Senior Governance and Risk Manager

Research England

Salary: £46,743

Contract Type: Fixed term contract - 12 months

Hours: Full-time

Location: Westward House, Lime Kiln Close, Stoke Gifford, Bristol, BS34 8SR

Closing date: 31st October 2026

Are you looking for a new challenge? An opportunity to work on a major, high-profile, project in a close-knit team and a fast-paced environment? Do you want to use your knowledge and skills in an agile way across a broad range of focus areas, learning new things and innovating along the way? Do you want to learn about the UK’s different funding bodies, and work with some of the most highly respected people across the UK’s research community? Then this may be the opportunity for you!

DUTIES OF THE ROLE

Governance

• Support the delivery of an effective Secretariat function, including high-quality minute-taking.
• Manage the induction and onboarding of new Research England (RE) council members.
• Manage RE governance processes, including gifts and hospitality declaration process and conflict of interest process (including annual review of conflicts of interest).

Risk

Develop, implement and promote relevant governance, risk, assurance, and information governance guidance and processes (ensuring alignment with wider UKRI policies).

Contribute to the effective implementation of the RE risk management framework, including maintaining risk registers, managing the operational risk management framework, collating risk reports, coordination of risk training, managing the implementation of risk maturity actions, and coordination of the Executive Accountability Exercise.

Information Management

• Coordinate responses to complaints, Freedom of Information requests, Subject Access Requests, information requests and other requests.
• Conduct an annual review of the RE Information Asset Register.
• Support the Head of Funding and Assurance in the management and allocation of RE budgets, including working with the UKRI Finance team, programme managers and finance systems.
• Funding and Assurance
• Support the implementation of the RE funding assurance programme, including progression of RE audit work, resolution of queries, and liaison with relevant colleagues in relation to funding adjustments.
• Reporting lines
• Line managed by Head of Governance and Risk.
• Currently no line management responsibilities associated with this role.
• This role requires weekly attendance at our Bristol office.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

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

Essential

• Graduate or equivalent qualifications or relevant experience (S).
• Experience providing or supporting a successful Secretariat function, including ability to produce accurate, high-quality minutes (S&I).
• A high level of numeracy with a good understanding of budgetary control (S&I).
• Experience developing and maintaining robust operational guidance and processes (S&I).
• An ability to communicate in a succinct, engaging, accurate and convincing way, producing materials that are straightforward and clearly articulated for external and internal audiences as appropriate (S&I).
• Proven ability to build effective relationships with people of all levels both internally and externally (S&I).
• Excellent organisational skills (S&I).
• Attention to detail with an ability to produce work with a high level of accuracy (S&I).
• Ability to innovate and challenge established thinking in self and others, and to offer insights and ideas with practical application coupled with the ability to drive change and continuous improvement (S&I).
• An understanding of how a public sector policy or funding organisation operates (I).

Benefits

UKRI values their employees by offering a benefits package designed to provide an excellent work/life balance including 30 days’ annual leave, 10.5 public and privilege holidays, flexible working hours, exceptional average salary pension scheme, social and sporting activities and societies and a subsidised restaurant.

As one of Europe’s largest research organisations, this is a place where there’s always something new to learn about the world around us, about your career, but most of all, about yourself. Join us and discover what’s possible.

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 UK 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].