Executive Chair, Ukri Nerc

**The Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)**

**Salary**:£130,000 to £145,000 per annum + an opportunity for performance related pay
**Hours**:Full time (Can be reduced to 4 days per week to allow time for research activity)
**Contract Type**:Fixed Term (4 - 6 years, to be discussed at interview)
**Location**:Swindon or London

On the frontline of the UK’s Science Superpower mission, the Natural Environment Research Council has the responsibility of funding ambitious research that aims to tackle the world’s most crucial challenges, from pressing global issues like rising sea levels and marine biodiversity to world leading advancements in earth observation.

**About NERC**:
The Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) is the UK’s leading public funder of environmental science, investing £330 million each year in cutting-edge research, postgraduate training and innovation in universities and research centres. We advance the frontier of environmental science by commissioning new research, infrastructure and training that delivers valuable scientific breakthroughs.

Our vision is to place environmental science at the heart of responsible management of our planet. We no longer live in a natural world - there is virtually no part of the environment that we have left unchanged. Our growing population and the way we live has changed our relationship with the environment, and humans are now the dominant source of change.

**About the Role**:
To take us on the next step of this journey and to lead us during such a pivotal time, we are seeking to find the next Executive Chair of NERC. In taking on this challenge, you will be responsible for ensuring that our science continues its critical role in helping the UK deliver innovation and growth with responsible environmental management.

Advised by NERC’s Council Members, the Executive Chair is responsible for setting and delivering the strategic vision for NERC and contributing to the wider direction and activities of UKRI. As a visible and credible leader, you will be responsible for delivering NERC’s research, skills and infrastructure investments as well as playing a critical role within UKRI and beyond, to champion and increase the impact of environmental research.

As the Executive Chair, you will also have a responsibility to ensure the health and vibrancy of your domain and are encouraged to work closely with and expand your connections within your domain community. This enables you to harness the strategic insight you gain to build key relationships across the research and innovation system, and to foster engagement.

Now, more than ever, it is important for NERC to continue to thrive in partnership with business, government, civil society, the public and the wider research community to shape the environmental research and innovation agenda.

Therefore, if you are an accomplished leader with demonstrable research expertise in environmental science, the operational agility to run an impactful organisation and most importantly, the ambition to continue NERC’s purpose, then we would like to speak to you.

**About Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)**

NERC is the UK's leading funder of environmental science. Our scientists study and monitor the physical, chemical and biological processes on which our planet and life itself depends - from pole to pole, to the deep Earth and oceans, to the atmosphere and space. The science we fund has impact across all sectors. It provides a platform for future UK prosperity by contributing to a safe, healthy, productive nation. Many programmes involve collaborations with national and international partners to tackle large-scale environmental science challenges, including those faced by developing countries.

As well as research, innovation and training are supported from the NERC core budget. There are exciting emerging opportunities from cross-UKRI funds to develop interdisciplinary programmes enabling environmental researchers to lead and collaborate in major projects. This advances knowledge and has significant potential for delivering economic impact.

**About UK Research Innovation (UKRI)**

UKRI is an organisation that brings together the seven disciplinary research councils, Research England and Innovate UK. Together, we build an independent organisation with a strong voice and vision ensuring the UK maintains its world-leading position in research and innovation.

Supporting some of the world’s most exciting and challenging research projects, we develop and operate some of the most remarkable scientific facilities in the world. We are pushing the frontiers of human knowledge through fundamental research and delivering benefits for UK society and the economy through world-class research, skills and business-led innovation.

Choosing to come to work at UKRI means that you will have access to a whole host of benefits from a defined benefit pension scheme, excellent holiday entitlement, access t