Governance and Assurance Officer

University of the Highlands and Islands; Perth; On-site; GBP 43,000 - 50,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

42 days annual leave

Pension (USS)

Flexible working

Employee Assistance Programme

Discounts

Cycle to Work

DSE glasses support

Job summary

University of the Highlands and Islands seeks a Governance and Assurance Officer to support the University Secretary's Office in governance, assurance, compliance and decision making. The role delivers operational governance across the committee cycle, handles complaints, coordinates policy, and oversees information governance with clear processes and reliable audit trails.

For informal questions contact Nicholas Oakley, Head of Policy Assurance & Compliance (Governance),

Qualifications

• Experience in governance, assurance or policy areas.
• Strong organisational and records-management skills.
• Familiarity with information governance and compliance processes.

Responsibilities

• Deliver operational governance across the committee cycle and associated activities.
• Handle complaints, assurance activity and policy coordination with reliable audit trails.

Job description

UHI is the United Kingdom's leading integrated university encompassing both further and higher education. We are more than a college and more than a traditional university: a diverse, flexible partnership, rooted in our communities and driven by their needs. Our network of colleges, specialist teaching centres and internationally recognised research institutes delivers supported, flexible learning from access level to PhD.

Governance and Assurance Officer

Department name

The University Secretary's Office supports UHI's system of governance, assurance, compliance, and formal decision making. It works closely with Court, its committees, senior officers, and professional services teams to ensure that governance business is conducted effectively, transparently, and to a high professional standard.

This post sits within the governance, complaints, assurance, and policy area of the University Secretary's Office. The role will provide operational delivery across the committee cycle, complaints handling, assurance activity, policy coordination, and information governance activity, with particular responsibility for maintaining clear processes, accurate records, reliable audit trails, and timely business flow across UHI's governance framework.

A detailed job description and person specification for the post are attached.

Applicants with informal questions are encouraged to contact Nicholas Oakley, Head of Policy Assurance & Compliance (Governance), by email to [e-mail] .

Pay and Benefits

This role is linked to grade 7 on the UHI payscale.

The starting salary for this position will normally be in the range of £43,243 to £45,877 per annum.

For exceptional candidates a higher salary up to the top of the grade (currently £50,129 per annum) may be available.

The workplace pension scheme we provide to workers at grade six and above is the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS). This is a qualifying pension scheme, which means it meets or exceeds the government's standards. Full information on the scheme can be found at http://www.uss.co.uk/Pages/default.aspx

Full-time posts carry a total of 42 days leave per annum (pro rata for part-time posts). It is practice that, with the exception of a Christmas and New Year closure, leave may be taken at any time of year, subject to the requirements of the post and department and with the permission of your line manager.

Interviews

Interviews will be held 01 October 2026.

• Job description
• Person specification
• Further information
• Terms and conditions
• Guidance notes for candidates
• Summary of terms and conditions of employment

UHI Employee Benefits

At UHI, we offer a supportive, flexible and rewarding place to work, with a range of benefits including:

• 42 days' annual leave (pro rata)
• Attractive pension scheme and options for additional contributions
• Flexible working and family-friendly policies
• Occupational sick pay and an Employee Assistance Programme (incl. spousal support)
• High-street and online retail discounts
• 10% off Highlife Highland memberships
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Contribution towards DSE prescription glasses
• Free parking and EV charging (where available)
• LinkedIn Learning access for ongoing professional development
• Long-service awards and active social events

Vacancies

• Further information - partner vacancies
• Further information - students and graduates
• Further information - university vacancies