• Job Description

  Req#: 24000142

  Head of Major Programmes (Polar)

  The Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) - Head Office

  Salary: £56,745 per annum
  Hours: Full time
  Contract Type: Open Ended.
  Location: Polaris House, Swindon, Wiltshire.
  The role is flexible / hybrid, based in Swindon HO, but with significant time spent at NERC Centres including BAS in Cambridge, NOC in Southampton, London office and partner organisations.
  Reporting to: Simon Durbin, NERC SRO Major Programmes & Associate Director
  Closing Date: 07/01/25

  As a member of a specialist HO based major programmes team within UKRI-NERC with responsibility to lead, deliver and assure large infrastructure projects, the Head of Major Programmes (Polar) will have direct impact on the UK’s presence in Antarctica and our wider NERC portfolio.

  Major Programmes (MP) responsibilities include direct project leadership (SRO, Project Director, Project Sponsor, Project Management Lead) support for:

  • in flight projects;
  • projects under development (FMRI, EDRUK, DIGIREP); and
  • with NERC Strategic Partnerships, pipeline development utilising government best practice.

  The team also provides NERC functional capability for project finance, commercial, risk, management, governance, government project delivery standards and business excellence.

  At its core, MP provides the key elements of ensuring NERC projects are successful in terms of time, cost and quality being:

  • Business Case development from initial concept stage;
  • Approvals management through to DSIT / HM Treasury;
  • Assurance, including project ‘gates’ and health-checks;
  • Commercial / legal project support through delivery;
  • Transfer to BAU; and
  • Lessons Learnt (incorporated within an active excellence based ‘Engine Room’).

  Working closely with the MP&R Deputy Director, MP SRO and Associate Director, Head of MP (Terrestrial) and Head of MP (Marine) you will provide the organisation with excellent project delivery leadership, essential for NERC’s ongoing infrastructure programme (estimated at £3bn plus over the next 20 years).

  Providing management and business leadership needed to deliver and maintain large and complex infrastructure in support of the NERC strategy, you will be key to successful delivery of a number of our programmes and projects, with primary focus on our polar large infrastructure programme.

  Stewardship of NERC Infrastructure, including research centres, ships, aircraft and non-scientific capital projects

  • Research Centre-level programme governance for NERC large infrastructure to Government standards;
  • Leading and supporting the project managers delivering each project;
  • The creation of robust and compelling capital business cases and management of the approval process across the capital life-course from business case, construction, maintenance and disposal;
  • Helping shape commercial solutions;
  • Robust financial, assurance and risk management; and
  • Delivery and tracking of business case benefits.

  Performing the role of Sponsor for new projects developed as part of our programme to enhance and maintain our scientific research estate through excellence based project development from birth to grave, including:

  • Idea development and evaluation;
  • Robust business case ‘Gate’ management;
  • Embedding sustainability in both construction and operation;
  • Construction partner procurement;
  • Promoting good governance and assurance; and
  • Business Transformation.

  Leading professional delivery of major capital projects through active board and project participation. Our current projects include:

  • Antarctic Modernisation
  • Buildings
  • Aircraft
  • Future marine infrastructure
  • Research Infrastructure
  • Ships
  • Floods & Droughts
  • Digital infrastructure

  Informing developments of the Environment Sector led Business Cases inputs to UKRI / DSIT.

  • Ensuring business cases are robust, compelling and deliverable.
  • Supporting the approval and initiation of projects.

  Providing project based assurance through active participation and management of a number of complex projects with opportunity to participate across the UKRI and DSIT reviewer programmes.

  Influencing excellent project delivery across NERC. You will be an important member of the NERC ‘Heads of’ network providing essential input into the wider NERC strategy, portfolio and organisational leadership activities.

  With significant experience in related activities, perhaps in a similar project management environment and a desire to move up to the next stage of responsibility where you can make a real difference, you will already have a track record in delivering complex projects ideally within research and innovation and determined to continue to grow in a new and challenging environmental research enabling role.

  The role is flexible / hybrid, based in Swindon HO, but with significant time spent at NERC Centres including BAS in Cambridge, NOC in Southampton, London office and partner organisations.
  
  Person Specification

  NERC Major Programmes: Head of Major Programmes (Polar) – Band F

  An experienced professional with extensive experience in successfully guiding research projects through direct engagement with senior stakeholders and a commitment to delivering to time, cost and quality. Experience of at least one of:

  • Stewardship of NERC Infrastructure, including research centres, ships, aircraft and non-scientific capital projects
  • Performing the role of Sponsor for new projects developed as part of our programme to enhance and maintain our scientific research estate through excellence based project development from birth to grave
  • Leading professional delivery of capital / transformational projects
  • Informing developments of the Environment Sector led Business Cases inputs to UKRI / DSIT.

