AMS PSR

On behalf of UKRI, we are looking for a Private Secretary (Inside IR35) for a 6 month contract on a hybrid basis (3 days from Swindon - London may also be considered)

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) is the national funding agency investing in science and research in the UK.

UKRI invests £8 billion of taxpayers’ money each year into research and innovation and the people who make it happen. They work across a huge range of fields – from biodiversity conservation to quantum computing, and from space telescopes to innovative health care. They give everyone the opportunity to contribute and to benefit, bringing together people and organisations nationally and globally to create, develop and deploy new ideas and technologies.

The Opportunity

We are seeking an experienced Interim Private Secretary to provide high-level strategic and operational support to senior leadership within a busy External Affairs and Communications function.

Working directly with Deputy Directors and the Senior Leadership Team (SLT), you will play a pivotal role in ensuring the effective operation of the directorate, providing strategic advice, coordinating business management activity, driving delivery of leadership priorities, and maintaining strong governance across the function.

This is a fast-paced, high-profile position requiring an experienced professional who can quickly establish credibility, manage competing priorities, influence senior stakeholders, and operate confidently in an evolving environment.

The successful contractor will also deputise for the Senior Private Secretary during periods of leave, taking responsibility for the effective running of the Private Office.

As Private Secretary, your main responsibilties will be to:

• Provide strategic support, advice and constructive challenge to Deputy Directors and the Senior Leadership Team.
• Act as a trusted adviser, ensuring senior leaders are fully briefed and prepared for meetings, engagements and decision-making.
• Represent senior leadership at meetings and cross-functional forums where appropriate, accurately communicating agreed positions and priorities.
• Drive delivery of strategic priorities, proactively identifying issues, resolving blockers and managing ad hoc projects to successful completion.
• Coordinate directorate planning, performance reporting and governance activities, ensuring high-quality information is provided to corporate functions.
• Lead continual improvement of business management processes, identifying efficiencies and implementing effective operational practices.
• Maintain oversight of the directorate's governance framework, including:
  • Risk management and maintenance of the risk register.
  • Business continuity planning.
  • Delegations of authority and governance compliance.
  • HR, finance and workforce reporting.
  • Learning and Development monitoring, including mandatory training compliance.
• Work closely with Finance Business Partners and business managers to ensure effective financial governance and accountability.
• Build strong relationships across the organisation, influencing stakeholders and facilitating collaborative working across multiple teams.
• Line manage and support team members where required, providing leadership, coaching and performance oversight.
• Deputise for the Senior Private Secretary, ensuring continuity of Private Office operations and maintaining high standards of service delivery.
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of the Executive Office, sharing best practice and supporting an efficient, collaborative and customer-focused culture.

Essential:

• Significant experience operating within a Private Office, Executive Office, Chief of Staff, Secretariat or equivalent senior business management environment.
• Demonstrable experience supporting Directors, Deputy Directors or Executive-level stakeholders within a complex organisation.
• Strong understanding of governance, business management, planning and performance reporting processes.
• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities within fast-paced, politically sensitive or high-profile environments.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills with the confidence to advise, influence and constructively challenge senior leaders.
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, including preparation of high-quality briefings, submissions and executive correspondence.
• Experience managing organisational risk, governance processes and business continuity activities.
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to deliver at pace whilst maintaining attention to detail.
• Demonstrable experience leading projects or business improvement initiatives.
• Ability to work independently, exercise sound judgement and respond effectively to changing priorities.
• Experience working collaboratively across multidisciplinary teams to achieve organisational objectives.

Desirable:

• Experience within government, arm's length bodies, public sector or similarly complex regulated organisations.
• Previous experience supporting External Affairs, Communications, Corporate Affairs or Policy functions.
• Line management or team leadership experience.
• Knowledge of financial governance, budgeting processes and working alongside Finance Business Partners.
• Experience implementing operational improvements or business transformation initiatives.
• Familiarity with corporate planning, organisational performance frameworks and executive reporting.

Please be aware that this role can only be worked within the UK and not Overseas.

Disability Confident 

As a member of the Disability Confident Scheme, UKRI guarantees to interview all candidates who have a disability and who meet all the essential criteria for the vacancy. In cases where we have a high volume of candidates who have a disability who meet all the essential criteria, we will interview the best candidates from within that group. This scheme encourages candidates with a disability and/or neurodivergence to apply. In exceptional circumstances, we may also need to apply the desirable criteria in our shortlisting process which may include holding active security clearance.

In applying for this role, you acknowledge the following "this role falls in scope of the Off Payroll Working in the Public Sector legislation. Any rates of payment quoted will reflect the gross rate per day for the assignment and will be subject to appropriate taxes and statutory costs. As such the payment to the intermediary and your income resulting from this contract will be different".