Risk & Assurance Business Partner (Parental Leave) in Swindon

UK Research & Innovation Salary: £46,743 per annum. Band: UKRI Band E. Contract Type: Fixed Term (Until 31st December 2026). Hours: Full-time (flexible working available). Location: Polaris House, Swindon, Wiltshire - Hybrid working available (Min 2 days per week in the office). Closing Date: 16th June 2026.

About the role

The Risk & Assurance Business Partners work as part of the Risk and Assurance team, with the Head of Risk and Assurance, supporting the Director of Risk Assurance, and other UKRI senior leaders to ensure that UKRI operates best practice throughout its risk management and integrated assurance arrangements. The postholder may support work with stakeholders in government and other funders and partners on risk, assurance, and control framework approaches. The team is part of the new Risk & Assurance function, working closely within the directorate as well as across the organisation. A critical element of the role is to support delivery of changes and new ways of working, increasing collaboration in how we manage risk across the organisation to create and protect value through risk and assurance management.

Your responsibilities

• Excellent people skills, able to influence, build and maintain strong working relationships with a wide range of stakeholders at all levels, both internally and externally.
• Enthusiastic, motivated, adaptable, and proactive with the ability to work flexibly in a changing environment and respond to shifting priorities.
• Ability to innovate and challenge established thinking in self and others, and to offer insights and ideas with practical application coupled with the ability to drive change.
• Insightful business awareness with the ability to understand and analyse changing business context and landscape to assess and manage risk, capitalise on emerging opportunities, make sound evidence‑based judgements, promote the interests of UKRI and research and innovation.
• Ability to instil confidence within stakeholders at a range of levels, acting as a trusted advisor.
• Excellent communication skills including good experience of writing reports to a high standard.
• Strong understanding of risk, assurance, and audit activities.
• Excellent attention to detail and good system based and general administration skills.

Personal Specification

Essential

• Strong risk management experience, including operating effective risk management strategies, policy, and frameworks in an organisation.
• Experience of writing papers and delivering agenda items in relevant forums.
• Experience collaborating with teams at a range of levels and being a trusted advisor providing expert professional advice to management.
• Ability to innovate and challenge established thinking in self and others, and to offer insights and ideas with practical application coupled with the ability to effectively support change.
• Experience of working with internal and external Auditors (preferably National Audit Office).

Qualifications

• Member of the Institute of Risk Management (Or equivalent experience).
• Equivalent Risk & Assurance qualification (Or equivalent experience).

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!

• 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!

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.

Disability Confident Employer

As users of the disability confident scheme, any candidate who opts into the scheme and best meets the essential criteria, will be shortlisted for interview. 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.

Pre‑employment checks

As part of the pre‑employment checks there is a requirement to undergo Baseline Personnel Security Screening. BPSS is a pre‑condition of employment and failure to achieve it may mean that the employment offer is rescinded. UKRI reserves the right to run, or re‑run, security clearance as required during the course of employment.