Senior Risk Specialist

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Senior Risk Specialist

The Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) - Head Office

Salary: £56,754 per annum

Band: F

Hours: Full time

Contract Type: Open Ended.

Location: Polaris House, Swindon, Wiltshire - Hybrid working available.

Closing Date: 23/02/25

The Senior NERC Risk Specialist will work with the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Head of Risk to create, lead and sustain a comprehensive risk management programme for NERC. They will be responsible for the development, implementation and communication of robust risk management framework arrangements for NERC including the implementation of UKRI risk and assurance policies and processes. They will provide advice, support and challenge on risk and assurance and work with colleagues to establish a positive risk management culture and progress risk management maturity in NERC.

Organisations need systems that will ensure that those making decisions, both financial and non-financial, do so within a controlled framework and that processes exist to ensure associated stewardship and accountability requirements are cascaded within the organisation.

The senior risk specialist will formally report to the Head of Governance, Assurance and Performance, NERC, with a reporting line to the Head of Risk and Assurance, UKRI. They will work closely with others in the UKRI governance, assurance, risk and information governance team teams and other corporate colleagues to provide leadership and support decision-making, ensuring that NERC operates best practice throughout its governance, accountability, risk management and integrated assurance arrangements.

The senior risk specialist will ensure that risk management processes are appropriately wide ranging to recognise the differing natures and requirements of the organisation which has diverse functions such as grants funding, managing major programmes, estates management and public engagement.

The senior risk specialist will work closely with the central UKRI Risk and Assurance Team to ensure they maintain professional links and understand the requirements in these areas and work with them to deliver actions and implement and monitor recommendations within NERC. This includes reviewing cross-UKRI audit reports and identifying recommendations relevant to NERC and monitoring that these are addressed.

To aid this, the Senior NERC Risk Manager will attend meetings with UKRI teams as necessary and have personal objectives linked to implementing central UKRI requirements.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement robust risk management arrangements for NERC in-line with UKRI requirements.
• As a qualified risk professional, develop and implement appropriate a NERC risk management framework and support arrangements that are innovative, provide the agility to respond to internal and external changes in environment, meet NERC requirements and align with UKRI's overall risk policy, strategy and overall framework, ensuring compliance with relevant international and Government standards and best practice for risk management.
• Work with senior leaders, risk owners and managers within NERC to identify and assess threats to NERC, put plans in place for if things go wrong and decide how to avoid, reduce or transfer risk.
• Constructively challenge and advise very senior stakeholders on all aspects across UKRI.
• Report on risk in an appropriate way for different audiences, for example, to the NERC Executive to review and challenge NERC top risks and mitigating actions; to the NERC Council and its sub-committees so they understand the most significant risks; to Directorates to ensure they are aware of risks relevant to their parts of the business; and to individuals to understand their accountability for individual risks.
• Play an essential role within the NERC assurance framework and attend the NERC Assurance Board and other assurance meetings including those specific to operational areas. They will take an active role in working with teams in NERC to integrate risk and assurance procedures to the NERC risk and assurance frameworks, with an initial focus on working with the Major Programmes Directorate.
• Provide support, education and training to staff to build risk awareness within NERC, aligned to UKRI risk management requirements.
• Establish and support a network of risk champions across NERC and implement an approach to risk reviews.
• Advise NERC on emerging areas of risk, review new programmes and processes to identify potential risks.
• Build and maintain excellent working relationships staff at all levels including the NERC Executive Chair, Directors and external Council and Committee members.
• Lead by example, ensure staff understand their role and can develop their skills and make a positive contribution to the work of the team.
• In addition to these business-as-usual activities, the senior risk specialist will work with teams across NERC on specific improvement areas:
  • Play a leading role in the risk management of NERC's major programmes and investment programmes, providing expertise, advice and challenge including assessment of the risks in business cases and the ongoing management of risk in the programme.
  • Work with the UKRI Project Management Office and the central UKRI Risk and Assurance Team to develop consistency in approach to develop appropriate processes and guidance.
  • H&S risk management especially with regards to Antarctica
  • Operations assurance activities such aviation and maritime assurance
  • Integrating the British Antarctic Survey, British Geological Survey, and research programme risk management with corporate approach
  • Implementing improvement actions from the risk maturity exercise
  • Improving risk owners and managers understanding of risk tolerance

Other key information

• There will be a requirement to travel to various UKRI-NERC locations across the UK.
• As a senior professional in risk, the role will act as an advocate for the profession.
• As a senior professional in risk represent the function at a variety of fora, both internally and externally.

