ARIA (Advanced Research + Invention Agency) is the UK government's new research funding body based on the US Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).

They have £800m in committed funding and are looking for a founding programme director to allocate a £50m budget. This organisation is brand new so I expect this early hire will have significant input on the direction it takes.

Quoting the job description:

• Ideate, then create a programme around your own scientific/technical vision.
• Direct a budget of up to £50M+
• Select a portfolio of projects to fund from across the R&D landscape, decide how ARIA will fund them.
• Create a new community around the vision and goals of your programme.
• Shape ARIA’s DNA, working with a small peer group to define our programmes, culture and impact.

Listed cause areas include:
- Genomics
- AI governance
- Material science
- Climate change
- Medical research

Some more information about the role, and a tweet blast from The Centre for Long-Term Resilience (CLTR).

They say they will be hiring more in the coming months including:

• Product Lead
• Product Operations Associate
• Executive Associate
• In-House Counsel

And I've heard that they are seconding civil servants which is maybe something @tobyj of Impactful Government Careers can advise on.

P.S.

Nukaz ARIA (couldn't resist)