Contents Location About the job Benefits Things you need to know Apply and further information Location This role is based across our offices in Swindon and London. Hybrid working may be considered. The role will require regular face to face meetings with our research centres and strategic delivery partners including oversight of our operations and research infrastructures in the UK and overseas. About the job Job summary Purpose of the Role As the senior executive leading the day-to-day operations of NERC, the COO will work alongside the Executive Chair, Professor Louise Heathwaite, in delivering NERCs mission and objectives. You will take responsibility for all financial, commercial, and funding operations, and major research infrastructures across NERC and beyond, into other parts of UKRI, all the while troubleshooting, resolving, and staying ahead of emerging risks. You will be responsible for the safety and well being of our staff and the operational resilience of NERC, including providing risk assurance across our polar operations, aviation, and ships. This role is responsible for overseeing infrastructure assets of c£500m and delivering new and ongoing infrastructure projects including the Antarctic Modernisation Infrastructure Programme. The postholder will need to be or become qualified to deliver Government Major Infrastructure Programmes as recognised by the Government Infrastructure and Projects Authority. The NERC COO leads on the delivery and operation of all NERC major projects and infrastructures including NERC centres and strategic delivery partners, and their financial and operational alignment with UKRI, other Councils, relevant government departments and external stakeholders. The role is also responsible for oversight of NERC operations, including health and safety and providing assurance across our polar operations, aviation and ships. This role secures the safety, risk assurance and operational resilience that underpins NERC as a safe, happy, and resilient organisation, wherever the environmental science challenges take us across the globe. The role holder, as part of the NERC Executive Team, is expected to provide leadership, expert advice, guidance and act as head of profession across NERC for areas including governance and assurance, project delivery, health and safety, legal and compliance, security including cyber security, resilience of NERC infrastructure and financial planning, and business and commercial activities with the specific aim of building and sustaining operational and financial resilience across the NERC portfolio. The ability to navigate UKRI and its systems is essential for this role, as is preparedness to build and grow excellent cross-Council working with other research council COOs. Job description Senior Leadership To provide clear, collaborative and collective leadership as part of the UKRI leadership team to support the successful transformation of UKRI As a member of the NERC Executive team, model the behaviours and values of UKRI Serve as the financial, business and commercial operational leader and key advisor to the Executive Chair, ensuring smooth operational and financial leadership of NERC- wide operations, infrastructure, security and resilience engaging and influencing key UKRI partners such as Finance and HR Provide clear, collaborative and visible leadership as part of the NERC executive team modelling the behaviours and values of UKRI Responsible for maintaining a strong and sustainable Health and Safety culture across NERC Provide assurance to the UKRI Board via ARAC and attend UKRI HSMC. Attend Council; NERC Management Board (NMB) and attend NERC Assurance Board (NAB) and National Capability Partners Forum (NCPF) Finance and Commercial Sound investment appraisal of major programmes and projects within your area of responsibility Understand in detail NERCs budget within UKRI. Working with the UKRI Finance Business Partner, take the lead executive role in managing in-year spend to remain inside the permissible financial envelope Develop the organisations understanding of its medium and long-term financial requirements and articulate these clearly to UKRI and relevant stakeholders (particularly in the context of government spending review exercises) Oversee long-term financial sustainability of investments supporting science funding operations, risk assurance and major projects including leading on project delivery assurance, contracts and maintenance Oversight and implementation of measures to support the financial sustainability of NERC research centres and strategic delivery partners as part of NERC and UKRI financial risk management practices Ensure that staff members engaged in procurement within NERC operations are aware of and act in accordance with UKRI procurement and commercial policies, procedures and processes Working as part of the NERC Executive Team, ensure NERC Directorates and NERC centres return a balanced budget and adopt prompt reporting to NMB of any material changes to spending profiles Oversee significant procurements in conjunction with the Corporate Services Procurement Business Partner Planning Lead for NERC on commercial operations planning and appraisal, providing relevant corporate knowledge and assurance including business, commercial and legal planning to underpin the security and resilience of NERC operations and infrastructures within UKRI Lead health and safety risk management within NERC and any related domains, paying regard to the work of the NERC centres and strategic delivery partners where these include higher-risk activities (including overseas operations, flight operations, shipping). Regularly report these risks to the NERC