Programme Manager, Risk Compliance and Assurance in Oxford

Programme Manager, Risk Compliance and Assurance

Risk, compliance and assurance are being reshaped across the University through a major multi-year transformation programme designed to strengthen institutional confidence, simplify ways of working and embed sustainable improvements. As Risk, Compliance and Assurance Programme Manager, you will lead this complex programme from strategy through implementation, turning agreed standards and ambitions into measurable, embedded change.

Location: University Offices, Wellington Square, Oxford OX1 2JD. Hybrid working, with attendance on University sites subject to business needs (2–3 days a week on average)

Contract: Full Time (a minimum of 0.8 FTE will be considered), Fixed Term until 31 July 2029, with possibility of extension

About Us

Spanning the historic streets of the “city of dreaming spires”, the University of Oxford has been ranked the world's leading university for ten consecutive years. A place where centuries of tradition meet world-changing innovation, we offer you the chance to shape the future while working in an inspiring environment that promotes excellence. Here, you’ll contribute to an organisation which delivers ground-breaking research that tackles global challenges - from advancing sustainability to pioneering healthcare solutions - and join a diverse, inclusive community that champions your wellbeing, development, and aspirations. Apply now to become part of our extraordinary legacy.

Comprising of the Risk, Compliance and Assurance; Information Compliance and Business Continuity teams, the Assurance Directorate manages risk, ensures compliance and provides assurance to the University’s Council, its Committee and sub-Committees, and senior decision-makers including the Vice Chancellor, Pro-Vice Chancellors and the Registrar. Our remit also covers working across the wider university, with our work mainly focused on divisions and departments, and dealing with the regulators, external customers and other stakeholders.

What We Offer

• 38 days of annual leave (inclusive of public holidays) to support your wellbeing, with the option to purchase up to 10 extra days and additional leave after long service.
• One of the most generous family leave schemes in UK higher education, offering up to 26 weeks of full-pay maternity and adoption leave, plus 12 weeks of full-pay paternity/partner leave.
• A commitment to hybrid and flexible working to suit your lifestyle.
• An excellent contributory pension scheme.
• Affordable and sustainable commuting options, including a cycle loan scheme, discounted bus travel, and season ticket loans.
• Access to a vibrant community through our social, cultural, and sports clubs.

About the Role

The Risk, Compliance and Assurance Programme is a major University-wide change initiative spanning enterprise risk management, compliance, internal controls and assurance As Programme Manager, you will provide end-to-end leadership of its roadmap and delivery, creating the structure, momentum and accountability needed to translate strategic priorities into implemented, sustained and auditable improvements.

You will operate across a complex, federated environment where successful transformation depends as much on influence and organisational change as programme discipline. Working with University leaders, divisions, departments, and specialist teams, you will resolve competing priorities and dependencies, secure ownership of change and ensure new standards and ways of working are understood and adopted. You will provide senior decision-makers with clear evidence of delivery confidence, institutional impact, risks and benefits.

This role offers significant scope to shape how a major institutional transformation is delivered and embedded. You will bring together programme management, business change and, ideally, risk, compliance and assurance expertise to strengthen management information, improve control and assurance arrangements, reduce duplication and establish sustainable capability beyond the life of the programme. Successful delivery will enable the University to manage its obligations more effectively while supporting its education and research missions.

As this role supports ongoing strategic priorities, we are keen to appoint someone who can begin contributing within a relatively short timeframe and would welcome applications from candidates who are available to start promptly.

About You

• Proven experience of leading complex, multi-stream change or transformation programmes in a large, politically nuanced, federated or devolved organisation, with demonstrable delivery to time and outcome.
• Exceptional programme delivery skills, with the ability to establish structure, maintain momentum, manage interdependencies, resolve issues and hold others accountable for agreed outcomes.
• Substantial business change management experience, including change impact, stakeholder engagement, readiness, adoption, transition and embedding new arrangements into business as usual.
• Experience gained in higher education, the public sector or another regulated, complex and devolved environment.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the judgement to move from ambiguity to clear decisions, actions and accountabilities.
• The credibility and political acuity to influence and constructively challenge senior stakeholders, including where priorities or perspectives differ.
• Excellent written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills, including communicating complex issues effectively to senior leaders, committees and diverse stakeholder groups.
• Experience establishing and tracking benefits, outcome measures, baselines and evidence of organisational impact.
• Strong knowledge of governance, internal control, assurance, risk and compliance, with the ability to apply this expertise pragmatically within a complex institution.

Pay Scale : STANDARD GRADE 9