Operational Safety Assurance Manager (Aviation & Maritime)

NERC: Natural Environment Research Council; Swindon; Hybrid; GBP 42,000 - 51,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension scheme

Annual leave 30 days + holidays

Employee discounts

Employee assistance programme

Flexible working

Job summary

NERC: Natural Environment Research Council in Swindon invites applications for the role of Operational Safety Assurance Manager (Aviation & Maritime). The role drives assurance leadership across aviation and maritime capabilities, delivering oversight, reporting and improvement across the organisation.

The post sits in the People and Operational Delivery function and collaborates with centres, governance teams and UKRI colleagues to mature the assurance framework and safeguard operations in

Qualifications

• Experience of assurance, risk management, governance or operational oversight within a complex organisation.
• Experience 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, including working effectively across organisational boundaries.
• Understanding of assurance, governance and risk management principles and their practical application.

Responsibilities

• Lead aviation and maritime safety assurance activities across NERC National Capabilities.
• Manage assurance reviews, track actions, and support continuous improvement.
• Produce safety assurance reports, statements, and performance insights for senior governance groups.
• Monitor operational safety risks, review safety cases, and support mitigation activities.
• Act as Secretariat to key aviation and maritime assurance panels and governance forums.
• Build effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including regulators and delivery partners.
• Develop reporting frameworks, dashboards, and performance metrics to support safety oversight.
• Identify emerging risks, trends, and opportunities for improvement.
• Support audits, inspections, and independent assurance reviews.
• Promote sharing of lessons learned and best practice across aviation and maritime operations.

Skills

Assurance and risk management

Governance and oversight

Analytical reporting

Stakeholder engagement

Communication skills

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

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

• Lead aviation and maritime safety assurance activities across NERC National Capabilities.
• Manage assurance reviews, track actions, and support continuous improvement.
• Produce safety assurance reports, statements, and performance insights for senior governance groups.
• Monitor operational safety risks, review safety cases, and support mitigation activities.
• Act as Secretariat to key aviation and maritime assurance panels and governance forums.
• Build effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including regulators and delivery partners.
• Develop reporting frameworks, dashboards, and performance metrics to support safety oversight.
• Identify emerging risks, trends, and opportunities for improvement.
• Support audits, inspections, and independent assurance reviews.
• Promote the sharing of lessons learned and best practice across aviation and maritime operations.
• Promote the sharing of lessons learned and good practice across aviation and maritime operations.

Personal Specification

• 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, including working effectively across organisational boundaries.
• Understanding of assurance, governance and risk management principles and their practical application.
• Strong organisational skills, including the ability to manage competing priorities and deliver outcomes to deadlines.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to provide clear advice, challenge and recommendations.

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!

UKRI is an Equal Opportunity & Disability Confident Employer.