Deputy Director - Governance and Assurance
Deputy Director - Governance and Assurance
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Job Description
Innovate UK has the following secondment opportunity available for employees of Innovate UK Business Connect:
Applications must be submitted by
0Vacancy for Deputy Director Governance and Assurance
Reporting to the Executive Director Strategy and Performance the Deputy Director Governance and Assurance plays a vital role in enabling Innovate UK to deliver on an ambitious programme of business innovation support. Innovate UK deliver funding and support to help businesses universities and innovation ecosystem partners through a range of products and services through the UK and internationally.
*Please note this advert will close on the 7th September 2025 at 23.59pm.
Watch our video Why Join Innovate UK here.
Title: Deputy Director Governance and Assurance
Band: UKRI Band H (UKRI Ts & Cs)
Salary: 84001 gross per annum
Reports to: Executive Director Strategy and Performance
Location: Swindon (Hybrid Working)
Contract: Permanent
Innovate UK recognises the importance of work-life balance and we will be happy to discuss any requests for flexible working arrangements.
Job Purpose:
Reporting to the Executive Director Strategy and Performance the Deputy Director Governance and Assurance plays a vital role in enabling Innovate UK to deliver on an ambitious programme of business innovation support. Innovate UK deliver funding and support to help businesses universities and innovation ecosystem partners through a range of products and services through the UK and internationally.
Innovate UK embraces effective controls and risk management and the Deputy Director is responsible for design and implementation of effective governance risk management assurance and compliance across the organisation. This includes design and delivery of an effective control framework and accounting officer advice to the CEO.
The post holder will champion good governance and decision-making throughout the organisation as Chair of relevant governance and assurance meetings and as direct liaison with operational policy and programme delivery groups throughout Innovate UK to ensure understanding and compliance with the internal control framework and legislation such as Subsidy. The post holder is responsible for the oversight reporting and effective delivery of the financial assurance over grant claims working with UK Research and Innovation central assurance teams and will be a key leader of programme activity to drive further development of strategic decision-making and operational delivery for Innovate UK .
The team is responsible for effective design and delivery of a robust information management data governance and information assurance framework within Innovate UK.
The role will also include supporting the secretariat to the Board of IUKL its audit and risk committee and its advisory structures proactively setting and driving the agenda across these structures and tying these into Innovate UKs governance.
The post holder will directly advise the Innovate UKs Executive Chair on matters relating to assurance and risk and has two direct reports.
We particularly welcome female applicants as women are under-represented within Innovate UK in this type of role.
Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities:
- Overall accountability for effective development and implementation of a robust control framework throughout Innovate UK which is proportionate and effective (in both design and operational effectiveness) in compliance with governance rules
- Accountable for the development implementation and maintenance of an effective Scheme of Delegation for the organisation
- Oversight of risk for Innovate UK ensuring the first line of defence activity identifies mitigates and monitors risks across its business
- Policy and Governance owner for Innovate UK representing the needs and obligations of the organisation and ensuring effective communications with the organisation at all levels suppliers and customers.
- Responsible for the Innovate UK Subsidy team and the advice they give across UKRI providing top cover and support for the Subject Matter Experts within the team to facilitate the implementation and adherence to Subsidy rules across UKRI
- Responsible for the Innovate UK Assurance including but not limited to funding assurance contract management and data handling providing leadership and top cover ensuring effective reporting and communication.
- Responsible for the Information Management team and organisational compliance with data / privacy legislation.
- Subject matter expert member or representative on IUK and UKRI working groups project programme and governance boards attending IUK Council IUK Loan groups as appropriate.
- Provide leadership in innovating Innovate UK including leading on and partaking in specialist projects conducting horizon scanning activities and identification of best practice.
- Ensure stakeholders are appropriately consulted informed and engaged including Domain and Challenge Directors and Deputy Director stakeholders within IUK.
- Ensure high quality internal and external customer service is achieved and maintained with including the handling complex casework.
- The post holder is accountable to ensure that all audit actions are addressed and implemented on a timely basis.
- Line management of2 staff responsible for building engaged and high performing teams and ensuring staff have sustainable workloads. Ensure teams have the skills training development and support they need.
- Be a strong advocate of the core values of UKRI and Innovate UK contribute to UKRIs overall strategy for Governance Risk Fraud Information Management & Compliance.
- Keeping abreast with new legal and regulatory developments assisting with the implementation of these. Ensure the recommendations and control framework
- Leading a culture of continuous improvement that is proportionate effective compliant and appropriate to the business needs which supports a thriving workforce.
- Coordinate and influence delivery by staff across IUK.
- Deputise for the Executive Director Strategy and Performance.
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:
Experience & Qualifications:
Essential
- Degree level qualification or equivalent management experience (S).
- Experience managing governance compliance or other professional functions (S&I)
- Ability to lead motivate and develop direct reports and their teams including during change (S&I)
- Proven ability to build effective working relationships with stakeholders at all levels of the organisation (S&I)
- Track record in developing delivering and continuously improving processes (S&I)
- Stakeholder identification and management including regular appropriate and timely communications (I)
- Highly self-motivated and able to lead on own initiative with experience of working as a member of a high-level team. (S&I)
- Ability to prioritise & resolve conflicting priorities at pace. (I)
- Proven ability to deliver process improvements which raise productivity within the organisation (S&I)
Desirable
- Experience in a financial services or similarly regulated environment (S&I)
- Experience and/or understanding of public sector procurement rules and frameworks (S&I)
- Experience with working on complex administrative processes (S&I)
- Experience of working in a complex and changing environment (I)
- Leadership of multi-disciplined teams both internal and third party to achieve SLAs to schedule to budget and to the required quality (S&I)
- Ability to influence and collaborate to achieve business objectives (I)
Skills:
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills
- Personal resilience
- Ability to problem-solve
- Ability to get things done being solution focussed with a collaborative style
- Planning and scheduling skills
- Accuracy and attention to detail
- Self-awareness and a high level of professionalism
- Patience and self-motivation
- Strong organisational and time management skills
- A robust and flexible approach with the ability to thrive in a changing environment
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 criterias listed in the person specification.
Travel Requirements:
Swindon-based: There will a requirement to travel mostly national and there is some flexibility in this. Innovate UK staff make extensive use of telepresence tools for meetings to minimise unnecessary 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 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 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;
0Required Experience:
Director
Employment Type
Full-Time
