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- Tasks: Lead the CEO's office, manage relationships, and drive strategic initiatives.
- Company: Innovate UK is a dynamic organisation focused on research and innovation for public benefit.
- Benefits: Enjoy 30 days annual leave, flexible working options, and an outstanding pension scheme.
- Why this job: This role offers unique exposure to high-level decision-making and a chance to influence key priorities.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in fast-paced environments, strong interpersonal skills, and eligibility for Developed Vetting clearance.
- Other info: Ideal for ambitious leaders looking to advance their careers in a supportive culture.
The predicted salary is between 55000 - 77000 £ per year.
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Salary:£68,525 Per Annum
Hours:Full Time
Contract type:Open Ended
Location:Swindon or London. (Candidate will need to be flexible and able to travel for a minimum of 2/3 days per week, including occasional international travel)
Grade:UKRI Band G
Closing Date:Sunday 14thSeptember 2025
Security
As a minimum, due to the nature of this role, candidates must be eligible for clearance in line with UK National vetting guidelines and willing to undertake the process. Please indicate eligibility in the written submission. Candidates not meeting this level of clearance will not be considered
The level of clearance required is Developed Vetting. For further information please visitDV – Guidance Pack for Applicants – GOV.UK
Job Overview
The Head of the CEOs office directly supports the UKRI CEO Professor Sir Ian Chapman and leads the CEOs Private Office function.
This is a high profile, demanding position at the very heart of the organisation, providing the post-holder with exposure across UKRI, its stakeholder communities and Government partners.
Directly reporting to the CEO, you will act as a trusted advisor, building and maintaining strong relationships with a wide range of stakeholders across the research and innovation sector, business, and Government.
Acting as the interface between the CEO, the organisation, and its key stakeholders, you will represent the CEOs views, facilitating the flow of decisions and advice to and from the Chief Executive,enabling an efficient, multi-way movement of information.
The post holder will also work closely with UKRIs Executive team including the Chief of Investment Planning and Strategy, and leaders of each of UKRIs nine Councils.
With responsibility for the UKRI Chairs Private Office you will also have regular interaction with UKRIs Chair, ensuring that their office functions efficiently and effectively to meet their needs.
The post-holder will collaborate with the UKRI Secretariat Function, using their position tomaintain a strong overview of the key priorities across UKRI and drawing on this understanding to support the effective functioning of the UKRI Board, Executive Committee, and their sub-committees as a collective system for better decision-making.
This is a key leadership role, in addition tomanaging the wider CEOs Office team, the successful candidate will interact with the wider Investment Planning and Strategy (IPS) Directorate and will also provide leadership of the Private Office profession across the wider organisation.
The successful candidate will be able to use their initiative and good judgement, should be calm under pressure, and will be able to handle challenging situations with diplomacy and tact. You will need to possess integrity and understand the need for, and exercise, discretion, and confidentiality.
This role will provide you with unique experience and the opportunity to influence strategic priorities and decision making at highest levels. As such, it would suit an ambitious candidate looking to develop their own career towards the most senior leadership roles in the future.
If you are an outstanding leader who enjoys working in a dynamic, fast-paced environment, collaborating closely with colleagues right across the organisation to further research and innovation for public benefit, then this is a job for you.
Key Responsibilities
Your key responsibilities may vary over time to adapt to changing business needs. They currently include:
- Ensuring the effective day-to-day operation of the CEO and Chair Offices. As part of this:
- Developing positive relationships with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders to ensure that high-quality advice and papers are provided in a timely fashion to the CEO, Executive Committee, and Board.
- Identifying emerging trends or issues which could impact on the CEO or the Offices ability to support them and working with team members and colleagues across the organisation to harness or mitigate these as appropriate.
- Driving forward CEO priorities, including taking ownership of discrete projects and pieces of work as required by the CEO.
- Providing advice to the CEO, Chair, and colleagues across UKRI, drawing upon the cross-cutting awareness of organisational activity that will be built and maintained.
- Leading on the CEOs engagement with particularly high-profile and sensitive topics, including Ministerial engagements, fiscal events, national security matters, and senior recruitment.