Executive Chair; through the NAB and through appropriate governance mechanisms in UKRI Ensure NERC has the skills, capacity, systems, processes to deliver its financial, business and commercial and operational capability working across UKRI Drive robust stewardship of research infrastructure and NERC centres and strategic delivery partners, including taking lead responsibility for centre business plans and strategic relationship agreements Working with the NERC Executive Team, ensure and maintain an active pipeline of future infrastructure opportunities Demonstrate the organisation has a detailed knowledge of all programme activity being conducted under the auspices of NERC, whether at Research Centres; Strategic Delivery Partners; through use of NERC funding or otherwise Operations Lead commissioning and building of major research infrastructures Be accountable for Health and Safety systems and governance, including marine and aviation safety and assurance Provide assurance to the Executive Chair on your responsibilities including securing appropriate assurance from activities delegated within your area of responsibility and critical activities delivered by third parties Identification, assessment, recording and reporting of potential / new operational risks, including oversight of regular risk assessments of all NERC activity and through the NERC Executive Chair, compliance assurance to the UKRI Accounting Officer Ensure NERCs £500m infrastructure programme portfolio has the right mix of expertise to ensure successful delivery Fulfil UKRI ownership requirements across operational, condition, sustainability and regulatory compliance and contribute to UKRI wide project assurance activity Identification, assessment, recording and reporting of potential / new risks, particularly within your sphere of responsibilities Leadership of NERCs environmental sustainability delivery including meeting net zero targets and implementation of UKRI carbon budgets Major Projects A major part of this role is the oversight and senior responsibility for the operational delivery of major projects including Antarctic Infrastructure Modernisation Programme, Mid-life Upgrade to the Atmospheric Research Aircraft, the Floods and Droughts infrastructure programme, and the Future Marine Research Infrastructure Programme Ensure thorough governance and review of all NERC major projects to test viability, deliverability, risk and financial discipline As part of the Executive Team, provide effective assurance for NERC centres and strategic delivery partners relating to infrastructure and major projects and contribute to UKRI wide project assurance activity Stakeholder relationships Provide senior leadership and operational support to the British Antarctic Survey in alignment with UK Government requirements as set out by FCDO, the Cabinet Office and the Major Infrastructure Authority Work with UKRI finance business partners to ensure robust budgetary control and financial planning to support NERCs medium-term business planning and operational expenditures Serve as NERCs representative in fulfilling UKRI's strategic objective of a 'world class place' and contribute to UKRI's and cross-council engagement initiatives, ensuring alignment with NERCs mission and strategic goals Provide operational support and business and commercial advice to NERC centres to ensure they maintain a balanced budget whilst meeting NERC and UK Government requirements to support UK presence and deliver national capability and national public good Information Technology, Facilities, Administration Manage the provision of business IT, procurement, legal services and other pan-UKRI functions that support scientific operations in NERC, working with internal and external suppliers as necessary Ensure the NERC estate is of appropriate quality and used flexibly, responsibly and effectively Ensure that NERC employees have the tools for the job including future requirements for ERP systems Leadership & Line Management Within UKRI, lead by example as an active member of the NERC Executive Team as a credible, empathetic and effective leader of the organisation In NERC, provide strong, creative, and visible leadership of a high performing, efficient and cross functional team of senior professionals including relevant teams within BAS and BGS Champion UKRI diversity policies Champion matrix management across NERC and UKRI to support and strengthen relationships and interconnectivities across teams, providing operational leadership for NERC Directors and relevant NERC centre staff and ensuring there is operational capacity and appropriate research infrastructure to support science delivery Consulting with the Deputy Executive Chair and Directors, lead as SRO for the Antarctic Infrastructure Modernisation programme ensuring it keeps to time and budget. You will provide oversight of the scientific operational needs and ensure continuity of scientific operations in Antarctica while meeting FCDO presence requirements Consulting with the Deputy Executive Chair and Directors on the science needs, provide leadership and oversight of the SRO for the Future Marine Research Infrastructure programme, which is tasked with delivering modern, resilient and internationally leading marine science Person specification Essential Skills & Experience Demonstrable experience as a senior financial and operational leader, with the ability to manage NERCs wide-ranging operational activities and anticipate emerging risks Demonstrable knowledge and execution of project management and a deep understanding of financial disciplines and risk identification, with the ability to communicate these issues in a concise and effective manner