Operational Safety Assurance Manager

UK Research and Innovation; Swindon; Hybrid; GBP 42,000 - 51,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Defined pay pension

30 days annual leave

Flexible working options

Employee assistance programme

Hybrid working

Job summary

Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) within UKRI seeks an Operational Safety Assurance Manager to lead aviation and maritime safety assurance, oversight and reporting. Hybrid working from Polaris House Swindon (0.8–1.0 FTE possible) supports a flexible schedule while maintaining high standards.

The role focuses on developing and maturing safety assurance frameworks, coordinating reviews, and delivering clear governance reporting to senior leadership, regulators and partners.

Qualifications

• Experience of assurance, risk management, governance or operational oversight within a complex organisation.
• Experience of delivering assurance, oversight or improvement activities within a complex and/or highly regulated environment.
• Ability to analyse, interpret and present complex information, data and risks to support evidence-based decision making.
• Experience of developing reports, dashboards, management information or assurance reporting for senior audiences.
• Strong stakeholder engagement, influencing and relationship management skills across organisational boundaries.
• Understanding of assurance, governance and risk management principles and their practical application.
• Strong organisational skills to manage competing priorities and meet deadlines.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with clear advice and recommendations.

Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate aviation and maritime operational safety assurance activities across NERC National Capabilities.
• Manage assurance reviews, track recommendations and support improvement actions.
• Lead production of assurance reports and statements for senior governance bodies.
• Collate, analyse and interpret safety performance information for governance forums.
• Oversee assurance arrangements reviews within organisations delivering activities for UKRI-NERC.
• Act as focal point for safety case reviews and assurance findings.
• Identify and monitor operational safety risks and mitigating actions.
• Collaborate with subject matter experts to assess residual risk in operations.
• Support external audits, inspections and independent assurance reviews.
• Help establish and mature UKRI's operational safety assurance framework.

Skills

Assurance leadership

Governance

Risk management

Stakeholder engagement

Data interpretation

Reporting to executives

Communication

Job description

Operational Safety Assurance Manager (Aviation & Maritime)

Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)

Salary: £46,743 per annum
Band: UKRI Band E
Contract Type: Fixed Term (14 months – Parental leave)
Hours: Full-time/ Part Time (minimum 0.8 FTE) (flexible working available)
Location: Polaris House, Swindon, Wiltshire - Hybrid working available
Reports to: Associate Director, Corporate Governance and Stewardship
Closing Date: Sunday 15th November 2026
Interview Date: Proposed date W/C 30th November

Role Purpose

This role provides an excellent opportunity to support operational safety leadership across UKRI-NERC's aviation and maritime National Capabilities. The postholder will lead the assurance, oversight and monitoring of complex operational safety management systems, providing specialist advice and challenge to operating organisations and supporting assurance reporting to NERC and UKRI senior leadership.

The role sits within the People and Operational Delivery function and plays a key role in ensuring that NERC maintains effective oversight of operational safety risks across its aviation and maritime activities. Working closely with operational safety professionals, NERC Centres, governance teams and UKRI colleagues, the postholder will help establish and mature NERC's operational safety assurance framework and support a culture of continuous improvement.

Operational safety is defined as the absence of unacceptable risk of harm to people, assets or the environment arising from aviation and maritime operations conducted within highly regulated environments.

Key Responsibilities

Operational Safety Assurance

• Lead and coordinate aviation and maritime operational safety assurance activities across NERC National Capabilities.
• Manage assurance reviews, track recommendations and support the implementation of improvement actions.
• Lead the production of assurance reports and assurance statements for senior governance bodies.
• Collate, analyse and interpret operational safety performance information and provide clear reporting to relevant governance forums.
• Lead regular reviews of assurance arrangements within organisations delivering operational activities on behalf of UKRI-NERC.
• Act as a focal point for review and oversight of safety cases, supporting evidence and assurance findings.
• Support the identification, assessment and monitoring of operational safety risks and associated mitigation measures.
• Work with subject matter experts to assess residual risk arising from aviation and maritime operations.
• Support external audits, inspections and independent assurance reviews.
• Contribute to the establishment and maturation of UKRI's operational safety assurance framework.
  

Governance and Stakeholder Engagement

• Act as Secretariat to the Aviation Assurance Panel (AAP), Maritime Assurance Panel (MAP), and other relevant assurance and governance forums.
• Provide professional support, analysis and reporting to senior governance bodies and decision makers.
• Develop and maintain effective relationships with operational safety managers, senior leaders, Centre representatives, regulators and external stakeholders.
• Work collaboratively with relevant UKRI functions and government departments, including BIST, to share good practice and strengthen assurance arrangements.
• Provide advice and guidance on operational safety assurance policy, governance and reporting requirements.
• Support the development and continuous improvement of operational safety assurance processes and frameworks.
  Assurance, Reporting and Continuous Improvement
• Develop and maintain effective reporting frameworks, dashboards and management information to support operational safety oversight.
• Monitor key performance indicators and assurance metrics to assess the effectiveness of assurance activities.
• Identify emerging risks, trends and opportunities for improvement and elevate issues where required.
• Promote the sharing of lessons learned and good practice across aviation and maritime operations.
  

Personal Specification

Essential

• Experience of assurance, risk management, governance or operational oversight within a complex organisation. (S&I)
• Experience of delivering assurance, oversight or improvement activities within a complex and/or highly regulated environment. (S&I)
• Ability to analyse, interpret and present complex information, data and risks to support evidence-based decision making. (S&I)
• Experience of developing reports, dashboards, management information or assurance reporting for senior audiences. (S&I)
• Strong stakeholder engagement, influencing and relationship management skills, including working effectively across organisational boundaries. (S&I)
• Understanding of assurance, governance and risk management principles and their practical application. (S&I)
• Strong organisational skills, including the ability to manage competing priorities and deliver outcomes to deadlines. (S&I)
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to provide clear advice, challenge and recommendations. (S&I)

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 salary 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.