Senior Assurance Manager

This job is brought to you by Jobs/Redefined, the UK's leading over-50s age inclusive jobs board.

Salary : £43,116
Hours : Full Time
Contract Type: Open Ended
Location : Polaris House, Swindon
Grade: E

Closing Date: Sunday 23rd June 2024

Job Overview:

The International Research and Innovation Portfolio Management Office (IRI-PMO) is a UKRI team that works closely with DSIT on the delivery of DSIT Funds across UK partner organisations. Applicants should be aware this role is likely to transfer to DSIT in early 2025.

This role is an opportunity to apply your assurance and people skills to deliver DSIT's international research & innovation funds. As a key part of the IRI-PMO you will be driving delivery of DSIT international R&I funds such as the International Science Partnerships Fund working with UK Partner Organisations. You will oversee reporting and coordination processes that ensure that DSIT and cross-HMG priorities are delivered, UK and international legislation are complied with, and changes in strategy and policy are reflected in Partners' approaches to the funds.

You will work closely and collaboratively with a range of policy teams and regularly interact with senior officials, Government Departments, and partner organisations. This is a fascinating post, with opportunities to develop your skills and experience, and be innovative in your approach to doing so . It is also an excellent opportunity to develop your assurance career; with considerable space for development, training and working with a wide range of colleagues across DSIT, partner organisations and government more widely.

Key Responsibilities:

• Responsible for ensuring ISPF and legacy ODA funds have appropriate levels of assurance for their complexity.
• Recognised as an authority for all assurance related activity and able to provide guidance on the types of assurance / requirements across the PMO and DSIT International R&I funds team.
• Supporting the development of assurance framework and Assurance Plan .
• Producing and negotiating DSIT allocation and assurance letters with external partners, DSIT Sponsorship colleagues and legal teams
• Managing assurance related queries & issues
• Compliance: External reviews, due diligence and fraud processes, audits
• Risk and issues Management using DSIT systems e.g. ORB, Verto.
• Operating Procedures & Guidance to assist in processing policies and reporting.
• Knowledge and Information Management (KIM)
• Portfolio delivery monitoring (e.g. delivery stand ups & reports) for DSIT Policy and Strategy (such as ISPF Portfolio Board delivery updates)
• Responses to DSIT/ Cabinet Office audits e.g. spend, Public Sector Equality Duty, Fraud.
• Dynamically manage resource in line with demand and policy changes.
• Proactively suggest solutions to address concerns and raise potential issues to Line Manager at an early stage
• Work flexibly in response to changing demands and collaboratively with colleagues across the PMO
• Potentially line and performance manage for Direct Repots including staff development and wellbeing.

Reports To: Head of Fund Delivery Finance Assurance & Engagement

Person Specification:

Essential

• Thorough understanding of project/programme management techniques and tools applied to monitoring compliance with legislation and best practice as well as reviewing project/programme progress
• Ability to systematically identify and monitor risks and issues, planning how to mitigate, and respond to those risks and issues, implementing the responses.
• Show initiative and act proactively, be able to think and adapt quickly; and be able to operate independently when required.
• Track record in developing strong, collaborative partnerships across diverse teams and external partners
• Resilience and the ability to cope with uncertainty, ambiguity and change.
• A recognised project or programme management qualification such as one of the following:
  • APM Project Management Qualification
  • PRINCE 2 Practitioner
  • Managing Successful Programmes Practitioner
  • APMG International Project Planning and Control Practitioner
  • PMI Project Management Professional

Desirable

• Knowledge of Research and Innovation Funds and their delivery, and Official Development Assistance (ODA) spend.
• Knowledge of policy development and implementation process

About UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)

UKRI launched in April 2018, UKRI is a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT).

Our organisation brings together the seven disciplinary research councils, Research England, which is responsible for supporting research and knowledge exchange at higher education institutions in England, and the UK's innovation agency, Innovate UK. Together we build an independent organisation with a strong voice and vision to ensure the UK maintains its world-leading position in research and innovation. More information can be found at www.ukri.org .

Choosing to come to work at UKRI means that you will have access to a whole host of benefits from a defined benefit pension scheme, excellent holiday entitlement, access to employee shopping/travel discounts and salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme. For more details, visit benefits of working for UKRI .

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.

How we support EDI in the workforce

At UKRI, we believe that everyone has a right to be treated with dignity and respect, and to be provided with equal opportunities to thrive and succeed in an environment that enables them to do so. We also value diversity of thought and experience within inclusive groups, organisations and the wider community. For further information, please visit ' How we support EDI in the workforce '.

Disability Confident Employer

As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy/ies. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

How to apply

Online applications only preferred for this role. Please submit a CV and covering letter which clearly outlines how you fulfil the criteria specified along with your motivation for UKRI and the role. Ensure that the job reference number is included in the filename description of each document uploaded. Note that failure to address the above criteria or submit an application without a covering letter may result in the application not being considered. Assessment will only be based upon the content of your submitted covering letter and CV and not the 'experience' section of the application.

UKRI seeks to ensure it creates and maintains a system of openness, fairness and inclusion - a collaborative, trusted environment, which is attractive to and accessible to everyone who is interested in developing their career with us.