Non-Executive Board Member

Job summary

UKRI was founded in 2018 with a vision to drive ground-breaking research and innovation throughout the UK, whether in world-class universities, pioneering research institutes, or dynamic businesses and start-ups. By harnessing its combined strength and cross-cutting capabilities, UKRI is a key delivery partner for Government’s five missions and eight industrial strategy sectors.

At the heart of UKRI’s mission to “advance knowledge, improve lives, drive growth” is its Board, a collective of experts and leaders drawn from business, industry, and academia, each bringing invaluable experience to guide UKRI forwards. The Board is not only a guardian of governance and accountability, but its members work together to set priorities, challenge assumptions, and ensure UKRI remains responsive to the changing needs of the research and innovation landscape and delivers for citizens.

Job description

We are seeking to appoint a new Non-Executive Board Member with strong financial credentials and experience. This individual will play a vital role in strengthening the Board’s financial expertise both directly in Board meetings and through representation on, and potentially, eventual leadership of, the Board’s Audit and Risk Assurance Committee. As UKRI continues to work to stimulate enterprise growth and foster new ventures across the UK, we are especially keen to attract leaders with diverse and distinguished backgrounds from every region of the UK and beyond. The richness of experience and diversity within our Board is fundamental to UKRI’s success and its ability to deliver lasting impact.

Person specification

The UKRI Board is expected to provide clear strategic direction and oversight, promoting the importance of UK research and innovation, and supporting the senior leadership team of the organisation to embed effective ways of working across UKRI. We are seeking to complement the current Board by appointing a new Non-Executive member that can demonstrate the following experiences and attributes.

Essential Criteria

• Proven accounting qualifications alongside experience of working in finance and/or risk management with an ability to ensure effective governance and risk management frameworks are in place.

• Knowledge: a clear understanding of the work, priorities and challenges of UKRI and the context within which it operates

• Leadership: the ability to set strategic vision and drive forward UKRI’s priorities

One or more of the following would also be welcome:

• Extensive experience engaging with or within the devolved nations, with a strong understanding of their structures, policy frameworks, and operational dynamics.

• Previous experience serving on an Audit Committee, ideally as Chair, with a strong grasp of governance, risk, and assurance functions.

• Track record of leading or overseeing major research and development (R&D) programmes, particularly those with long-term impact.

• Experience collaborating with Government on the development and implementation of science policy, including navigating political and regulatory environments.

• Background in the life sciences, with insight into the sector’s challenges, opportunities, and regulatory landscape.

For more information about the role and to download the candidate pack, please click 'apply' and visit our careers page.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

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 withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

Please click 'apply' to visit our careers site and submit your application.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

Please note this Post is NOT regulated by the Civil Service Commission.The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

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Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Public Appointments Team
• Email : publicappointments@ukri.org

Recruitment team

• Email : publicappointments@ukri.org