- Fostering and maintaining effective and collegiate working relationships across all UKRIs Private Offices, and in particular with those that support members of UKRIs Organisational Leadership Team (OLT). Encouraging and embedding a culture and structures that support a joined-up, cohesive way of working and effective intelligence sharing.
Person Specification
(S) Shortlisting Criteria (I) Interview Criteria (S & I) – Shortlisting Criteria & Interview Criteria
Essential
- A proven track record working in a fast-paced, complex, and changing organisational environment. (S)
- Successful influencing and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build and maintain strong working relationships with a wide range of stakeholders.(S & I)
- Ability to see the bigger picture, whilst being comfortable with detail; considering the wider landscape and range of stakeholder perspectives.(S & I)
- Ability to make effective decisions by pragmatically weighing the complexities involved against the need to act in a fast-paced environment. (S & I)
- Excellent organisational and prioritisation skills. (S & I)
- Outstanding written and oral communication skills to be able to operate at all levels of the organisation. Experience of providing advice to the most senior levels of an organisation. (S & I)
- Demonstrable experience in leading and motivating a team, including building an effective and supportive team culture. (S & I)
- Must be eligible to obtain Developed Vetting (DV) clearance in accordance with UK National Security Vetting guidelines. (S)
Desirable
- Experience of covering or working in an office of a senior leader. (S)
- Knowledge of the Research and Innovation landscape. (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 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
Please click here for more details on thehttps://www.discover.ukri.org/benefits-of-working-at-ukri/index.html
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Head of CEO\'s Office employer: Innovate UK
Contact Detail:
Innovate UK Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of CEO\'s Office
✨Tip Number 1
Network strategically with professionals in the research and innovation sector. Attend relevant events or webinars where you can meet stakeholders and decision-makers, as building these relationships can give you insights into the role and potentially lead to referrals.
✨Tip Number 2
Familiarise yourself with UKRI's current projects and priorities. Understanding their strategic goals will allow you to engage in meaningful conversations and demonstrate your knowledge during interviews, showing that you're aligned with their mission.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for potential interview scenarios by practising how you would handle high-pressure situations. Given the nature of this role, showcasing your ability to remain calm and make effective decisions under pressure will be crucial.
✨Tip Number 4
Highlight your experience in leading teams and managing complex projects. Be ready to discuss specific examples where you've successfully influenced stakeholders and driven initiatives, as this will resonate well with the expectations of the Head of CEO's Office role.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of CEO\'s Office
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience and skills that align with the responsibilities of the Head of CEO's Office role. Focus on your leadership abilities, stakeholder management, and any experience in fast-paced environments.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your enthusiasm for the role and explain how your background makes you a suitable candidate. Be specific about your achievements and how they relate to the key responsibilities outlined in the job description.
Demonstrate Eligibility for Clearance: Clearly indicate your eligibility for Developed Vetting clearance in your application. This is crucial for this role, so make sure to address it directly to avoid any misunderstandings.
Showcase Communication Skills: Since outstanding written and oral communication skills are essential for this position, ensure your application is well-structured and free of errors. Use clear and concise language to convey your points effectively.
How to prepare for a job interview at Innovate UK
✨Understand the Role Thoroughly
Before the interview, make sure you have a deep understanding of the Head of CEO's Office role. Familiarise yourself with the responsibilities and expectations outlined in the job description, especially around stakeholder management and decision-making processes.
✨Demonstrate Your Leadership Skills
Be prepared to discuss your experience in leading teams and managing complex projects. Highlight specific examples where you've successfully influenced stakeholders or navigated challenging situations, as this role requires strong leadership and interpersonal skills.
✨Showcase Your Strategic Thinking
During the interview, illustrate your ability to see the bigger picture while also being detail-oriented. Discuss how you've previously identified emerging trends or issues and how you acted on them to benefit your organisation.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that assess your problem-solving abilities and decision-making skills in high-pressure situations. Think of scenarios from your past experiences where you had to make quick decisions and how you managed the outcomes.
