Head of Environmental Sustainability

Location: Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell Campus, Oxfordshire.

We have a new opportunity for a highly motivated and enthusiastic individual, with considerable leadership and operational experience, to join us at the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) as our Head of Environmental Sustainability. This is a huge but exciting challenge, and an opportunity to lead and embed environmental sustainability thinking into everything we do. UKRI has published an ambitious Environmental Sustainable Strategy and STFC has a significant role is achieving this. Can you lead STFC to deliver its contribution? A target of net zero by 2040 has been set. Are you able to meet this challenge?

As part of UK Research and Innovation, STFC offers a benefits package designed to provide an excellent work/life balance. This includes 30 days’ annual leave, 10.5 public and privilege days, Christmas shut down, flexible working hours, a workplace nursery, an exceptional defined benefit pension scheme, and social and sporting activities and societies.

About The Role

The Head of Environmental Sustainability (ES) will be responsible for ensuring STFC delivers an environmental action plan that positively embeds ES into everything we do.  Within this role, you will establish long term strategic direction, plans, delivery metrics and targets as part of a vigorous programme to deliver UKRI and STFCs sustainability goals. You will plan, manage and report on these programmes, and help to motivate and inspire others to deliver environmental improvements.

You will also be responsible for building an effective environmental sustainability team and establish an engagement programme for staff and stakeholders to enable ES opportunities to become reality.

You will build and lead strong business cases for investment, influencing stakeholders to achieve positive funding decisions.

You will consider and establish STFC ambition and action in areas relating to: energy efficiency; water efficiency; waste management; travel management; biodiversity; green laboratories; and sustainable construction. Further responsibilities include:

• Working with the STFC Directors and senior management to ensure a coherent approach to the delivery of STFC’s ES goals and plan, setting objectives and targets.
• Working with key stakeholders, coaching them around best practice and influencing and engaging them to deliver best practice in sector performance.
• Translating strategy into deliverables as appropriate with cost benefit analyses and reports.
• Establish a behavioural change programme to raise the awareness, understanding, empowerment and contribution of staff, and all those working from STFC sites, to deliver STFC’s ES goals and net zero by 2040.

The role is based at STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory in Harwell, Oxfordshire but it will have a National remit and be expected to visit and work at STFC sites in Warrington and Edinburgh and UKRI sites in Swindon and London.

About You

We are looking for someone who holds an environmentally focused degree (or equivalent) or is professionally accredited in a relating discipline. You will have a significant track record of leading and implementing environmentally sustainable initiatives. You will be strategically minded with the ability to engage staff at all levels of the organisation. You will have significant experience within an environmental management or ES related role with knowledge of working with environmental standards and reporting tools. We are looking for someone who is people focused and passionate about changing cultures and behaviours.

How to Apply

Applicants are required to submit a CV and a cover letter which outlines their suitability for this role and showcases their experience in relation to our criteria.

Applications are handled by UK Shared Business Services, to apply please click the apply button.  Applicants who are unable to apply online should contact us by telephone on +44 (0)1793 867000.

The closing date for applications is 26^TH October 2020.  APPLY HERE