UK Research & Innovation Salary: £46,743 per annum. Band: UKRI Band E. Contract Type: Fixed Term (Until 16th June 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 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 The below criteria will be scored during Shortlisting (S), Interview (I) or both (S&I). Essential Strong risk management experience, including operating effective risk management strategies, policy, and frameworks in an organisation. (S & I). Experience of writing papers and delivering agenda items in relevant forums (S & I). Experience collaborating with teams at a range of levels and being a trusted advisor providing expert professional advice to management. (S & I). 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. (S & I). Experience of working with internal and external Auditors (preferably National Audit Office) (S & I). Qualifications Member of the Institute of Risk Management (Or equivalent experience) (S). Or Equivalent Risk & Assurance qualification (Or equivalent experience) (S). 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) Please apply online, if you experience any issue applying, please contact Recruitment@ukri.org. 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, please visit https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa/how-much-it-costs or contact Recruitment@ukri.org. UKRI - UK Research and Innovation UKRI is an organisation that brings together the seven disciplinary research councils, Research England and Innovate UK. Together, we build an independent organisation with a strong voice and vision ensuring the UK maintains its world-leading position in research and innovation. Supporting some of the world's most exciting and challenging research projects, we develop and operate some of the most remarkable scientific facilities in the world. We are pushing the frontiers of human knowledge through fundamental research and delivering benefits for UK society and the economy through world-class research, skills and business-led 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 salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme. For more details, visit benefits of working for UKRI. 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, 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. 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. Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be rejected and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. 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.