Overview
Join to apply for the Director of Research and Innovation role at NERC: Natural Environment Research Council
We are seeking a visionary leader to inspire change in the environmental community and to place cutting-edge environmental science at the heart of green growth and government priorities.
Salary and location
Salary: £94,931 - £117,800 per annum (this is the full-time equivalent; actual salary will be pro rata for part-time hours)
Location: Based in Swindon with frequent travel to London and significant travel opportunities to connect with researchers nationwide
Appointment terms: Flexible options based around the successful candidates’ preferences and current commitments, including fixed-term, secondment, and permanent contracts, as well as hybrid working arrangements. Minimum commitment duration is 36 months and minimum hours 0.8 FTE (37 hours per week).
Grade: Band X
Closing Date: Sunday 2nd November 2025
Role and impact
As Director of Research and Innovation you will play a key leadership role at the heart of the executive team and build an exciting new agenda under the NERC Forward Look, delivering innovative solutions for the economy and for society over the next decade. The role has direct responsibility for NERC budget lines delivering curiosity-driven research, talent and skills funding, and strategic research programmes, ensuring that outcomes align with our Forward Look and UKRI priorities. You will seek opportunities to create funding partnerships with others, including other research councils, government departments, and international funding agencies where appropriate, particularly across domains intersecting with environment such as health, energy, and resilience in urban and engineered environments. You will communicate NERC’s agenda to senior leaders and maintain engagement across NERC’s science community.
You will join a strongly collaborative executive team, working with NERC’s Directors to ensure coherence and optimization of research priorities across all programmes, including NERC Centres that receive national capability funding for long-term research and infrastructure platforms.
Key Responsibilities
Reporting directly to the NERC Deputy Executive Chair you will have responsibility for:
* Delivery of over £100M per year of UKRI’s research and talent budget, programme evaluation, and leadership of c50 staff.
* Leading the development of research and innovation priorities for the whole of NERC.
* Leading the inception, direction and timely delivery of curiosity-driven research, talent and skills funding, and strategic research programmes.
* Working collaboratively across UKRI to align with UKRI policies and to inform and shape thinking to improve efficiency and effectiveness of science funding.
* Exploiting your NERC domain expertise to seek opportunities for collaborations with international partners.
* NERC Community Liaison: being a key contact across the NERC community to ensure smooth operation of funding programmes and to provide scientific insights to Head Office.
* Stakeholder relationships: liaising with UKRI teams and external partners to deliver outcomes aligned with priorities; acting as a senior ambassador for NERC.
* Contributing to corporate management as part of an inclusive executive team and representing NERC and UKRI at senior levels.
* Participating in evaluation and planning activities; championing equality, diversity and inclusion.
For the full role details and responsibilities please email seniorrecruitment@ukri.org to request the candidate pack.
Person Specification
* PhD-qualified with a strong record of scientific achievement and deep understanding of environmental science and its applications.
* Proven track record in senior roles relevant to environmental sciences, including leadership of major scientific initiatives.
* Senior-level experience in stakeholder management and ability to influence across organizational boundaries.
* Experience in portfolio budget management and delivering defined outcomes.
* Experience in staff performance and development management.
Application Guidance
You are encouraged to use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) in the cover letter to evidence your ability to meet the criteria. For examples, visit: The STAR method | National Careers Service.
Please ensure your CV and cover letter are no longer than two A4 pages each, using a minimum font size of 11. If you need to update documents after submission, contact SeniorRecruitment@ukri.org.
Other information
If you’d like to have an informal chat about the role, please email seniorrecruitment@ukri.org.
We recognise and value our employees and offer a favourable pay and rewards package with opportunities for development and a culture of continuous learning. Benefits include:
* 30 days’ annual leave plus 10.5 public and privilege days (full-time equivalent)
* Employee discounts and offers on retail and leisure
* Employee assistance programme, providing confidential help and advice
* Flexible working options
Benefits of Working for UKRI
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