven disciplinary research councils, Research England and Innovate UK. Together, we build an independent organisation with a strong voice and vision ensuring the UK maintains its world-leading position in research and innovation.

Supporting some of the world's most exciting and challenging research projects, we develop and operate some of the most remarkable scientific facilities in the world. We are pushing the frontiers of human knowledge through fundamental research and delivering benefits for UK society and the economy through world-class research, skills and business-led innovation.

More information can be found at www.ukri.org .

Choosing to come to work at UKRI means that you will have access to a whole host of benefits from a defined benefit pension scheme, excellent holiday entitlement, access to employee shopping/travel discounts and salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme. For more details, visit benefits of working for UKRI .

How we support EDI in the workforce

At UKRI, we believe that everyone has a right to be treated with dignity and respect, and to be provided with equal opportunities to thrive and succeed in an environment that enables them to do so. We also value diversity of thought and experience within inclusive groups, organisations and the wider community. For further information, please visit 'How we support EDI in the workforce'.

Disability Confident Employer

As users of the disability confident scheme, any candidate who opts into the scheme and best meets the essential criteria, will be shortlisted for interview. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

How to apply

Online applications only preferred for this role. Please submit a CV and covering letter which clearly outlines how you fulfil the criteria specified along with your motivation for UKRI and the role. Ensure that the job reference number is included in the filename description of each document uploaded. Note that failure to address the above criteria or submit an application without a covering letter may result in the application not being considered.

UKRI seeks to ensure it creates and maintains a system of openness, fairness and inclusion - a collaborative, trusted environment, which is attractive to and accessible to everyone who is interested in developing their career with us.

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 rejected and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.

As part of the pre-employment checks there is a requirement to undergo Baseline Personnel Security Screening. BPSS is a pre-condition of employment and failure to achieve it may mean that the employment offer is rescinded. UKRI reserves the right to run, or re-run, security clearance as required during the course of employment.

The BBSRC invests in world-class bioscience research and training on behalf of the UK public. We are the UK's largest public funder of research of the non-medical biosciences. Our aim is to further scientific knowledge, to promote economic growth, wealth and job creation and to improve quality of life in the UK and beyond.

Funded by Government, we support research and training in universities and strategically funded institutes. The research and the people that we fund are helping society to meet major challenges, including food security, green energy and healthier, longer lives. Our investments underpin important UK economic sectors, such as farming, food, industrial biotechnology and pharmaceuticals.
For more information about BBSRC, our science and our impact click here