through NERC and UKRI governance mechanisms Strong emotional intelligence, excellent listening skills; good relationship and influencing skills and the ability to reach out and build consensus and trust across diverse teams and stakeholders Excellent interpersonal, communication and leadership skills, with evidence of ability to manage the competing demands of a diverse range of science-driven activities Ability to make decisions in a transparent, objective and impartial manner Ability to multi-task, maintaining pace whilst remaining calm in complex situations, requiring operational understanding of working in remote and /or extreme environments Strong attention to detail and acute understanding of governance and risk processes and assurance to ensure the health and safety of all NERC staff Considerable experience of stakeholder management including the ability to work with partners to build effective relationships for mutual benefit, reconcile potentially conflicting interests and influence others not in their management line to achieve desired outcomes Understanding and the ability to respond to the wider political environment in which NERC operates both within and outside UKRI including an ability to work effectively within the governance framework of UKRI Exceptional financial, business and commercial acumen including evidence of successfully procuring and delivering major scientific infrastructure investments that might involve multi- stakeholder commissioning and require delivery in physically remote or challenging environments Experience working in highly regulated environments ensuring research infrastructures meet safety requirements Desirable Skills & Experience An understanding of the Government Project Delivery Capability Framework An understanding of the governments major programme governance system and accounting system, including accounting officer roles Experience in specialist scientific infrastructure Understanding of UK environmental science including experience of working in extreme environments (eg. polar, oceans) ideally, experience working on projects categorised as having a high level of complexity Education / Qualifications Essential: A minimum of degree level in a financial and business-related discipline or demonstratable equivalent experience Strong evidence of a successful career operating in the research and innovation sector or related, and experience of the public sector ideally within high-risk environments Desirable: HM Governments Major Project Leadership Academy (MPLA) qualification. The successful candidate is required to commit to obtaining this qualification as a condition of the appointment, within an agreed timeframe, should they not possess it on appointment Professional qualification in financial management and/or project management Benefits Alongside your salary of £92,000, UK Research and Innovation contributes £26,652 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides. Learning and development tailored to your role An environment with flexible working options A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97% Things you need to know Selection process details How to apply Please submit the following: A short (no more than 2 pages) CV outlining your career and experience to date A cover letter (no more than 2 pages) detailing your motivation and vision for the role, with specific emphasis on how you will deliver for NERC Please apply on the Gatenby Sanderson website. https://join-ukri-nerc.co.uk/job/chief-operating-officer.20481/ Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment. This role has a minimum assignment duration of 3 years. An assignment duration is the period of time a Senior Civil Servant is expected to remain in the same post to enable them to deliver on the agreed key business outcomes. The assignment duration also supports your career through building your depth of expertise. As part of accepting this role you will be agreeing to the expected assignment duration set out above. This will not result in a contractual change to your terms and conditions. Please note this is an expectation only, it is not something which is written into your terms and conditions or indeed which the employing organisation or you are bound by. It will depend on your personal circumstances at a particular time and business needs, for example, would not preclude any absence like family friendly leave. It is nonetheless an important expectation, which is why we ask you to confirm you agree to the assignment duration set out above. Security Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window). See our vetting charter (opens in a new window). People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks. Nationality requirements This job is broadly open to the following groups: UK nationals nationals of the Republic of Ireland nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window) nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020 Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window) Working for the Civil Service The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants. We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. Diversity and Inclusion The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window). Apply and further information Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records. Contact point for applicants Job contact : Name : Maliha Ahmed Email : Maliha.AhmedGatenbySanderson.com Recruitment team Email : Maliha.AhmedGatenbySanderson.com Further information https://join-ukri-nerc.co.uk/job/chief-operating-officer.20481/ Apply at advertiser's site Share this page Print Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn GMail