Senior Governance Manager

UK RESEARCH AND INNOVATION; Swindon; Hybrid; GBP 47,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading research organization seeks a Senior Governance Manager to ensure governance compliance and best practices in a new team. Based in Swindon with hybrid working options, you'll lead governance activities, develop policies, and advise Councils. The ideal candidate has a relevant degree and experience in governance frameworks, alongside strong communication skills. This role offers a comprehensive benefits package including a defined benefit pension scheme and 30 days' annual leave.

Benefits

Defined benefit pension scheme

30 days annual leave

Employee assistance programme

Flexible working options

Qualifications

• Relevant degree and/or professional governance experience.
• Experience in developing governance policies and frameworks.
• Strong understanding of public sector compliance requirements.

Responsibilities

• Lead the annual review of the Policy on Policies.
• Advise Councils on delegated authority.
• Ensure compliance with the Welsh Language Scheme.

Skills

Communication skills

Stakeholder management

Policy development

Risk management

Education

Degree in relevant field

Job description

Salary:£46,743 per annum.

Band:UKRI Band E.

Contract Type:Open ended.

Hours:Full-time. (flexible working available)

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

Closing Date:Sunday 8th February 2026

About the Governance Team

The Senior Governance Manager is a key role in a newly established team that will consolidate UKRI governance activity into a single function. The team will be established under the General Counsel Group and will be responsible for ensuring that UKRI operates its corporate governance arrangements compliantly and in line with best practice. The team’s remit will include core governance activities previously delivered by the UKRI Internal Controls Team, ranging from Declarations of Interest, Delegations, Gifts and Hospitality, and coordination of inputs to the annual Governance Statement; to drafting the annual Modern Slavery Statement, compliance with Welsh Language Scheme obligations, and work on the Policy of Policies. The team will also advise staff at all levels in the organisation on both ad hoc and complex corporate governance queries, including contributing to Accounting Officer Advice where applicable.

About the role

The Senior Governance Manager is a key role which ensures compliant and best practice delivery and advice in relation to core corporate governance activities delivered by the Governance team. You will work side by side with another Senior Governance Manager as part of a team, helping to develop and champion the establishment of the new function and will have responsibility for the following key activities:

Your responsibilities

• Lead the annual review of the Policy on Policies, review of the Policy Register on CGR and provision of advice and support to Councils on policy development.
• Advice to Councils on delegated authority and interpretation of the UKRI Delegations Framework; ensuring issue of delegation/allocation letters in a timely manner across the organisation as required.
• Lead the coordination of input to and drafting of the annual Governance Statement, attendance at the ARA working group, monitoring key milestones and meeting dates to ensure appropriate clearance within agreed timescales.
• Lead the operation of the Gifts and Hospitality Policy, portal and process: reviewing policy and guidance annually and providing advice/support to staff as needed; assuring incoming declarations, carrying out quarterly reviews of register entries and providing quarterly assurance report for DSIT.
• Lead the operation of the annual Declarations of Interest exercise: ensuring the portal is maintained, reviewing policy and guidance annually and providing advice/support to staff as needed; carrying out quarterly reviews of register entries, developing a quarterly reporting process and carrying out a qualitative assurance review of Council and UKRI declarations.
• Reviewing and ensuring UKRI compliance with the Welsh Language Scheme including via a rolling three-year review.
• Lead the developing and publishing of the annual Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Statement, advising collaborators as necessary; establish working group to review/address modern slavery risks and issues.
• Maintaining and ensuring visibility of UKRI’s Rapid Response Policy.
• Supporting the Governance lead in setting up an informal network of governance staff to share standard process and contribute to development of governance policy, and supporting governance staff in Councils to manage local compliance and reporting of governance activities.
• Advising on governance queries; providing reports to UKRI committees as required.
• Manage team risks on the CGRsystem.

Personal Specification

The below criteria will be scored during Shortlisting (S), Interview (I) or both (S&AI).

Essential

• Degree and/or relevant professional experience relevant to governance roles. (S)
• Experience in developing, reviewing, and advising on governance policies and frameworks, with a strong understanding of public sector standards and compliance requirements, including Managing Public Money, HM Treasury and Cabinet Office standards and rules, particularly in relation to corporate governance, regularity and propriety, risk management, and internal audit standards. (S&AI)
• Demonstrated ability to manage regular governance processes, monitor milestones, assess and manage risk in context, and ensure timely delivery of outputs aligned with organisational priorities. (S&AI)
• Strong oral and written communication skills, with the ability to produce high-quality reports and papers, work collaboratively with internal and external auditors, and apply attention to detail in system-based tasks. (S&AI)
• Ability to influence and build trusted relationships across a wide range of stakeholders, support teams, and act as a credible advisor in governance matters. (I)
• Demonstrate enthusiasm, flexibility, and resilience in a changing environment, with a proactive mindset to challenge established thinking and drive continuous improvement. (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 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.

Please apply online, if you experience any issue applying, please contact [e-mail].

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 ... https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa/how-much-it-costs or [e-mail].