Overview
Hours: Full-time
Closing date: 8th March 2026
Interview: In person at Polaris House in April 2026
Start date: June/July 2026
As the NERC Management Estate team, we deliver the NERC UK Estates Strategy creating a modern, efficient, compliant, and fit-for-purpose sustainable estate that fully supports extraordinary environmental science.
Job Description
* Organisation: Natural Environment Research Council
* Salary: £23,493 per annum
* Contract Type: Fixed Term – 8 weeks
* Hours: Full-time
* Location: Polaris House, Swindon, Wiltshire
* Closing date: 8th March 2026
* Interview: In person at Polaris House in April 2026
* Start date: June/July 2026
As the NERC Management Estate team, we deliver the NERC UK Estates Strategy creating a modern, efficient, compliant, and fit-for-purpose sustainable estate that fully supports extraordinary environmental science.
Role and Responsibilities
Our role is to lead the Strategic Transformation Programme to modernise and optimise the NERC Estate, ensuring it meets the needs of pioneering research. This work is supported by head office operational activities that provide:
* Compliance and landlord assurance
* Environmental sustainability initiatives
* Condition and asset management
* Budgetary control and capital project oversight
We Deliver These Services Across Four UK-based NERC Centres:
* British Antarctic Survey
* British Geological Survey
* National Oceanography Centre
* UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology
About The Summer Placement
Student life is great, but taking time out to gain experience of the workplace can be both a rewarding and invaluable experience as you choose your path ahead. We can offer you the opportunity to make a difference from day one. Everything we do has an impact globally and our Summer Placements are no exception.
This Placement Offers a Unique Opportunity To Gain Client-side Experience In Estate And Construction Project Management Within a Dynamic Research Environment. The Role Will:
* Support the Estate Management Team in delivering the Estates Strategy & head office operational activities
* Shadow experienced professionals and learn from both head office and research centre perspectives
* Chip in to capital projects that enhance estate transformation, sustainability and compliance
* Travel to NERC sites across the UK to understand the link between strategic estate planning and operational delivery
Our small, collaborative team will provide guidance and mentorship, ensuring the successful candidate develops a broad level of skills and gain valuable insight into managing sophisticated estates that support pioneering science.
Summary Of Key Duties & Responsibilities
As a member of the Estate Management Team, this opportunity will support and assist in the following areas:
* Health & Compliance Support: Assist with estate health checks and compliance exercises to ensure standards are met.
* Data Analysis & Insights: Collect, organise, and assist with the analysis of estate data. Help develop dashboards and infographics to inform decision-making.
* Estate Strategy Delivery: Support activities related to the implementation of the NERC Estate Strategy and assist with managing associated framework tasks.
* Funding Coordination: Assist in preparing and gathering long-term maintenance funding requests to support delivery of condition survey.
* Project Assurance: Provide support for project management assurance and contribute to RIBA and business case development.
* Flexibility: Be willing to work in a hybrid environment and travel to NERC Head Office and centres as required, which may include occasional overnight stays.
Person Specification
The below criteria will be scored during Shortlisting (S), Interview (I) or both (S&I).
Essential:
* You are in full time education at university, and will be returning to university/your studies to complete your undergraduate degree once the summer placement has concluded (S)
* You have the right to live and work in the UK for the duration of the placement (S)
* You are studying a relevant estate management/surveying course such as building surveying, property management & real estate, commercial management, construction & property, construction management (S)
* Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office, particularly Word and Excel (S)
* A planned and organised approach to work and to meeting deadlines (S)
* Able to work well within a team and demonstrate initiative (I)
* Strong inter-personal skills, particularly in communication (both written and verbal) and problem solving (S&I)
Desirable:
* Can work independently, using available resources to overcome challenges (I)
* Experience of data analysis (S)
* Understanding key challenges and opportunities in making buildings more sustainable, including reducing carbon emissions and improving environmental and financial performance (S&I)
* Willingness to travel to other UKRI sites on occasions (S)
Employee Benefits
We are offering a permanent position with a whole host of benefits including:
* 30 days holiday pro rata
* Flexible working hours
* Easily accessible public transport links/ free parking
* Excellent learning and development opportunities
Link to more benefits: https://www.ukri.org/who-we-are/work-for-us/working-at-ukri/benefits-of-working-for-ukri/
As this job does not fulfil the UK Government minimum criterion for obtaining sponsored migrant worker status, we will be unable to apply for sponsorship for anyone not eligible to work in the UK. At interview, all shortlisted candidates are required to bring with them identification documents and original documents that prove they hold or can obtain the right to work in the UK.
You can check your eligibility here: https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa/y
Application Guidance
Please note that we can only accept a maximum of 2 applications per candidate.
Part of our application process involves submitting your CV and a cover letter. Your cover letter should address your suitability for the opportunity based how you meet each essential criteria stated in this advert.
Please note that we hold the right to close this vacancy early if a sufficient number of applications have been received.
About Us
UKRI - UK Research and Innovation
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.
More information can be found at www.ukri.org.
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 to employee shopping/travel discounts and salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme. For more details, visit benefits of working for UKRI.
How We Support EDI In The Workforce: At UKRI, we believe that everyone has a right to be treated with dignity and respect, and to be provided with equal opportunities to thrive and succeed in an environment that enables them to do so. We also value diversity of thought and experience within inclusive groups, organisations and the wider community. For further information, please visit ‘How we support EDI in the workforce’.
Disability Confident Employer: As users of the disability confident scheme, any candidate who opts into the scheme and best meets the essential criteria, will be shortlisted for interview. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.
How To Apply: Online applications only preferred for this role. Please submit a CV and covering letter which clearly outlines how you fulfil the criteria specified along with your motivation for UKRI and the role. Ensure that the job reference number is included in the filename description of each document uploaded. Note that failure to address the above criteria or submit an application without a covering letter may result in the application not being considered. Assessment will only be based upon the content of your submitted covering letter and CV and not the ‘experience’ section of the application.
UKRI seeks to ensure it creates and maintains a system of openness, fairness and inclusion – a collaborative, trusted environment, which is attractive to and accessible to everyone who is interested in developing their career with us.
The role holder will be required to have the appropriate level of security screening/vetting required for the role. UKRI reserves the right to run or re-run security clearance as required during the course of employment.
About the Team
NERC is a partner organisation within UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). UKRI brings together nine organisations to create one single, independent entity with a strong voice, and a vision to ensure the UK maintains its world-leading position in research and innovation.
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, from 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.
For more information about NERC, please click here.
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