Covid19 Inquiry - Governance and Assurance Lead

In December 2021 Baroness Heather Hallett, a retired Appeal Court judge, was appointed by the Prime Minister as Chair of the independent public inquiry into the Covid-19 pandemic. The UK Covid-19 Inquiry was formally established with full powers under the Inquiries Act 2005 in June 2022. The Inquiry sits independently of the Government with the Cabinet Office acting as the sponsoring department. Following an initial set up phase the Inquiry began hearing evidence in May 2023. We are now looking for an energetic and collaborative senior leader to join the excellent team that is delivering the Inquiry. This is an exciting role, offering the opportunity to lead an innovative team, in fast moving circumstances, to ensure lessons are learned from the UK response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Further information about the Inquiry can be found on the UK Covid-19 Inquiry website. The Inquiry sits independent of the Government with the Cabinet Office acting as the sponsoring department. This is an exciting opportunity to join an inclusive, innovative team where you will be supported to challenge yourself in often ambiguous circumstances. The team encourages working in a flexible, collaborative manner to learn and support each other as we look to undertake one of the broadest, most publicly anticipated inquiries in UK history. The PMO is one of four Directorates within the Inquiry team: alongside the Policy, Legal, Analysis and Research, Communications and Engagement and Operations Directorates. The Programme Director is responsible for the overall planning and governance framework for the Inquiry. The G7 lead will build and lead their team of 1 SEO and 2 HEO's to deliver core functions within the Governance and Assurance area; doing so effectively will require close working across the PMO and wider Inquiry team with frequent access to the Senior Leadership Team. They will also work collaboratively across the PMO to ensure a customer focused and flexible approach to our work. Some of the key responsibilities include and are not limited to:

• Leading preparations for the monthly assurance Board, chaired by Baroness Hallett and attended by the Secretary, Counsel and Solicitor to the Inquiry;
• Providing secretariat support to the Independent UK Covid 19 ARAC
• Managing the flow of decisions needed by the Senior Leadership Team, through close working across the Inquiry team and with private office, forward planning and strategic oversight;
• Ensuring the Inquiry has in place robust processes and controls so that decisions are made at the right level, supported by proportionate evidence and recorded appropriately;
• Leading on Audit activity across the Inquiry working closely with GIAA to develop, plan and deliver high quality audits.
• Lead Assurance activity across the Inquiry and gateway reviews where required
• Lead and support projects on Governance and Assurance processes to build robust business cases
• Championing the PMO's role across the Inquiry team, including ensuring relevant and timely flow of information to the whole Inquiry team and seeking regular feedback on improvements to ways of working.
• To identify and manage stakeholder relationships and requirements for senior level support.