Shortlisting Criteria

Essential:

• An experienced risk professional
• Strong understanding and working knowledge of prevailing governance, risk and assurance standards and public-sector rules including:
  • International risk standards
  • Government risk standards
  • Risk management best practice
  • Understand of Assurance and Assurance Map
  • Managing Public Money
  • HM Treasury and Cabinet Office standards and rules, particularly in relation to: Corporate Governance; Risk management; Spending Controls; Regularity and Propriety (conflicts of interest, gifts and hospitality, ethics)
  • FRC Corporate Governance Code and its public-sector equivalent
• Strong risk management experience, including developing, supporting and implementing effective risk management strategies, policy, and frameworks in an organisation.
• Experience of developing and delivering training
• Significant experience in providing high quality written risk and assurance reports and analysis, and verbal advice suitable for executive and senior level decision makers including Boards and Committees and being a trusted advisor to senior management.
• 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.
• Excellent leadership skills with an ability to inspire, motivate and develop capability within a team to deliver quality outcomes.
• Experience of working with internal and external Auditors

Qualifications

Essential:

• Risk Management Diploma or similar qualification or 5 years' experience in risk management in a complex organisation.

Desirable:

• Member of the Institute of Risk Management
• Additional risk management qualifications in a specialist area
• Audit (MIAA or equivalent)

Interview Criteria

Essential:

• Demonstrate excellent risk management experience and resulting achievements.
• Insightful business awareness with the ability to understand and analyse changing business context and landscape to assess and manage risk, capitalise on emerging opportunities, make sound evidence-based judgements, promote the interests of UKRI and research and innovation.
• Ability to deliver at pace and meeting changing priorities to time and to a high standard.
• Demonstrable experience developing collaborative and productive working relationships, excellent interpersonal skills, able to influence and build and maintain strong working relationships with a wide range of stakeholders at all levels.
• Ability to instil confidence within stakeholders at the most senior levels, acting as a trusted advisor.
• Enthusiastic, motivated, adaptable, and proactive with the ability to work flexibly in a changing environment.
• A strong sense of personal resilience and ability to remain focused on the bigger picture.

Benefits

We recognise and value our employees as individuals and aim to provide a favourable pay and rewards package! We are committed to supporting employees' development and promote a culture of continuous learning!

A list of benefits below:

• An outstanding defined benefit pension scheme
• 30 days' annual leave in addition to 10.5 public and privilege days (full time equivalent)
• Employee discounts and offers on retail and leisure activities
• Employee assistance programme, providing confidential help and advice
• Flexible working options

Plus many more benefits and wellbeing initiatives that enable our employees to have a great work life balance!

For further information on our benefits please see:

Benefits of working at UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)

UKRI is an Equal Opportunity & Disability Confident Employer.

Visa Sponsorship:

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 Recruitment@ukri.org.

How to apply:

Please submit an application including your CV and a Cover Letter that showcases how your skills and experience align to the requirements of the role.

A well thought through application providing evidence and examples of how you meet the advertised essential and desirable criteria for the post will be considered far more favourably than a generic covering letter and CV.

About Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)

NERC is the UK's leading funder of environmental science. Our scientists study and monitor the physical, chemical and biological processes on which our planet and life itself depends - from pole to pole, to the deep Earth and oceans, to the atmosphere and space. The science we fund has impact across all sectors. It provides a platform for future UK prosperity by contributing to a safe, healthy, productive nation. Many programmes involve collaborations with national and international partners to tackle large-scale environmental science challenges, including those faced by developing countries.

As well as research, innovation and training are supported from the NERC core budget. There are exciting emerging opportunities from cross-UKRI funds to develop interdisciplinary programmes enabling environmental researchers to lead and collaborate in major projects. This advances knowledge and has significant potential for delivering economic impact.

For more information about NERC, see: https://nerc.ukri.org

About UK Research Innovation (UKRI)

UKRI is an organisation that brings together the seven disciplinary research councils, Research England and Innovate UK. Together, we build an independent organisation with a strong voice and vision ensuring the UK maintains its world-leading position in research and innovation.

Supporting some of the world's most exciting and challenging research projects, we develop and operate some of the most remarkable scientific facilities in the world. We are pushing the frontiers of human knowledge through fundamental research and delivering benefits for UK society and the economy through world-class research, skills and business-led 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 UK Research and Innovation (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.