UK Research and Innovation
Salary: £45,272 per annum
Hours: Full time
Contract Type: Open Ended
Location: Polaris House, Swindon, Wiltshire.
Closing date: Tuesday 18th March 2025
Purpose of the role
As Private Secretary, the successful applicant will be responsible for providing an overall package of support to the Finance Director - supporting effective decision-making and operational delivery - allowing them to fulfill their strategic leadership role. This is a pivotal role supporting a broad-ranging, dynamic, and high-profile agenda.
The successful applicant will work closely with the Private Offices across UKRI in coordinating the portfolio of the Finance Director's responsibilities.
Key areas of accountability
The successful applicant will be responsible for:
* Effectively delivering and delegating on behalf of the Finance Director, convening and coordinating the right people to develop solutions.
* Building and maintaining effective stakeholder networks, effectively sharing information, maintaining confidence, and operating with a high level of tact, discretion, and integrity.
* Working with teams across Finance to deliver an effective programme of communications and strategic engagement for the Finance Director and their Senior Leadership Team.
* Being a visible and approachable point of contact for finance staff, working collaboratively and inclusively with teams.
Process and delivery:
* Overseeing diary and travel management, using business knowledge to make considered decisions when juggling demands on the schedule.
* Managing information flows to and from the Finance Director and their Senior Leadership Team, effectively sharing information and making sound judgements on briefing stakeholders.
* Commissioning briefings, seeking expert input and advice from the relevant teams, utilising their understanding of the ‘political’ dimension and operating effectively with those who have wider or different agendas.
* Managing, prioritising, and responding to communications; providing drafts for clearance.
* Ensuring the smooth running of all relevant meetings – including meeting arrangements and providing secretarial support including notes, drafts of resulting meeting minutes and follow-up on actions.
* Problem-solving and developing effective solutions to issues arising.
* Facilitating effective engagement across Finance.
* Overseeing compliance with UKRI policies and processes, including Declarations of Interest, Gifts and Hospitality, recruitment, ensuring regularity, propriety, and value for money; ensuring compliance with UKRI’s records management requirements.
* Working with Private Offices across UKRI to provide a resilient service to the whole organisation.
Person specification
Skills, Qualifications & Experience
* Ability to work at pace, think strategically and respond to shifting priorities (S&I).
* Excellent attention to detail and accuracy; self-motivated and quality-focused (S&I).
* Ability to plan ahead and manage competing priorities (S&I).
* Ability to solve problems with a high degree of initiative and ingenuity; demonstrable emotional intelligence and tolerance of ambiguity and uncertainty (S&I).
* Excellent written and verbal communication skills, attention to detail and accuracy (S&I).
* Ability to work independently and collaboratively with multiple stakeholders across teams, councils and communities, matrix manage and delegate effectively (S&I).
* Has an understanding of UKRI business and its business cycles and understands how these could impact on the finance team (S&I).
S - Assessed at shortlisting, I - Assessed at interview, S&I - Assessed at both shortlisting and interview.
About UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)
UKRI launched in April 2018, UKRI is a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT).
Our organisation brings together the seven disciplinary research councils, Research England, which is responsible for supporting research and knowledge exchange at higher education institutions in England, and the UK’s innovation agency, Innovate UK. Together we build an independent organisation with a strong voice and vision to ensure the UK maintains its world-leading position in research and innovation. More information can be found at www.ukri.org.
Choosing to come to work at UKRI means that you will have access to a whole host of benefits from a defined benefit pension scheme, excellent holiday entitlement, access to employee shopping/travel discounts, and a salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme. For more details, visit Benefits of working for UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).
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.
How we support EDI in the workforce
At UKRI, we believe that everyone has a right to be treated with dignity and respect, and to be provided with equal opportunities to thrive and succeed in an environment that enables them to do so. We also value diversity of thought and experience within inclusive groups, organisations and the wider community. For further information, please visit How we support EDI in the workforce.
Disability Confident Employer
As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy/ies. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.
How to apply
Online applications only preferred for this role. Please submit a CV and covering letter which clearly outlines how you fulfil the criteria specified along with your motivation for UKRI and the role. Ensure that the job reference number is included in the filename description of each document uploaded. Note that failure to address the above criteria or submit an application without a covering letter may result in the application not being considered. Assessment will only be based upon the content of your submitted covering letter and CV and not the ‘experience’ section of the application.
UKRI seeks to ensure it creates and maintains a system of openness, fairness, and inclusion – a collaborative, trusted environment, which is attractive to and accessible to everyone who is interested in developing their career with us.
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