Executive Director of Environmental Data, Innovation and Growth

SALARY: £97,304- £110,000 Per Annum
HOURS: Full Time or Part Time (Minimum 0.8 FTE)
CONTRACT TYPE: Open Ended (Secondees and transfers welcome from universities and research centres or institutes where relevant, minimum duration 3 years)
LOCATION: Primary base at Polaris House, Swindon with options for other locations (subject to business requirements), with hybrid working as well as frequent travel for key meetings
GRADE: UKRI Band X
POSITIONS AVAILABLE: 1

CLOSING DATE: Tuesday 3rd November 2026 (23.59pm)

UKRI RESERVES THE RIGHT TO CLOSE OUR ADVERTS EARLY WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE.

ABOUT NERC

The Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) funds environmental science that is ambitious, creative, and transformative. We have nurtured and curated the environmental science base in the UK for over 60 years since our foundation in 1965. We invest in the research, people, skills, infrastructure and data needed to ensure the UK remains at the forefront of environmental science and innovation on the global stage.

NERC’s science spans the entire earth system from the atmosphere to the biosphere, hydrosphere, sub-surface, oceanic and the polar regions. We fund curiosity-driven research and strategic R&I across universities and national research organisations often in partnership with government departments and national and international stakeholders.

Our sustained funding of six NERC research centres provides the ‘national capability’ foundations for the UK environmental science endeavour making long-term and large-scale observing and modelling possible through investment in major research infrastructures (including research stations in polar regions, a fleet of Royal Research Ships and aircraft, and satellite technologies and monitoring stations), which provide the UK with world class expertise and data in critical science areas.

We ensure our data assets from our investments are widely accessible in the form of the NERC Environmental Data Service (EDS) which holds over 25 terabytes of data across more than 16,000 distinct datasets. We have ambition to considerably enhance this and develop new applications and markets including through Environmental Data Research UK. In this way we can do much more to secure the UK’s global leadership on climate resilience by leveraging these assets to support sustainable economic growth through a harmonised data, digital and commercial approach. Consequently, this role is designed to capitalise on the goals of the UKRI strategy to ensure the entire organisation of over 9,000 people is more agile and responsive, and work more easily across Councils, Innovate UK and Research England, to make best use of our talented people in supporting the UKRI mission and delivering UKRI strategy. For NERC, growing teams that draw together the digital and data function, and the commercialisation function across the whole of the NERC investment portfolio within UKRI is key.

In recent years NERC has consolidated data provision across its Centres in the form of the NERC Environmental Data Service (EDS) - the UK’s central network for environmental data management. It ensures that UK environmental science data is curated, preserved, and made open for long-term reuse in line with FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) principles.

ABOUT THE ROLE

You will be NERC’s executive leader for environmental data, informing our digital transformation and digital research infrastructure needs, artificial intelligence and the responsible creation of value from these assets as well as other NERC investments.

As a newly created role, the Executive Director of Environmental Data, Innovation and Growth offers a rare opportunity to shape a bold, future-focused agenda for environmental science data, advancing knowledge while accelerating the application of research and innovation to deliver economic and societal benefit. You will have the opportunity to shape the data, inform the digital platforms and initiate our commercialisation portfolio as part of NERC’s new operating model, establishing the organisational capabilities, accountabilities and ways of working needed to deliver the role’s responsibilities.

This is a pivotal leadership role at the heart of NERC and UKRI. You will set and deliver NERC’s strategy and model development for data and digital, aligned with NERC’s scientific priorities and UKRI’s priority programmes. You will harness the opportunities set out in the UKRI strategy for a resilient Digital Research Infrastructure and AI Research and Innovation Strategic Framework. You will be responsible for shaping business development opportunities across the NERC investment portfolio, drawing on the UKRI Chief Development Officer and Innovate UK teams to define commercialisation opportunities from NERC investments.

OBJECTIVES

You will establish and embed a new enterprise-wide approach to environmental data, innovation and growth through e.g. commercialisation potential across NERC, maximising the potential of our data assets across all NERC investments. This will require clear accountabilities, effective governance and a joined-up approach to capabilities, investment and ways of working, while protecting the specialist and mission-critical expertise on which environmental science depends.

A core element of the role will be building and leveraging partnerships across UKRI, government, research organisations, industry, philanthropy and international networks. You will use the strength of NERC’s science, data and infrastructure to attract external investment, supporting our research funding investments to enable innovation and create greater public value.

