Non-Executive Board Member

About the Role

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.

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.

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.

• 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 a copy of the candidate pack including ministerial foreword please contact us at public appointments

• Appointment Term: An initial period of up to 4 years
• Remuneration: £9,180 per annum based on a day rate of £459. Please note, remuneration and expenses are taxable.
• Time Commitment: 20 days per annum
• Location: Board meetings take place in London and Swindon and are attended in person. It is also the case that up to three meetings per year will take place in other locations across the UK.
• Nature of Appointment: This is a Public Appointment by the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology. The post holder would be an officeholder and would not be an employee of UKRI.
• Availability: Successful candidates will be encouraged to take up their appointment as soon as possible, following the successful completion of pre-appointment checks and security clearance. Please note, UKRI reserves the right to run or re-run security clearance…