Assurance Lead, National Institute For Health & Care Research

The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR; www.nihr.ac.uk) is funded by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) to improve the health and wealth of the nation through research and is the largest funder of health and social Care Research in the UK.

The role of the newly created NIHR Assurance Unit (NAU) is to deliver intelligent and proportionate assurance to the NIHR Board and ultimately the DHSC by establishing and managing a comprehensive, integrated risk and assurance framework across NIHR. It seeks to do this in an efficient and effective manner; minimising the bureaucratic burden to research organisation, whilst maximising the quality of information, and level of assurance provided.

Following HMT’s ‘Managing Public Money’ guidance, and in line with the recommendations of the 2022 Tickell review, the NAU will work with other major UK research funders to develop consistent and coordinated approaches to gain assurance of research organisations.

Working with NIHR’s Head of Assurance to develop and embed an assurance framework across NIHR and to lead the implementation and management of this framework across NIHR’s UK research programmes. Key functions will include:

• To embed a common understanding of assurance; and a consistent and coordinated approach to assurance activities across NIHR.
• To coordinate assurance activities across NIHR, and develop NIHR’s approach to collating and reporting of assurance information.
• To manage the annual assurance plan across NIHR, portfolio of UK research programmes.
• To manage NIHR’s annual review of research organisations and continue to develop a coordinated approach with other UK research funders.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic

• To lead the development and implementation of assurance policies and operating procedures across NIHR, in line with the overall assurance strategy.
• To develop and maintain NIHR’s risk and controls framework and assurance map, identifying and addressing gaps or inefficiencies.
• To work with the Head of Assurance to develop routine assurance reporting to relevant groups within NIHR’s governance structure.
• To work with other research funders to develop a more coordinated approach to undertake annual audits of research organisations.

Operational

• To continue to review the implementation and effectiveness of assurance policies and standard operating procedures and manage a schedule to periodically review and update these documents.
• To own the annual assurance plan of NIHR’s UK programmes; and coordinate, manage and lead on assurance activities in accordance with this plan.
• To establish and run an assurance working group across NIHR domestic portfolio.
• To plan and manage the annual review of research organisations, communicating with, and coordinating the activities of all internal and external stakeholders.
• To contribute to the development of the Assurance unit, managing and supporting the development of junior team members.

External Relationships

• To build awareness and understanding of the Assurance Unit across NIHR, ensuring that the team has the connections and representation it needs to be effective across the organisation.
• To work with other research funding organisations to align and co-develop joint assurance activities.
• To develop effective relationships and clear communication with the research organisations that are subject to NIHR assurance.

Continuous Improvement

• To identify assurance-related knowledge and training requirements across NIHR and develop relevant guidance and training materials to address these.
• Continue to develop NIHR’s approach to assurance, identifying and implementing opportunities to improve the quality of assurance provided; the efficiency of assurance activities; and the experience of assurance stakeholders, including research organisations.
• Continue to work with other funding organisations, proactively seeking and leading opportunities for NIHR to share good practice with, and learn from. other research funding organisations and to continue to develop an approach to assurance across the sector.

Experience Required:

• Experience of risk management, finance, assurance, internal controls and audit in an operational setting, ideally in a public sector or research funding environment.
• Experience of developing and managing complex systems and processes.
• Experience in planning and undertaking assurance review, forming evidence-based conclusions and providing clear, succinct and informative reports.
• Experience of managing a range of stakeholders, and developing and maintaining excellent internal and external working relationships and delivering mutual benefit.
• Experience of managing and developing others.

Essential Competencies and Behaviours:

• Comfortable working in a demanding and evolving environment; able to adapt and be flexible to changing needs.
• Curious mind with an appetite to constantly improve the service offered.
• Ability to coach, develop and motivate people working in a high pressure environment.

Other Skills and Abilities:

• Strong interpersonal skills.
• Excellent planning and organisational skills.
• Excellent attention to detail.
• Strong communication skills - both written and oral

Salary & Benefits

£54,500 PA
Bonus - subject to company performance
25 days annual leave, plus public holidays (UK)
Enhanced contributory pension scheme
Life Insurance
Benenden Healthcare
Season Ticket Loan
Laptop, IT equipment and remote IT support

We offer a range of work life balance and family friendly, flexible working arrangements.
This is an office based, home working (hybrid) role with an expectation for all employees to attend our offices a minimum of 4 days a month, which might increase, subject to team requirements.

Application Process
If you are interested in working with us and feel you have the appropriate background and skills, please apply with your CV, (with the cover letter attached in the same document), outlining your suitability for the role and highlighting your experience against the required criteria.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, so early application is strongly encouraged to avoid disappointment.

Company Statement

LGC strongly believes that every job applicant and employee should be valued for their individual talents regardless of age, disability, race, colour, ethnic or national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marital or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, religion or belief. Short listing, interviewing and selection will always be carried out without regard to gender, sexual orientation, marital status, colour, race, nationality, ethnic or national origins, religion or belief, age or trade union membership.