Senior Governance Manager in Bristol, UK – Visa Sponsorship Available

UK Research and Innovation brings together the nine organisations to create an independent organisation with a strong voice for research and innovation, and a vision to ensure the UK maintains its world-leading position in research and innovation. More information can be found at www.ukri.org

Research England is one of the nine Councils within UK Research and Innovation, set up in April 2018. As a key component of the research funding system, Research England will oversee UKRI’s England-only functions in relation to university research and knowledge exchange (KE). This includes providing grant funding to English universities for research and KE activities; developing and implementing the Research Excellence Framework in partnership with the UK Higher Education funding bodies; overseeing the sustainability of the Higher Education research base in England; overseeing the UK Research Partnership Investment Fund; and administering the Higher Education Innovation Fund (HEIF). Research England will create and sustain the conditions for a healthy and dynamic research and KE system in English universities. It works closely with its counterparts in the Devolved Administrations.

For more information about Research England, please visit https://www.ukri.org/councils/research-england/

Job Title: Senior Governance Manager
Salary: 43,116 per annum
Hours: Full time
Contract Type: Open Ended
Location: Westward House, Bristol
Grade: UKRI band E
Positions Available: 1
Closing Date: 21 March 24

About

Research England’s Operations Team is a small team that brings together operational activities and supports RE’s Chief Operating Officer in the leadership, management and delivery of operational matters.

Working to the Associate Director, Governance & Risk, the postholder will directly contribute to the delivery of Research England’s strategic aims and objectives by supporting activities across a variety of areas including, but not limited to, Governance, Risk, Assurance and Finance.

You will act as an important interface with internal and external colleagues and stakeholders at all levels. You will ensure that all work is delivered to the required high standard and in a timely manner maintaining confidentiality. You will have exceptional attention to detail and ensure accuracy is upheld.

Purpose

To provide high quality support on governance, risk and assurance matters to Research England, working collaboratively with UKRI colleagues within the Governance, Assurance, Risk and Information Governance functions. In so doing, developing and demonstrating a thorough understanding of research and knowledge exchange in the higher education sector and the political and organisational context within which Research England and UKRI operate.

You will be an experienced governance professional who is able to work with considerable drive and autonomy. You will undertake the Secretariat function of Research England’s Council and Executive Group and ensure both groups show due regard to relevant UK Research and Innovation policy and guidance and adhere to best practice principles of governance.

You will champion and deliver effective risk management.

You will work closely with senior leaders across Research England, as well as many other areas of UK Research and Innovation.

You will be effective at working across the organisation to improve the outcomes of the work of their colleagues.

You will be confident in dealings with all stakeholders and will be capable of keeping a very level head in challenging, fast-changing situations and be able to prioritise well to meet deadlines.

Main outputs and activities

Governance & Risk:

• Manage the business of the RE Council and Executive Group, providing a full secretariat service, including payment of honoraria, expenses and reimbursements.
• Undertaking the cyclical review of the effectiveness of the Executive Group and Council.
• Managing the recruitment (and associated processes) of Council members, including coordination of the induction programme for new members.
• Quarterly monitoring of gifts and hospitality declarations; and performing an annual review of conflicts of interest for the Executive Group and RE Council.
• Develop and implement governance and risk policies and processes across RE ensuring they align with the wider UK Research and Innovation policies.
• Promote these processes, ensuring colleagues are engaged with and adhering to them.
• Management of the RE strategic and operational risk management processes, including the collation of the risk report for the Executive Group and RE Council.
• Champion and delivery effective risk management.
• Work collaboratively with UK Research and Innovation Governance, Assurance, Risk and Information (GARI) colleagues to ensure the implementation of effective corporate governance and robust risk management.
• Engage with wider UK Research and Innovation colleagues to share practice and improve overall effectiveness.
• Liaise with the UK Research and Innovation colleagues with regard to responses to complaints

Information Management:

• Have a thorough understanding of Data Protection legislation and its applicability to RE operations, including exemptions/derogations from the EU General Data Protection Regulation.
• Management of Research England files in accordance with UKRI schedules, including the transfer of information to the National Archives when required under the Public Records Act.
• Conduct annual review of Research England Information Asset Register.
• Provide responses to Freedom of Information, Environmental Information Regulations, and Subject Access Requests.

Funding and Assurance:

• Support the documentation and management of internal finance processes, ensuring accessibility to staff.
• Manage the RE annual funding in-box.
• Produce management information, including financial reports, as required.
• Support RE’s ongoing assurance activities; ensuring processes are in place and followed.
• Support the Funding Round Manager in delivery of annual funding allocation as required.

Reporting lines

• Line managed by: Associate Director, Governance & Risk
• Line management: n/a

Shortlisting criteria

Essential:

• a successful track record as a governance professional with significant recent experience
• experience of developing and maintaining robust operational and governance processes
• experience of providing a successful Secretariat function
• ability to operate with political understanding and sense, in a complex environment of change and uncertainty
• demonstrable ability to adapt, reach out and build trust and collaborative working
• proven strength in stakeholder management, with the ability to build effective relationships with people of all levels both internally and externally
• an ability to communicate in a succinct, engaging and convincing way, producing materials that are straightforward and clearly articulated for external and internal audiences as appropriate
• excellent organisational skills
• awareness of continuous improvement techniques

Qualifications:

• graduate or equivalent qualifications
• evidence of continued professional development

Desirable:

• an understanding of how a policy or funding organisation operates
• experience of risk management in the public sector
• experience of budget management and awareness of financial controls
• an understanding of copyright law

Interview Criteria

Essential:

• excellent listening, influencing and negotiating skills, including influencing senior leaders and external stakeholders and negotiating to achieve optimal outcomes
• ability to communicate in a succinct, engaging and convincing way for external and internal audiences as appropriate
• ability to adapt to changing demands and conditions, and a readiness to make decisions, take the initiative and originate action
• ability to operate with political understanding and common sense, in a complex environment of change and uncertainty
• 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
• interest and understanding of higher education research and knowledge exchange policy

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 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

Re*********@uk**.org