Chair of the STFC Science Board (Facilities and Laboratories)

• Closing date: 31 August 2025
• Number of positions: One
• Length of term: Two years
• Time commitment: 30 days per year, including attendance at Science Board and STFC Council meetings
• Remuneration: Employer will be reimbursed in recognition of time spent on STFC business
• Interview date: Mid to late September 2025
• Outcomes communicated: October 2025

The Science Board (Facilities and Laboratories) is seeking a chair. The board advises:

• national and international multidisciplinary facilities related to or supported by the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC)
• the STFC National Laboratories
• related technologies

The board reviews and advises on strategy. The board will comprise approximately 16 members, in addition to a chair. It represents a broad cross section of STFC’s facility user and stakeholder communities.

The board will normally meet between two and four times a year, either in person or by videoconference.

Who we're looking for

Applications are encouraged from individuals who bring a broad strategic view, providing advice and insight into STFC scientific strategy at a cross-cutting level.

To be eligible to apply for the role of chair, you must be at a UK-based institution or organisation. Current, UK-based Science Board members are eligible to apply. In the interests of ensuring impartiality, employees of STFC and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) are not eligible to apply for the Chair role.

The appointment would begin in January 2026 for a term of two years.

What you'll be doing

The chairs is expected to commit the necessary time and attention to the role and have the full support of their employer and organisation in doing so. The chair should expect to commit up to 30 days per year. Employers will be reimbursed in recognition of the time spent on STFC business.

The Chair of Science Board (Facilities and Laboratories), will work in partnership with the STFC office to deliver the terms of reference by:

• chairing the Science Board (Facilities and Laboratories) meetings
• providing leadership to board members
• guiding group discussions to agreed outcomes
• facilitating the provision of fair, impartial and objective scientific advice from the board to STFC regarding STFC-supported national and international multidisciplinary facilities, the STFC National Laboratories and related technologies (including accelerators and computing)
• feeding into Science Board (Facilities and Laboratories) meeting agendas
• developing effective and professional working relationships with STFC staff across the organisation
• representing Science Board (Facilities and Laboratories) at STFC Council and Science Board (Particle Physics, Astronomy and Nuclear Physics) as well as at community, facility or town meetings

How to apply

To arrange an informal preliminary discussion, contact either:

• Dave Newbold, Executive Director dave.newbold@stfc.ac.uk
• Roger Eccleston, Executive Director National Labs and Large Scale Facilities roger.eccleston@stfc.ac.uk

A CV and covering letter should be emailed to Claire Jones, Science Board Secretariat sbfacilitieslabs@stfc.ukri.org

How we'll assess your application

Applicants will be shortlisted for interview based solely on the evidence and information provided in their application, in line with the assessment criteria below. Candidates selected for interview will be notified in early September with interviews held mid-September. Interviews will be held via videoconference with a panel usually made up of representatives from STFC Council and Executive Board.

Assessment Criteria

These are:

• ability to demonstrate an understanding of and commitment to UKRI and STFC’s mission and priorities
• an appreciation of STFC governance and advisory structures
• knowledge and understanding of UKRI and STFC stakeholder’s needs
• ability to chair a complex, strategic meeting and bring discussions to a successful conclusion
• previous membership of laboratory, facility or industrial R&D strategic advisory bodies
• the ability to act impartially and ensure the actions of the board are objective and fair across the entire STFC facilities and national laboratories remit

Further information

A dynamic, diverse and inclusive board is critical to ensuring STFC gets the best strategic advice. Therefore, we particularly encourage applications from:

• women
• people who identify as an ethnic minority
• people with a disability
• other groups who are currently under-represented on STFCs boards and panels

Last updated: 16 July 2025