Associate Science Director

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

Location: Bangor, Edinburgh, Lancaster, Wallingford

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

x4 Roles Available

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 four science leaders 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.

Working at UKCEH is rewarding. Our science makes a real difference, enabling people and the environment to prosper, and enriching society. We are the custodians of a wealth of environmental data, collected by UKCEH and its predecessors over the course of more than 60 years.

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 four Associate Science Directors to lead our Environmental Pressures and Response, Biodiversity and Land Use, Surface Atmosphere Interactions and Effects and Hydroclimate Extremes and Resilience Science Areas. These are vital roles 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.

Environmental Pressures and Response

The environment is under pressure from a range of contaminants and pollutants which, or have potential to, 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.

Biodiversity and Land Use

Facing up to and responding to the biodiversity crisis requires data and scientific insights at different scales. Capabilities such as the Biological Records Centre provide valuable insights into the distribution of species and how they are changing. You will provide direction to improve understanding of how ecosystems function and different approaches to restoration. This area also considers how to balance sustainable agricultural practices with biodiversity benefits. Your experience and ability to look across these different aspects will be essential.

Surface atmosphere interactions and effects

The interface between the land surface and atmosphere plays a key role in the absorption and release of greenhouse gases and other environmental pollutants. Bringing together expertise on soils, vegetation and state of the art monitoring, this science area provides insights into this interface. The knowledge generated underpins research in this area and informs advice on measures and progress in relation to air quality, achieving Net Zero ambitions, and land management. Your experience working across the different scientific disciplines involved will ensure there is clear direction for this science area.

Hydroclimate extremes and resilience

As our climate changes we are observing more extreme hydrological events, both droughts and floods, often with rapid transitions from one to another. Research to understand this variability is essential to assess the implications and inform action for water resources, flood management and water quality. UKCEH is committed to providing the Floods and Droughts Research Infrastructure which will help underpin observation based hydrological research in the UK. Drawing on your experience of hydrological research or water management you will provide direction to the area of UKCEH science.

You'll be joining a leading independent, not-for-profit research institute that's committed to recruiting talented people like you, progressing your career and giving you the support you need to thrive at UKCEH.

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 both for innovation with 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 there is 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. Where necessary, instigate and contribution to decisions about managing workload and demands on people within and across Science Areas.
• 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. That's the power of every individual. 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.