UAT - Head of Governance and Secretariat

UK Research and Innovation

About the role:

This is an exciting opportunity to lead a new team at the heart of UKRI. We are now recruiting to the post of Head of Governance within the wider Corporate Strategy, Governance and Performance group. The role will have direct line management responsibility for 5 senior governance professionals and overall responsibility for a team of 10 staff. This is a leadership role where, in addition to managing their own team, the successful candidate will be part of the wider Strategy, Performance and Engagement Directorate senior leadership team and provide functional leadership across the whole of UKRI.

The Head of Governance will lead the approach we take as an organisation to excellence in governance standards and practice. Working closely with Councils and corporate functions, you will work with leads in each of these areas to support the delivery of our overall organisational mission in line with the high expectations of colleagues, the communities we serve and our sponsoring government department. This high-profile role will offer you the opportunity to work closely and collaboratively at Board and Committee level and with a range of teams across UKRI, BEIS and other government departments.

UKRI is seeking an excellent candidate who can bring confident and inclusive leadership to navigate these opportunities and challenges. To be successful, you will have the ability to solve complex problems in an environment where strategy, governance and politics is highly relevant. You will be able to provide functional leadership in a complex organisational environment. You will be able to generate trusted relationships and achieve buy-in at a senior level and you will have experience of building and leading high performing teams.

UKRI offers a dynamic and supportive team culture, and a great reward package that includes attractive leave entitlement, defined benefits pension scheme, retail discounts family friendly benefits, and subsidised restaurants on site.

There is likely to be a requirement to travel to various UK Research and Innovation locations.

Budget:

• Staff budget of up £1m staff costs.

Management:

• Direct line management of 5 governance managers and a whole team of up to 10.

Key responsibilities of the role include to:

• Provide leadership and oversight across UKRI of our governance standards and practice
• Build, motivate and manage a high performing, adaptive and resilient team of around 10 staff, whilst providing matrix management support as a functional leader across the organisation
• Develop positive relationships with a wide range of internal stakeholders and build trust with senior leaders and Committee Chairs to foster an inclusive and joined-up approach to good governance
• Ensure all Board and Committees arrangements work effectively in line with expectations of the Chairs and our sponsoring department
• Successfully lead, develop and manage all strategic governance functions in line with UKRI’s reputation as a high performing and professional NDPB 
• Essential
• Experience of leading on good corporate governance, regulatory requirements and best practice in a large, complex organisational environment
• A track record of contributing effectively to boards or committees, adding value by providing professional and credible advice to board members and executives
• An exemplary service delivery record and a clear commitment to working for a public body where high standards of transparency and accountability are expected
• Experience of formulating new ideas and putting them into practice to improve governance
• Demonstrable experience in leading and motivating direct reports and matrixed teams in a complex and changing organisational environment
• Successful influencing and interpersonal skills with the ability to build and maintain strong working relationships with a wide range of senior stakeholders
• Ability to see the bigger picture, ensuring that plans and activities take account of the wider landscape and range of stakeholder perspectives
• Enthusiastic, motivated, resilient and adaptable with the ability to work flexibly in a changing environment
• Ability to make effective decisions by pragmatically weighing the complexities involved against the need to act in a face-paced environment
• Relevant Company Secretary/Chartered Governance qualification with an accredited body, such as ICSA.
• Desirable
• Knowledge of the Research and Innovation funding landscape
• Educated to degree-level and/or relevant qualifications
• Experience of managing budgets and the exercise of financial control.