NERC Floods and Droughts Research Infrastructure (FDRI) Community Advisory Group: open call for members

Closing date
24 October 2024
Number of positions
Up to seven
Length of term
Two years for the first term
Time commitment
Up to four meetings per year, plus reading time. This includes reviews of project’s updates and milestones, along with documentation relating to the project that can vary in frequency and volume
Remuneration
Please note this is not a salaried position and the meetings will be held virtually

There might be a scope for one meeting per year to be held in-person

For in-person meetings an attendance fee with reasonable travel and subsistence expenses will be paid in accordance with the UKRI travel, subsistence and expenses policy

Outcomes communicated
Week commencing 25 November 2024

An opportunity has arisen to join the Flood and Droughts Research Infrastructure (FDRI) Community Advisory Group to expand the existing membership in specific areas of expertise.

We need expert advice and guidance from the community to ensure FDRI delivers the anticipated scientific benefit and improves UK’s resilience to hydrological extremes.

Who we’re looking for

FDRI is a capital investment by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) enabling essential science and innovation to improve the country’s resilience to hydrological extremes.

FDRI will improve our understanding of how, when and where floods and droughts occur, enabling improved predictions, robust assessment of impacts and implementation of appropriate mitigation measures. It will help ensure that the UK continues to play a leading role in hydrological research and innovation, driving solutions worldwide.

Applications are sought from individuals with expertise relevant to hydrological science and an interest in applying their expertise to represent the interests of the broader UK hydrological science community.

The Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) invites applications from any sector, including:

  • academia
  • policy
  • regulation
  • industry

We would particularly welcome applications from practitioners in government organisations and individuals with expertise in:

  • catchment science and hydrological processes
  • catchment monitoring technology
  • catchment modelling (specifically understanding of value of continuous time-series data)

To ensure a balance of expertise, you will be asked to indicate your primary area of expertise, selecting up to two areas of the following:

  • catchment modelling, including data processing and data assimilation
  • monitoring technology (sensors or telemetry)
  • observational networks in the UK or internationally
  • hydrological processes research
  • government policy needs in water management, particularly floods and droughts
  • water sector and industry needs

If you have any other primary area of expertise, you should specify it.

In the interest of ensuring fair community representation and recognising existing membership, the assessment panel will consider institutional affiliation when reviewing applications.

Person specification

You must have:

  • an excellent understanding of hydrological science, data processing and hydrological modelling, monitoring technology or the development and use of observing networks
  • experience of working as either a hydrological researcher or as an end-user of hydrological science. For example, in public sector, private sector or non-governmental organisations
  • an ability to take a strategic overview of issues relevant to hydrological research infrastructure and the delivery of the FDRI project objectives
  • experience, willingness, and the ability to represent the views of research or end-user communities to constructively challenge decision makers and to facilitate two-way communication between the research community, NERC and UKRI

You must be able to give sufficient time to being a member of the advisory group. You must also have the support of your host organisation (if applicable) in taking up this role.

Additionally, as the programme evolves there might be opportunities for additional involvement, especially in community engagement.

What you’ll be doing

The FDRI Community Advisory Group provides:

  • expert, independent, and timely strategic science advice
  • input on behalf of the research community to the FDRI Project Delivery Team and FDRI Project Board

The primary objective of FDRI is to design and deliver the first UK-relevant flood and drought monitoring and innovation network capability through an observation and digital research infrastructure.

This will provide world-leading diagnosis of hydrological impact, covering a range of spatial and temporal scales with near real-time data. The proposed novel infrastructure will enable significant advancement of our understanding of how, when and where floods and droughts occur and the effectiveness of mitigation measures.

FDRI will build a UK first, stakeholder co-designed network of open-air laboratories in three major river basins (Severn, Thames and Tweed).

