Executive Director of Science, NERC

Job summary

We are seeking a dynamic, creative, and respected science leader– someone motivated by delivering impact and inspired by the opportunity to shape the future of UK environmental research.

This is a pivotal leadership role at the heart of NERC and UKRI. With responsibility for a substantial research and innovation portfolio, you will manage a large team and are expected to set the project management and governance structures in place to ensure you invest purposefully to deliver world-leading environmental science that supports growth, informs government priorities and delivers tangible benefits for society. You will shape research programmes, influence system-wide priorities, translate scientific ambition into meaningful outcomes, and most importantly work collaboratively across UKRI to make an impact.

As Executive Director of Science, you will combine intellectual leadership with strong strategic and delivery capability, working across disciplines, organisations, and national boundaries to turn complex challenges into opportunity.

You will have responsibility for developing and delivering NERC’s curiosity-driven science portfolio, securing our talent and skills pipeline, reimagining our approach to knowledge exchange and commercialisation, and curating the digital and data outcomes from all these investments including our research centres. You will be expected to align your portfolio with the government’s industrial strategy and wider priorities.

Job description

• Reporting directly to the NERC Executive Chair you will have responsibility for:
• Budget delivery of over £300m per year of UKRI’s advancing knowledge, talent and NERC-led areas of UKRI’s wider priorities budget supporting research institute outcomes. You have shared responsibility for a further £150m with the NERC Chief Operating Officer.
• Staff the leadership management and development of c.80 staff, and an opportunity to shape your team to best deliver against your responsibilities.
• Advancing knowledge through a well-designed programme of curiosity-driven research, talent and skills funding with a view to increasing the rate of conversion of curiosity-driven research (UKRI priority bucket 1) into societal outcomes including innovation and growth (UKRI priority buckets 2 and 3).
• Data-driven investments in scientific infrastructure to deliver NERC’s current and future science needs, in order that NERC can effectively task its research centres to deliver the long-term data to support the evolving needs of the environmental science community, as well as working with the Chief Operating Officer and the centres to prioritise NERC’s investment in research equipment, facilities and infrastructure.
• Shaping collaboration across new UKRI programmes and aligning with UKRI policies and to inform the latest thinking to continually improve the efficiency and effectiveness of NERC’s science funding.
• Driving leverage through strategic opportunities for collaborations that leverage partnerships including international collaboration.
• Supporting research community as our critical point of senior contact, winning trust, and confidence at senior level to pick up the latest intelligence on scientific developments and ensure strong stakeholder relationships with universities and research institutes.
• Liaison across UKRI teams to ensure that NERC delivers the best possible outcomes against our priorities.
• Team working across our executive team to lead and support change in NERC as part of UKRI’s transformation, including the evolution of executive team roles and responsibilities.
• Championing equality, diversity and inclusion

For more information about the role and to download the candidate pack please click 'apply' and visit our careers page.

Person specification

• A strong track record of achievement and established credibility in a senior role relevant to the Environmental Sciences. This can include, but is not limited to, roles from across academia, research institutes, or policy.
• Substantial and diverse experience of working across the UK science funding landscape and a deep understanding of environmental science and its applications relevant to the NERC and UKRI’s mission
• A consistent track record of research delivery and governance with an ability to take a broad view across the NERC in formulating strategy and priority areas for future investments.
• An ability to work within a fast-moving environment, troubleshoot problems and resolve issues as they emerge, anticipating obstacles and staying ahead of emerging risks.
• Financial aptitude and analytical skills with experience managing comparable budgets – including working with finance professionals to appropriately forecast and plan expenditure, working within delegated budgetary responsibilities.
• Demonstrable programme delivery skills in a research funding or related environment, delivering large research programmes across complex teams.
• Strong leadership skills, demonstrating an ability to work across functional and organisational boundaries to deliver shared goals and outcomes.

Desirable Criteria

• A PhD in a STEM subject, or related experience
• Your team is primarily located in the Swindon area. Whilst an ability to lead and build relationships at a distance is beneficial, this is also a role where visibility will be important, so travel to our offices and sites on a regular basis is expected.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £94,931, UK Research and Innovation contributes £27,501 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

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 excellent 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

Please click here for more details on the 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

Please click 'apply' to visit our careers page and submit an application.

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 Senior Recruitment Team
• Email : seniorrecruitment@ukri.org

Recruitment team

• Email : seniorrecruitment@ukri.org