ESRC EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR DATA INFRASTRUCTURE AND SKILLS SALARY: £94,931 - £110,000 (+ £5,560 London allowance) per annum HOURS: Full Time or Part Time (minimum 0.8 FTE) CONTRACT TYPE: Open Ended (secondments welcome) LOCATION: Caxton House, London (Hybrid) CLOSING DATE: 15 February 2026 To view the full job description, please click ''Apply'' to visit our careers site, where you can download the candidate pack and learn more about the role. ABOUT THE ROLE We are seeking a dynamic social science research leader with professional standing who can turn complex challenges into opportunities, shaping national data infrastructures to support government priorities such as the industrial strategy, while also driving the development and deployment of talent and skills in social and economic research. PURPOSE OF THE ROLE As ESRC Executive Director for data infrastructures and skills, you will lead on shaping investments that drive impactful research to inform economic, public service, and societal decisions over the next decade. With direct responsibility for budget lines covering data, talent, and skills, you will ensure alignment with UKRI priorities while keeping pace with evolving social science needs, technological advances such as AI, and computational capabilities. The role requires building funding and collaboration partnerships with research councils, government departments, and devolved administrations, while engaging the social science community to both capture emerging