This network will:

  • cover a range of UK environmental gradients
  • enable transfer of understanding to the wider stakeholder community at multiple scales
  • improve whole system monitoring

FDRI Community Advisory Group member’s responsibilities

As a member of the FDRI Community Advisory Group, you will:

  • advise on most appropriate ways to maximise benefits for the user community
  • advise on most appropriate ways to improve, innovate and deliver a research infrastructure that aligns to current and expected future demands for environmental research and innovation across disciplines
  • represent the views of the research and innovation and wider user community to the Senior Responsible Owner and assist the FDRI Project Board to deliver the project objectives
  • where appropriate, get advice and opinions from the science community and other stakeholders to provide comprehensive scientific advice that is representative of the views of the community
  • act as a channel for engagement between the wider science community and the FDRI Project Board
  • highlight opportunities to work with other initiatives, both nationally and internationally, including funding and joint-operation
  • where required, gain advice on specific tasks and get additional advice from the science community and other stakeholders through ‘task and finish’ groups
  • provide scientific advice that considers sustainability and responsible research complementing the UKRI sustainability strategy and the NERC Responsible Business statement
  • advocate for the FDRI among the potential user community, including early career researchers

Members sit on the community advisory group as individuals, rather than representing a particular organisation. Members will be representatives for the hydrological science stakeholder community.

The community advisory group’s advice will shape the preparation of evidence brought to the FDRI Board, which is responsible for advising the NERC Executive on decision making.

See details on the FDRI and its most recent membership.

How to apply

Complete the online form to apply.

The application form contains the following sections:

  • personal information (for example, name, organisation and contact details)
  • diversity information

It also contains free text sections, including:

  • personal statement: a summary of the skills and experiences you can bring to the community advisory group, including evidence on how you meet the assessment criteria
  • what are the greatest challenges and opportunities for FDRI, and how would you engage the community in its delivery?

You will have an (optional) opportunity to add relevant parts of your curriculum vitae to a free text section.

Ensure you refer to the person specification in your answers.

If you have any questions, email capitalrequirements@nerc.ukri.org

How we’ll assess your application

Applications will be assessed by a panel comprising the current chair of FDRI Community Advisory Group, senior representatives from NERC Head Office and the FDRI Project Office.

You will be assessed based on how well you meet the person specification, assessment criteria and the extent to which your expertise and knowledge complements that of the current FDRI Community Advisory Group members.

Assessment criteria

This includes:

  • professional expertise relevant to the FDRI Community Advisory Group and as described in the person specification
  • contributions to the wider development of your discipline
  • knowledge and understanding of the hydrological science landscape in the UK and internationally and an understanding of the challenges facing the appropriate sector or discipline (both broadly and relating to your own area of expertise)
  • knowledge of research culture, including equality, diversity and inclusion within hydrology, and awareness and understanding of societal, ethical or legal considerations related to hydrological science or research more widely
  • understanding the interface between government, academia, industry and other relevant NERC stakeholders
  • expertise in multidisciplinary or interdisciplinary working across fields in science and more widely, including the formation of national and international collaborations and partnerships and facilitation of knowledge exchange

We expect you to:

  • commit the necessary time and attention to your appointment
  • have the full support or the necessary permission of your employer

In addition to reviewing applications against the criteria for appointment, we will consider people diversity and institutional and industry balance as part of the decision-making process.

Equality, diversity and inclusion

Equality, diversity and inclusion

NERC is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and welcomes applications from all.

We encourage applications from a diverse range of researchers. We particularly encourage applications from:

  • women
  • people with a disability
  • members of minority ethnic groups
  • people who are currently under-represented at senior levels in the research and innovation community

We also support people to work in a way that suits their personal circumstances. This includes:

  • career breaks
  • support for people with caring responsibilities
  • flexible working
  • alternative working patterns

At NERC, as part of UKRI, we are proudly Disability Confident.

You will be selected based on your suitability against the person specification list in the What we’re looking for section.

Where applicants are of equal merit, we will use our discretion to ensure that there is a balanced composition of members within the board. Therefore, the recruitment process will consider the balance of members with respect to:

  • equality, diversity and inclusion
  • sector experience
  • expertise

Last updated: 3 October 2024

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