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Job summary

UK Research & Innovation
Salary: £46,743.
Band: UKRI Band E.
Hours: Full Time.
Contract Type: Open Ended.
Location: Polaris House, Swindon - Hybrid Working Available (Minimum 2 days per week in office).

Closing Date: Sunday 19th July 2026.

Job description

About the role

This is a new role in the organisation bringing together arrangements for managing whistleblowing, complaints, HR-related matters, and counter fraud issues for triage. The Investigations, Whistleblowing and Complaints Senior Manager will be expected to support and champion the implementation of a new approach and new ways of working to provide a joined-up investigations service for UKRI.

The Investigations, Whistleblowing and Complaints Senior Manager will work with the lead and the Investigators to triage concerns that come into UKRI to the right team for action, as well as ensuring that UKRI operates in line with best practice to develop, maintain and deliver a complaints and whistleblowing function covering a range of internal and external mechanisms for raising concerns.

The role will involve triaging concerns that come into UKRI from within and outside of the organisation against UKRI policies and process and provide advice on their handling. The role will ensure that complaints and whistleblowing are responded to in a timely way and will work in partnership with colleagues across UKRI to achieve this. The Investigations, Whistleblowing and Complaints Senior Manager will also work closely with a small number of third-party providers that will be used to undertake specialist investigation work.

The Investigations, Whistleblowing and Complaints Senior Manager will have sound experience of leading and managing the handling of concerns. They will triage concerns received into UKRI and apply judgement to recommend the action, in line with UKRI policies, that will most likely resolve the situation to the satisfaction of the complainant. The Investigations, Whistleblowing and Complaints Senior Manager will undertake work with a wide range of stakeholders to ensure that timely and appropriate actions are taken on the concerns and will be in contact with those raising concerns in a sensitive and supportive way.

You will need business awareness with the ability to understand and analyse complex information to assess and manage risk; provide evidence-based opinions to help enforce the policies and standards of UKRI and occasionally be required to undertake workplace investigations within UKRI in line with standards set by the Parliamentary and Health Services Ombudsman and guidance of the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS). You will need to operate effectively in line with UKRI policies regarding investigations and alternative informal processes and initiatives that enable good outcomes and delivering casework to the highest standards.

Key Responsibilities:

Overall Investigation Team responsibilities

• Triage concerns that come into UKRI from within and outside of the organisation against UKRI policies and process, exercising judgement to advise on their handling. This will include concerns raised via an anonymous reporting tool and close working with policy leads across UKRI and potentially Trades Unions for complex issues.
• Ensure complaints and whistleblowing processes operate effectively in line with corporate expectations, legal and regulatory requirements, and best practice.
• Apply the highest standards of integrity, be able to maintain confidentiality, and solve complex problems in an environment where strategy, governance and politics is highly relevant.
• Develop positive relationships with a wide range of internal stakeholders and build trust with senior leaders to foster an inclusive and joined-up approach to complaints and whistleblowing handling.
• Ensure that risks and issues arising from complaints and whistleblowing are identified and brought to the attention of key stakeholders for action.
• Support the development and implementation of procedures and guidance, conducting necessary consultation and recommending corrective and future action.
• Direct line management of a Whistleblowing and Complaints Manager.
• Prepare high quality updates, reports, and advice to the Senior Investigation Leads.

Complaint-specific responsibilities:

• Effectively manage the response to complaints and other correspondence (as necessary) in a timely way and work in partnership with colleagues across UKRI to achieve this. This will include responsibility for a caseload of complaints from initial triage, allocation, and quality assurance of responses.
• Have the ability to undertake investigations in line with good practice and write responses, where there may be a business-need.
• Undertaking and reviewing reporting, including against key performance indicators. This requires the ability to assimilate large volumes of data.
• Support on the facilitation of the quarterly UKRI Complaints Forum and other meetings with key.
• Be a Champion for good practice in complaints handling, which may include developing and delivering training where needed.

Whistleblowing-specific responsibilities

• Work collaboratively with third parties that may be used to undertake specialist investigation work, to achieve timely and satisfactory outcomes to whistleblowing.
• Conduct effective day to day management of the caseload of whistleblowing concerns to ensure timely and quality delivery of cases. This may include the quality assurance of draft investigation reports.
• Obtain technical case direction and decision-making in relation to complex cases, working collaboratively with legal, HR and other stakeholders.
• Manage and undertake assurance work against agreed whistleblowing actions.

Person specification

The below criteria will be scored during Shortlisting (S), Interview (I) or both (S&I).

Essential

• Good people skills, able to build and maintain strong working relationships with a wide range of stakeholders at all levels, including senior leaders. (I)
• Able to demonstrate high standards of integrity, ability to maintain confidentiality, and operate appropriately in highly sensitive and complex situations. (I)
• Business awareness with the ability to understand and analyse changing business context and landscape to assess and manage risk. (I)
• Strong experience in successful case handling and effective delivery of investigations in an organisation. (S&I)
• Understand the linkages and dependencies between different teams, promoting a culture of teamwork and helping to break down silos if they emerge that prevent the efficient and effective handling of concerns or incidents (I)
• Maintain excellent working relationships with key stakeholders across UKRI and external bodies (for example, the Parliamentary and Health Services Ombudsman and Public Sector Fraud Authority) to develop a clear understanding of the organisation and to facilitate effective working relationships (S&I)
• Knowledge of prevailing governance standards and public sector rules including but not limited to (S&I):
  • Managing Public Money.
  • Gov 13 Functional Standard on Fraud and all standards that apply to UKRI functional work
  • Public Interest Disclosure Act and its implementation
  • Parliamentary and Health Services Ombudsman Complaints Handling Standards.
• Investigations training from an accredited provider or equivalent experience (with commitment to complete upon appointment). Evidence of post qualifying and continuing professional development. (S)

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £46,743, UK Research and Innovation contributes £13,541 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

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)

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

UKRI is an Equal Opportunity & Disability Confident Employer.

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.

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.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

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : UKRI Recruitment Team
• Email : Recruitment@ukri.org

Recruitment team

• Email : Recruitment@ukri.org