As Chair, you will be responsible for leadership of the committee, ensuring business is carried out efficiently and effectively.
You will lead the committee in supporting an excellent and sustainable UK environmental science community, and in working collegiately to offer advice and recommendations to the NERC Council and the NERC head office.
Role and responsibilities
The Chair is responsible for leadership of the Science Committee and for working with the Executive to ensure its overall effectiveness. The Chair will:
- ensure the committee carries out its business efficiently and effectively
- work with the Executive in planning and conducting committee meetings effectively (including agenda setting)
- ensure papers and other information for the committee are appropriate for the decisions they have to make and aligned to Science Committee terms of reference
- ensure the committee answers to its terms of reference (including planning of forward agenda for program of Science Committee meetings)
- ensure Science Committee members know their roles and responsibilities
- support the members in their involvement with the committee’s work
- represent the view of the committee and its outcomes to NERC Council by attending NERC Council meetings
- lead, in consultation with the Executive, on the committee’s composition and development
- chair interview panels and engage in the recruitment process for new members
- participate in the induction of new members
- undertake an annual assessment of Science Committee members
- invest significant time; expected to be up to 30 days each year
Actions of the Science Committee and its members are subject to the NERC governance framework.
Essential skills
You should have the following skills:
- the ability to communicate well and lead the committee to work collaboratively and support members to challenge the Science Committee’s debates
- an understanding of the environmental challenges confronting the world, based on a deep understanding of environmental science with a whole-systems, solution-focused approach
- recognized expertise as an environmental scientist
- a clear, strategic vision for the work of the Science Committee
- the ability to chair a complex, strategic meeting, and ensure that when required, the Science Committee reaches agreed decisions
- the ability to act impartially and ensure the actions of the committee are objective and fair across the entire Science remit
- experience in strategic planning and pre-sight of large investment portfolios and programs involving some or all of: research, innovation, training and skills, scientific infrastructures and services, international partnership
- an understanding and appreciation of the role of the NERC institutes alongside higher education institutions
- the ability to quickly gain the confidence of stakeholders and communities across NERC
- insights to support NERC’s responsible business statement ambitions and ensure the Science Committee considers equality, diversity and inclusion in its advice
- sufficient time to commit to the role. The time commitment for the Science Committee Chair is expected to be up to 30 days each year
Application deadline: June 6, 2025
Remuneration: Annual honorarium payment of £6,850
