NERC Science Committee Chair

• Closing date: 26 September 2025, 4:00pm UK time
• Number of positions: One
• Length of term: Three years
• Time commitment: 30 days each year which includes three to four Science Committee meetings and four Council meetings
• Remuneration: Annual honorarium payment of £6,850
• Interview date: Date to be confirmed
• Outcomes communicated: Two to three weeks after the interview

The Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) is looking to appoint a new Chair to its Science Committee. This is a great opportunity to contribute to the development of current and future funding priorities and investments.

As Chair, you will be responsible for leadership of the committee, ensuring business is carried out efficiently and effectively.

You will lead the committee in supporting an excellent and sustainable UK environmental science community, and in working collegiately to offer advice and recommendations to the NERC Council and the NERC head office.

Who we’re looking for?

We are looking for an individual who possesses expertise and experience in research and innovation across the higher education sector. You should have a range of subject matter knowledge appropriate to the council’s areas of research, innovation, training and capital.

You should have the enthusiasm and time to commit to advise us on how we can best achieve our delivery plan ambitions and forward look for environmental science.

Essential skills

You should have the following skills:

• the ability to communicate well and lead the committee to work collaboratively and support members to challenge the Science Committee’s debates
• an understanding of the environmental challenges confronting the world, based on a deep understanding of environmental science with a whole-systems, solution-focused approach
• recognised expertise as an environmental scientist
• the ability to impartially chair a complex, strategic meeting and ensure that, when required, the Science Committee reaches agreed decisions
• an understanding and appreciation of the role of the NERC institutes alongside higher education institutions
• an appreciation of the UK environmental research system, including university and institutional settings

What you’ll be doing

Find out more about the Science Committee

Read the Science Committee terms of reference

When reading the ‘Terms of Reference’ and ‘Overview’ information, note that a governance review has recently been undertaken to streamline our structure and better align with the responsibilities of NERC Council within UKRI.

As a result, the Science Committee will adopt a slightly revised remit from January 2026. In line with the emphasis on growth and innovation outlined in the NERC Forward Look and the Spending Review, the committee will be renamed the Science and Innovation Advisory Committee.

This change is intended to signal our broader focus and attract individuals with innovation expertise during upcoming recruitment cycles.

Role and responsibilities

The Chair is responsible for leadership of the Science Committee and for working with the Executive to ensure its overall effectiveness.

The Chair will:

• ensure the committee carries out its business efficiently and effectively
• ensure the committee actively supports NERC in making informed decisions about priorities
• work with the Executive in planning and conducting committee meetings effectively (including agenda setting)
• ensure papers and other information for the committee are appropriate for the decisions they have to make and aligned to Science Committee terms of reference
• ensure the committee answers to its terms of reference (including planning of forward agenda for programme of Science Committee meetings)
• ensure Science Committee members know their roles and responsibilities
• support the members in their involvement with the committee’s work
• represent the view of the committee and its outcomes to NERC Council by attending NERC Council meetings
• lead, in consultation with the Executive, on the committee’s composition and development
• chair interview panels and engage in the recruitment process for new members
• participate in the induction of new members
• undertake an annual assessment of Science Committee members
• invest significant time, expected to be up to 30 days each year

Actions of the Science Committee and its members are subject to the NERC governance framework.

We expect you to conduct yourself in a way that ensures that UK Research and Innovation’s business is carried out efficiently and effectively. We also expect you to adhere to the highest standards of professional and ethical practice, as outlined in The Seven Principles of Public Life.

Time commitment and remuneration

As Science Committee Chair, we expect you to dedicate up to 30 days each year (which includes three to four Science Committee meetings each year, and four NERC Council meetings). Some Science Committee meetings will be virtual, and some will be in person.

An annual honorarium payment of £6,850, together with reasonable travel and subsistence costs will be reimbursed in accordance with the UK Research and Innovation travel, subsistence and expenses policy.

The meeting dates for 2025 and 2026 have been published.

How to apply

Submit a CV (limited to two sides) and a completed application form for the attention of Gemma Davies to: swindongdsadmin@nerc.ukri.org

You must submit these by 26 September 2025.

You should ensure you have read the NERC Science Committee Chair application pack 2025.

Download an application form (DOCX, 80KB)

Download an application pack (PDF, 170KB)

Reasonable adjustments

We want to make our recruitment processes, as well as participation in our boards and panels, accessible to all.

This includes making adjustments for people with a disability.

Email swindongdsadmin@nerc.ukri.org if you:

• have any queries about the application process
• would like this application in a different format (for example, accessible PDF, large print, easy read, audio recording or braille)
• if you would like to discuss how we can support your application

Read our accessibility statement for our website.

If your application is successful, we will work to fulfil your requirements to enable you to fully participate in board and panel meetings.

How we’ll assess your application

Panel review

After the closing date, all applications will be passed to the selection panel. The panel will review the applications against the person specification. The panel will agree which applicants will be selected for interview.

Interview

Further details will be provided if you are selected for interview.

Final appointment

At the final appointment stages, where applicants are qualified on merit, the selection panel will seek to achieve a balanced membership in terms of, for example, diversity (including geographical diversity), expertise, and experience.

The successful candidate will be appointed by NERC, on the recommendation of the selection panel.

The Chair will be appointed for a period of three years, subject to annual performance review.

Further information

Equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI)

We believe that everyone has a right to be treated with dignity and respect, and to be provided with the appropriate opportunities and tools to flourish and succeed. We believe in an ethical and trusted working environment that is attractive and accessible to everyone who is interested in developing their career with us.

We value diversity of thought and experience and are committed to creating systems that value difference so that everyone can feel welcomed, included and nurtured throughout their time with us.

Find out how we support EDI in the workforce

At NERC, as part of UK Research and Innovation, we are proud to be users of the Disability Confident scheme. We guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for any of our vacancies. There is a section on the application form to indicate if you would like to be considered under this scheme.

Information on NERC

NERC is the UK’s leading funder of environmental science research, investing over £330 million each year in cutting-edge research, postgraduate skills and innovation in universities and research centres.

Rapid developments in environmental science are transforming understanding of the Earth system through a combination of:

• new technologies for data acquisition, such as autonomy and remote observation and sensing
• increasingly sophisticated analytics that allow data to be exploited in new ways for new insights

NERC is uniquely placed to take advantage of these transformations and generate new knowledge and understanding, having research programmes acquiring data across the whole Earth system.

This includes the geosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and cryosphere, along with ocean science capabilities and satellite observations.

As we continue the transition to a green economy, environmental technologies and insights are becoming increasingly important to business and to society.

This is both directly for innovation and growth, and in helping to build resilience through improving predictive power particularly in weather and climate, and resilience to natural hazards.

NERC’s Forward Look identifies three long-term priorities where environmental science can deliver outcomes that improve:

• lives and livelihoods
• green growth
• environmental security
• responsible innovation

NERC delivers these priorities within the overall UKRI research and development framework of curiosity research, research for innovation and growth, and research to support government priorities.

Our funding supports the UK as an international leader in evidence-driven environmental policy through strategic investment in researchers, innovators, facilities and data, which together deliver a world-leading environmental science capability.

Ask a question about this vacancy

If you have any questions, contact Gemma Davies, Governance Manager, Science Committee

Email: swindongdsadmin@nerc.ukri.org

Last updated: 29 August 2025