Associate Science Director

Associate Science Director - Environmental Pressures and Response

Apply locations: Lancaster, Wallingford, Edinburgh, Bangor

Time type: Full time

Posted on: Posted Today

Time left to apply: End Date: November 26, 2024 (11 days left to apply)

Job requisition id: JR1334

Salary: £74,802 - £93,012 (Negotiable)

Location: Bangor, Edinburgh, Lancaster, Wallingford

Full-time (37 hours per week), Permanent, Hybrid working (50/50)

Closing date for applications: Monday, 25th November 2024. We reserve the right to close this advert early if we find the right candidate, so we encourage you to apply early.

The UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH) is a leading, independent research institute dedicated to addressing complex environmental challenges facing the world today. Our work focuses on understanding the natural environment, the impact of human activities, and developing sustainable solutions. UKCEH’s research spans a range of fields, including climate science, biodiversity, water resources, ecosystem processes, and environmental resilience.

UKCEH is looking for a science leader to join our team, providing leadership to our dedicated researchers, contributing to scientific discovery and generating the data, insights, and solutions that other researchers, businesses, and governments need to solve complex environmental challenges.

As a valued member of our team, you’ll get:

• 27 days annual leave, rising to 29 days after five years, plus 3 days for our Christmas closure.
• 10% employer pension contribution.
• Enhanced maternity and paternity leave (subject to qualifying requirements).
• 24-hour, 365-day access to support with physical, mental, social, health, or financial issues plus access to our trained Welfare Officers.
• Flexible working opportunities.

Are you a passionate and visionary leader with a proven ability to inspire dynamic science teams?

We are recruiting an Associate Science Director to lead our Environmental Pressures and Response Science Area. This is a vital role providing scientific and people leadership for their Science Area and across the organisation. The ability to work across different scientific disciplines and provide a strategic perspective are essential. As an inspirational leader, addressing the current and future science needs and motivating scientists are vital in order that UKCEH can meet its overall objectives. As a member of the UKCEH Executive and Science Leadership Committees, the role will be at the heart of organisational direction setting and decision-making.

Reporting to our Deputy CEO and Science Director, you’ll lead a science function of passionate individuals. You will collaborate with others to deliver our new strategy and build an organisation today that is fit to provide the scientific insights we need.

The environment is under pressure from a range of contaminants and pollutants which affect the function of ecological systems. This science area works across air, land, and water to undertake and support research to characterise these pollutants, improve understanding of their ecological effects, and to inform action to address. Drawing on your experience of working across technical disciplines you will provide direction to generate the insights and innovative ways to assess these pressures.

Your main responsibilities will include:

• Provide strategic leadership and vision for this Science Area, ensuring that scientific activity is excellent and has impact.
• Actively seek opportunities for innovation within the Science Area and for integration with other Science Areas across UKCEH.
• Provide leadership and management for the Science Area of between 80 to 100 people, ensuring a positive, inclusive research culture where people can contribute and develop in line with UKCEH’s values and behaviours.
• Ensure health and safety management for the Science Area is a priority and people understand their responsibilities and how to raise any concerns they have.
• Develop Business Plans for the Science Area including achievement of resource allocation and financial targets and budgets.
• Review the delivery, financial management, and performance of projects led by the Science Area.
• Proactively engage with stakeholders, funders, and customers to represent UKCEH science.

You will bring:

• High level of scientific expertise and the ability to represent UKCEH within the wider environmental science community.
• Strategic thinking, taking an organisational wide perspective.
• Leadership skills to direct and motivate teams of scientists to fulfil Science Area and organisational objectives.
• Working as part of the UKCEH Science Leadership Team to develop cross-disciplinary approaches.
• Leading scientific change and managing difficult situations.
• Decision making taking into account risk (financial, project delivery, reputational) at project and programme level.
• Ability to develop people and manage poor performance where required.

At UKCEH we believe that different perspectives and collaborative working help us achieve our best work and come together to form a high performing team which makes positive changes in the business. Our strategy sets out four guiding principles – excellence, impact, sustainability, and outstanding people – which underpin everything we do as an organisation.

If you are looking for an opportunity to work with world-class and amazing people in some of the most inspiring places in the UK and around the world, then UKCEH could be for you.

If we’ve just described you, we’d love to meet. Apply now. Please send us your CV, accompanied by a covering letter which highlights any relevant skills and experience, together with what excites you most about the role and working for UKCEH.

Unfortunately, we are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this position at this time.