NERC Council Senior Independent Member

The Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) - Head Office

Reports to: Executive Chair of NERC

Time Commitment: This is premised on an expected 20 days contribution per year, to include regular meeting attendance
Term: Typically a 3 year appointment extendable to 5 years
Location: Flexible (meetings held across UK)

Remuneration: £6850

Dates

Closing date - Friday 27th June 2025 23:59 

Shortlisting date - w/c 30th June 2025

Interview Dates - w/c 21^st July 2025

About NERC Council within UKRI

The Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) is one of seven research councils within UKRI in addition to Research England and Innovate UK. All nine funding bodies play a critical role in UKRI strategy development and delivery. 

Led by Professor Louise Heathwaite, the NERC Executive Chair, NERC’s Council is an advisory body of highly regarded experts within their respective fields, who collectively help to shape the council’s research and innovation portfolio and Strategic Delivery Plan, which sets out the combined and collective actions NERC will take to deliver our strategic vision.

We are at one of the most important and exciting times in the history of research and innovation in the UK. The rate of discovery and technological advance is astonishing, with unprecedented opportunities to create value for society and for a sustainable the economy. NERC operates at a unique set of scales, from the deep ocean to the poles, and the centre of the Earth to the edge of space. The work we do to monitor, model and predict environmental systems underpins the global economy, including green energy, food systems, communications, trade routes, protection from hazards such as floods and fires and the provision of clean air and water.

 A healthy environment is the basis of prosperity and security. NERC provides a deep understanding of environmental systems, and the insights needed to manage the environment and derive value from it. With this knowledge we unlock green growth, supporting key sectors in the green and blue economies including planning and construction, energy, and food. Our science ensures robust evidence without advocacy to make regulation smarter, unlock new markets and support environmental policy on climate change, biodiversity and emerging issues such as geoengineering. We ensure environmental security, using our predictive power to help political, economic and social systems prepare for environmental change, and building resilience to hazards into critical infrastructure.  

The UK government is clear about the central importance of R&D in the decade of renewal the UK needs, protecting investment in R&D with a record £20.4bn budget for 2024-25, and embedding it across its 5 missions. NERC within UKRI has a unique and critical role to play in this new landscape, partnering to deliver solutions to national and global challenges such as adapting to climate change, securing environmental resilience as the backbone to national security, and championing the mental and physical wellbeing delivered though a sustainable environment.

NERC is seeking to appoint a Senior Independent Member to NERC Council. We strongly encourage applications from a variety of environment-focussed backgrounds, including data science, innovation and commercial applications, civil society, academia and government. 

NERC places equality, diversity and inclusion at the heart of our vision, and know that it is only when we support and foster the widest possible range of talent that we are nurturing the best possible research and innovation, harnessed in the service of society. 

Working closely with NERC Head Office, you have the opportunity to help us harness the extraordinary potential of environmental research and innovation to fuel the UK’s prosperity, improving lives and livelihoods. As the landscape for research and innovation continues to evolve and strengthen, NERC as part of UKRI is here to shape and support it – transforming tomorrow together. 

Senior Independent Member (SIM) Responsibilities:

• The SIM is a critical anchor for NERC and its Council. A SIM’s responsibility includes those of the ordinary Council member, in addition to:
• Directly supporting the Executive Chair and providing advice on specific issues and how to deliver the most efficient and effective operation of the Council
• Maintaining regular contact with Council members to understand their perspective and acting as an intermediary with the Executive Chair and NERC Executive Team, elevating concerns to the Executive Chair, UKRI CEO or UKRI Chair as required.
• Supporting the Executive Chair in engaging with stakeholders and building and strengthening external partnerships 

Individual Council Member Responsibilities :

• The Council members’ responsibility includes but is not limited to:
• Supporting the UKRI Board, Executive Committee and council in operating effectively within the overall UKRI organisational framework
• Actively participating in Council business, acting as a critical friend and providing scrutiny, advice and challenge to the council Executive Chair
• Supporting the council Executive Chair, providing advice to ensure executive decision-making is robust and can stand up to external scrutiny
• Supporting the council Executive Chair in discharging responsibilities for risk and assurance in relation to large investments, and where applicable institutes and catapults
• Encouraging and facilitating collaborative work across UKRI as required Acting as an advocate supporting UKRI’s vision and the importance of research and innovation to society and the economy.
• Taking on ad hoc assignments as requested by the council Executive Chair, such as membership or chairing of subgroups, including cross-UKRI activity  
• Participating in the council's evaluation and planning activities  
• Championing equality, diversity and inclusion  
• Championing environmental sustainability  
• If necessary, raising concerns about the operation of the council or, where policies and programmes do not appear to align with the Strategic Delivery Plan, with the Executive Chair and the Council Senior Independent Member.

If you would like more information about the role please visit the candidate pack. 

About You

Candidate will be assessed against the following essential criteria throughout the recruitment process.

• Senior leader from the wider society including finance, business, industry, senior university leadership who possess a commitment to the importance of environmental science and the role of NERC with experience of finance, risk and Corporate Governance.
• Experience as a Trustee / Non-Executive Director / Committee Member and ideally also with experience in a Chair role
• This role will also chair the NERC Assurance Board and delegate for the Executive Chair on occasion.

Should you have any problem with submitting your application via the UKRI Careers Portal, please do send an email to SeniorRecruitment@ukri.org and a member of our team will then be in touch.

Please note, to apply via the UKRI Careers Portal you will receive a notification confirming your profile has successfully been created (if you have not previously set up an account) and a second notification confirming your application for this role has been submitted. If you do not receive the second notification confirming your application for this role has been submitted, please contact SeniorRecruitment@ukri.org, so we can ensure your application has been received.

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.