Project Manager for Public Sector Capabilities

Ref Number

B04-07559

Professional Expertise

Strategy, Project and Change Management

Department

UCL BEAMS (B04)

Location

London

Working Pattern

Full time

Salary

£43,981-£52,586

Contract Type

Fixed-term

Working Type

Hybrid

Available for Secondment

No

Closing Date

16-Jul-2026

About us

The Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose (IIPP) at University College London (UCL) brings together cutting-edge academic theory with teaching and policy practice, to rethink the role of the state in tackling some of the biggest challenges facing society.

IIPP works with partners to develop a framework which challenges traditional economic thinking, with the goal of creating, nurturing and evaluating public value in order to achieve growth that is more innovation-led, inclusive and sustainable. This requires rethinking the underlying economics that have informed the education of global public servants and the design of government policies.

IIPP’s work feeds into innovation and industrial policy, financial reform, institutional change and sustainable development. A key pillar of IIPP’s research is its understanding of markets as outcomes of the interactions between different actors. In this context, public policy should not be seen as simply fixing market failures, but also as actively shaping and co-creating markets. Re-focusing and designing public organisations around mission-led, public purpose aims will help tackle the grand challenges facing the 21st century.

About the role

The Project Manager for Public Sector Capabilities will play a central role in coordinating the delivery of a pioneering global research project at UCL's Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose (IIPP). Working closely with the research team and Principal Investigators, the role involves managing day-to-day project operations, coordinating research activities and fieldwork, engaging with stakeholders, supporting events and communications, and ensuring effective project governance, reporting, and financial administration.

Beyond project delivery, the role contributes to IIPP's broader mission of strengthening public sector capabilities and advancing innovative approaches to public policy. The successful candidate will collaborate across research teams, support the development of project methodologies and processes, and help deliver evidence that enables governments and cities to build the capabilities needed to address complex societal challenges through innovation, collaboration, and mission-oriented policymaking.

About you

You are an organised and proactive project manager with experience delivering complex research or policy programmes in a government, academic, consultancy, think tank, or public sector environment. You combine excellent project management, analytical, and communication skills with the ability to build strong relationships across a wide range of stakeholders. Comfortable working independently and collaboratively, you are adept at managing competing priorities, solving problems creatively, and ensuring projects are delivered on time and to a high standard.

What we offer

As well as the exciting opportunities this role presents, we also offer some great benefits, some of which are below:

41 Days holiday (27 days annual leave, 8 bank holidays and 6 closure days)

Additional 5 days’ annual leave purchase scheme

Defined benefit career average revalued earnings pension scheme (CARE)

Cycle to work scheme and season ticket loan

Immigration loan

Relocation scheme for certain posts

Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption pay

Employee assistance programme: Staff Support Service

Discounted medical insurance

Visit https://www.ucl.ac.uk/work-at-ucl/reward-and-benefits to find out more.

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

As London’s Global University, we know diversity fosters creativity and innovation, and we want our community to represent the diversity of the world’s talent. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where we all belong.

We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented in UCL’s workforce.

These include people from Black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds; disabled people; LGBTQI+ people; and for our Grade 9 and 10 roles, women.

Our Faculty holds an Athena SWAN Silver award, in recognition of our commitment and demonstrable impact in advancing gender equality.

You can about our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion here: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/equality-diversity-inclusion/