Hybrid Senior Governance Manager

at UK Research and Innovation

• Job title: Senior Governance Manager
• Job type: Full Time
• Experience level: Senior
• Salary: £46,743 per year
• Degree requirement: Bachelor's Degree
• Location requirements: Hybrid, Swindon, United Kingdom

About the role

• Senior Governance Manager ensuring compliant delivery and advice for UKRI governance activities in the newly established Governance team. Collaborating with various departments for effective governance practices.

Responsibilities

• Lead the annual review of the Policy on Policies, review of the Policy Register on CGR and provision of advice and support to Councils on policy development.
• Advice to Councils on delegated authority and interpretation of the UKRI Delegations Framework; ensuring issue of delegation/allocation letters in a timely manner across the organisation as required.
• Lead the coordination of input to and drafting of the annual Governance Statement, attendance at the ARA working group, monitoring key milestones and meeting dates to ensure appropriate clearance within agreed timescales.
• Lead the operation of the Gifts and Hospitality Policy, portal and process: reviewing policy and guidance annually and providing advice/support to staff as needed; assuring incoming declarations, carrying out quarterly reviews of register entries and providing quarterly assurance report for DSIT.
• Lead the operation of the annual Declarations of Interest exercise: ensuring the portal is maintained, reviewing policy and guidance annually and providing advice/support to staff as needed; carrying out quarterly reviews of register entries, developing a quarterly reporting process and carrying out a qualitative assurance review of Council and UKRI declarations.
• Reviewing and ensuring UKRI compliance with the Welsh Language Scheme including via a rolling three-year review.
• Lead the developing and publishing of the annual Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Statement, advising collaborators as necessary; establish working group to review/address modern slavery risks and issues.
• Maintaining and ensuring visibility of UKRI’s Rapid Response Policy.
• Supporting the Governance lead in setting up an informal network of governance staff to share standard process and contribute to development of governance policy, and supporting governance staff in Councils to manage local compliance and reporting of governance activities.
• Advising on governance queries; providing reports to UKRI committees as required.
• Manage team risks on the CGR system.

Requirements

• Degree and/or relevant professional experience relevant to governance roles. (S)
• Experience in developing, reviewing, and advising on governance policies and frameworks, with a strong understanding of public sector standards and compliance requirements, including Managing Public Money, HM Treasury and Cabinet Office standards and rules, particularly in relation to corporate governance, regularity and propriety, risk management, and internal audit standards. (S&I)
• Demonstrated ability to manage regular governance processes, monitor milestones, assess and manage risk in context, and ensure timely delivery of outputs aligned with organisational priorities. (S&I)
• Strong oral and written communication skills, with the ability to produce high-quality reports and papers, work collaboratively with internal and external auditors, and apply attention to detail in system-based tasks. (S&I)
• Ability to influence and build trusted relationships across a wide range of stakeholders, support teams, and act as a credible advisor in governance matters. (I)
• Demonstrate enthusiasm, flexibility, and resilience in a changing environment, with a proactive mindset to challenge established thinking and drive continuous improvement. (I)

Benefits

• 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.