  Essential Criteria

  • Excellent leadership skills, able to inspire and lead large, complex multi-stakeholder projects with individuals from multiple organisations and multiple disciplines ideally as part of a project delivery team
  • Strong interpersonal skills, able to influence and build and maintain strong working relationships with a wide range of stakeholders at all levels demonstrated within Research Council setting
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills
  • Enthusiastic, motivated, adaptable and proactive with the ability to work flexibly in a changing environment
  • Approvals & / or assurance management delivery in a project setting
  • Proven track record of delivering results in the programme/project environment, ideally in a Research Council or Centres with the ability to champion change, provide direction and mobilise people and other resources to achieve overarching aims and objectives
  • Insightful business awareness with the ability to assess and manage risk, capitalise on emerging opportunities, construct robust and compelling business cases, make sound evidence-based judgements, and promote the interests of UKRI-NERC
  • A strong sense of personal resilience and ability to remain focused on the bigger picture, willing to lead and work within a team of professional staff across a number of organisations

  Desirable Criteria

  • Educated to degree level in a relevant discipline, or equivalent experience
  • APM Registered Project Professional
  • Prince2 Foundation or Practitioner
  • Agile Foundation or Practitioner
  • High level proficiency in all Microsoft Office tools, including MS Project
  • PMO experience

  How to apply:

  For full details, please visit our careers site. Please submit an application including your CV and a Cover Letter that showcases how your skills and experience align to the requirements of the role.

  A well thought through application providing evidence and examples of how you meet the advertised essential and desirable criteria for the post will be considered far more favourably than a generic covering letter and CV.

  UKRI is an Equal Opportunity & Disability Confident Employer.

  Please apply online, if you experience any issue applying, please contact Recruitment@ukri.org

  About Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)

  NERC is the UK's leading funder of environmental science. Our scientists study and monitor the physical, chemical and biological processes on which our planet and life itself depends – from pole to pole, to the deep Earth and oceans, to the atmosphere and space. The science we fund has impact across all sectors. It provides a platform for future UK prosperity by contributing to a safe, healthy, productive nation. Many programmes involve collaborations with national and international partners to tackle large-scale environmental science challenges, including those faced by developing countries.

  As well as research, innovation and training are supported from the NERC core budget. There are exciting emerging opportunities from cross-UKRI funds to develop interdisciplinary programmes enabling environmental researchers to lead and collaborate in major projects. This advances knowledge and has significant potential for delivering economic impact.

  For more information about NERC, see: https://nerc.ukri.org

  
  About UK Research Innovation (UKRI)

  UKRI is an organisation that brings together the seven disciplinary research councils, Research England and Innovate UK. Together, we build an independent organisation with a strong voice and vision ensuring the UK maintains its world-leading position in research and innovation.

  Supporting some of the world’s most exciting and challenging research projects, we develop and operate some of the most remarkable scientific facilities in the world. We are pushing the frontiers of human knowledge through fundamental research and delivering benefits for UK society and the economy through world-class research, skills and business-led innovation.

  More information can be found at www.ukri.org.

  Choosing to come to work at UKRI means that you will have access to a whole host of benefits from a defined benefit pension scheme, excellent holiday entitlement, access to employee shopping/travel discounts and salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme. For more details, visit Benefits of working at UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)

  The role holder will be required to have the appropriate level of security screening/vetting required for the role. UKRI reserves the right to run or re-run security clearance as required during the course of employment.

  
  How we support EDI in the workforce

  At UKRI, we believe that everyone has a right to be treated with dignity and respect, and to be provided with equal opportunities to thrive and succeed in an environment that enables them to do so. We also value diversity of thought and experience within inclusive groups, organisations and the wider community. For further information, please visit ‘How we support EDI in the workforce’.

  
  Disability Confident Employer

  As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy/ies. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

  
  How to apply

  Online applications only preferred for this role. Please submit a CV and covering letter which clearly outlines how you fulfil the criteria specified along with your motivation for UKRI and the role. Ensure that the job reference number is included in the filename description of each document uploaded. Note that failure to address the above criteria or submit an application without a covering letter may result in the application not being considered. Assessment will only be based upon the content of your submitted covering letter and CV and not the ‘experience’ section of the application.

  UKRI seeks to ensure it creates and maintains a system of openness, fairness and inclusion – a collaborative, trusted environment, which is attractive to and accessible to everyone who is interested in developing their career with us.

• About the company

  UK Research and Innovation is a non-departmental public body of the Government of the United Kingdom that directs research and innovation funding, funded through the science budget of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

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