This is the Internal Only Recruitment Site for UK Research and Innovation Staff for roles within Innovate UK (UKRI).

Please apply for jobs via this site only if you are employed by UK Research and Innovation (employees with access to Innovate UK's Workday system may apply via the "Careers" application within the system).

If you are not a current UKRI employee you can view vacancies at the externally advertised stage at the links given in the "About Us information on the right". If you wish to apply for the position below, please ensure that you comply with the requirements of the recruitment process by submitting both a full CV and application letter. Ideally, you should also advise your manager of your application.

Applications must be submitted by

01-09-2025

Vacancy for Deputy Head of Governance (Maternity Cover)

To support the Deputy Director Governance and Head of Governance in developing and embedding effective governance, risk management and assurance arrangements including designing and advising on the implementation of new controls where appropriate.

*Please note this advert will close on the 31st August 2025 at 23.59pm.

Watch our video “Why Join Innovate UK?” here.

Title: Deputy Head of Governance (Maternity Cover)

Band: UKRI Band F (UKRI Ts & Cs)

Salary: £56,745 gross per annum

Reports to: Head of Governance

Location: Swindon (Hybrid Working)

Contract: Fixed Term (Maternity Cover up to 12 Months)

Employees applying for any opportunity which may mean being away from your substantive role for a temporary period of time, please refer to the Recruitment Policy for further information in the first instance. If you are made an offer, please ensure you liaise with your Line Manager and the designated HR Team as soon as possible in order that implications of any move are clear and understood, prior to a move taking place.

Innovate UK recognises the importance of work-life balance and we will be happy to discuss any requests for flexible working arrangements.

Job Purpose:

This role will be responsible for direct line management of some members of the Governance team.

Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities:

Line management of Governance team members as agreed with the Deputy Director Governance and Assurance and the Head of Governance
To work with key stakeholders throughout Innovate UK to develop and embed risk management, including development of a risk-based culture, working effectively with the central UKRI risk team
To review existing governance and assurance arrangements and identify/advise on the implementation of new controls
To understand the key legal, policy and good practice frameworks within which Innovate UK works and to identify associated risk
To work with the Deputy Director Governance and Assurance on establishing and maintaining an appropriate policy environment, implementing UKRI and IUK policies / local guidance to support IUK delivery within agreed policy and legislative requirements
To carry out investigations to identify Innovate UK’s level of compliance with legal, policy and good practice frameworks and to make recommendations for better compliance
To work with Head of Governance and Deputy Director Governance and Assurance in identifying and implementing new legislative and other good practice guidance in the governance, risk and assurance areas. To ensure that the organisation is well informed through appropriate briefings
To work closely with the Subsidy and Information Assurance teams to deliver Governance and Assurance priorities
To work closely with GIAA and other external review agencies and to monitor implemntation of audit recommendations
Ambassador for good governance throughout the organisation
To manage and carry out miscellaneous project work as directed by the Head of Governance or Deputy Director Governance and Assurance, and support other ad-hoc business requirements as necessary.
Deputising for the Head of Governance or Deputy Director Governance and Assurance, including Innovate UK representation at UKRI or DSIT as required.

This is not an exhaustive list and you might be encouraged to undertake any other duties across the wider directorate, commensurate with the Band and level of responsibility of this post, for which the post holder has the key experience and/or training.

Shortlisting criteria

(S) – Assessed at shortlisting

(I) – Assessed at interview

(S&I) – Assessed at both shortlisting and interview

Person Specification:

We are looking for someone with a positive ‘can do’ attitude as well as the following qualifications and experience.

Experience & Qualifications:

Essential –

Educated to degree level or relevant professional qualification or equivalent experience (S)
Experience of working within Governance, Risk and Assurance (S&I)
Supporting/delivering work for senior stakeholders including Senior Managers, Directors or Board members (I)
Managing risk assurance frameworks including online risk systems (I)
Experience of managing teams and developing team members
Understanding of the main legal, policy and good practice frameworks within which Innovate UK works (I)
Supporting with the management of corporate policies and carrying out compliance checks (S&I)
Clear understanding, of Public Sector governance standards particularly as set out in HM Treasury “Managing Public Money” (I)
Understanding of good practice in grants management (S&I)
Delivery of continuous improvement activity that has benefited the organization (S)

Skills:

Organisational skills to manage own workload and to help the wider team
Stakeholder management skills and the ability to deal effectively with Directors and other senior stakeholders
Ability to influence, and to build trust and consensus
People skills: coaching, mentoring, dealing with difficult behaviours, staff development
The ability to understand and communicate detailed regulations
An enquiring mind and proactive approach
Excellent written and oral communication skills and the ability to produce clear, concise and accurate presentations and written documents
Good presentation skills and an engaging manner
Highly IT literate with strong Excel skills with experience of managing data and maintaining audit trails and data integrity
A flexible approach, willing to take on new challenges as they arise and drive results

Competencies:

All team members demonstrate compatibility with and capability against our Core Competencies such as:

Thinking and Problem Solving – Stakeholder management – Communication skills – Influencing – Self-awareness/self-management – Strategic awareness – Working with others– Project management

Some of the above competencies will be assessed at interview stage, in addition to the criteria’s listed in the person specification.

Travel Requirements:

Swindon-based: There may be the occasional requirement for national travel.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion:

Innovate UK is a diverse workforce of people. We believe that encouraging these differences and drawing the best from them will build a productive environment in which everyone feels valued, where talents are fully utilised and in which organisational goals are met. Underpinning this is a belief that it is a fundamental right for everyone to be treated equally, with fairness, respect and dignity. We will act directly and use our influence to ensure that this right is promoted and upheld; we encourage applications from all those who meet the criteria set-out in our role profiles.

Equal Opportunities:

We are an equal opportunities employer, committed to employing any person who meets the criteria for our roles. When undertaking recruitment we may require applicants to undertake certain tests or assessments, some of which will be online and others may be in-person. If you have a disability, heath condition or specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia then you may be entitled to support with undertaking this type of assessment exercise. Where you feel that reasonable adjustments are required to support you, we ask that you advise your recruitment point of contact in a timely fashion, providing further information. In confidence, Innovate UK will then review your application for adjustments and provide support as required.

UK Research and Innovation:

Innovate UK is partner organisation within UK Research and Innovation. If successful in securing the position, your employer will be UK Research and Innovation. More information can be found online http://www.ukri.org/.

Employee Benefits:

We offer a benefits package crafted to provide an excellent work/life balance. This includes 30 days’ annual leave, 10.5 public and privilege days, flexible working hours, an exceptional defined benefit pension scheme, and access to a variety of support networks and discount schemes.

Benefits of working at UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)

Flexible Working:

We understand the importance of work-life balance, and are happy to discuss the possibility of flexible working with applicants.

Pre-employment Screening:

To enable us to hire the very best people we will conduct a comprehensive pre-employment check on successful applicants as part of the recruitment process.

The role holder will be required to have the appropriate level of security screening/vetting required for the role. UKRI reserves the right to run or re-run security clearance as required during the course of employment.

UKRI supports research in areas that include animal health, agriculture and food security, and bioscience for health which includes research on animals, genetic modification and stem cell research. Whilst you may not have direct involvement in this type of research, you should consider how this aligns with your personal values or beliefs. To enable us to hire the very best people we will conduct a full and comprehensive pre-employment check as a crucial part of the recruitment process on all individuals that are offered a position with UKRI. This will include a security check and an extreme organisations affiliation check.

Applications must be submitted by;

01-09-2025