WAYS OF WORKING

As a member of the NERC Executive Team, you will work collectively with NERC’s Directors to ensure coherence and optimisation across the full NERC portfolio and to lead NERC through UKRI’s wider transformation.

You will work particularly closely with the Executive Director of Science to ensure that NERC’s research investments generate high-quality, accessible and reusable data, models and analytical tools and that researchers have the skills, platforms and computational capabilities needed for the future.

You will work with NERC’s Chief Operating Officer, who is responsible for the operational lifecycle of NERC’s infrastructure and assets, to ensure that strategic requirements for data and digital capability are translated into sustainable, resilient and effectively managed services and infrastructure, and, commercialisation potential of NERC’s infrastructure and facilities is realised.

You will also work closely with UKRI’s digital, data and technology leadership under the Chief Information Officer and commercialisation offer under the Chief Development Officer to connect NERC’s specialist capabilities with UKRI-wide platforms, services and standards, particularly enabling good data stewardship. You will ensure that NERC’s digital infrastructure is anchored effectively within UKRI’s wider ambitions so that environmental data can be stored, curated and shared efficiently across organisational and disciplinary boundaries.

MAIN OUTPUTS AND ACTIVITIES

Reporting directly to the NERC Executive Chair, you will have responsibility for:

Enterprise strategy and executive leadership

• Ensuring NERC’s data, digital platform requirements and potential commercial capabilities inform the design and delivery of its research investments, including programme governance, peer review, partnership development, impact generation and evaluation of outcomes.
• Setting and delivering NERC's strategy for data, innovation and transformation, aligned with NERC, UKRI and national research priorities, including the NROs.
• Acting as NERC's executive lead for data innovation and digital needs, ensuring investment and delivery are driven by scientific impact, organisational value and affordability.
• Contributing to the overall leadership, performance, culture and strategic direction of NERC.

Environmental data leadership and stewardship

• Working with the Executive Director of Science, ensuring NERC’s investments in long-term observations, environmental models and data services remain scientifically aligned, sustainable and fit for purpose.
• Providing strategic leadership for the stewardship, governance and utilisation of NERC-funded environmental data.
• Establishing an enterprise-wide data and digital function across NERC, BAS and BGS, ensuring this function delivers across the whole of NERC’s investment portfolio.
• Championing responsible, secure and ethical data use.

Digital research infrastructure and transformation

• Leading the strategic development of NERC's requirements of UKRI digital research infrastructure and associated transformation programmes.
• Ensuring specialist environmental science capabilities are aligned with wider UKRI digital, data and technology strategies.
• Driving a coherent and sustainable approach to digital platforms, services and computational capabilities.
• Overseeing the delivery, governance and benefits realisation of major data investments.

Environmental Data for Research UK

• Leading the future development of Environmental Data for Research UK (EDRUK) within NERC and across UKRI, taking care to build from the effective parts of the existing Environmental Data Service (EDS) so we can move at pace to fully exploit potential new markets and applications.
• Building partnerships and delivery models across UKRI, government and the wider research community.
• Ensuring researchers can effectively discover, access and use environmental data and analytical tools.

Artificial intelligence for the environment

• Working with colleagues across UKRI, leading NERC's approach for the responsible use of artificial intelligence.
• Developing investment priorities and partnerships that maximise the value of AI across environmental research and operations.
• Ensuring appropriate governance, ethics, transparency and security arrangements are in place.

Supporting business development and external investment

• Leading NERC's approach to business opportunities and external investment related to its science, data and research infrastructure, working closely with UKRI structures to inform delivery.
• Developing external investment, partnerships and innovation opportunities across the NERC investment portfolio.
• Developing investable propositions that can we shaped into commercial pathways with research centres, partners and through UKRI service provision.

People, capability and culture

• Leading and developing a high-performing, inclusive and multidisciplinary team.
• Building the environmental data, innovation and transformation capabilities required for the future.
• Providing visible leadership across NERC's wider data and digital community.
• Championing equality, diversity, inclusion and effective organisational change.

Governance, finance and assurance

• Holding accountability for assigned budgets, programmes, services and associated benefits.
• Ensuring robust governance, risk management, financial control and value for money across the portfolio.
• Providing high-quality advice and assurance to NERC and UKRI governance bodies.
• Ensuring compliance with relevant policies, delegated authorities and regulatory requirements.

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

We are seeking a dynamic, creative and respected leader who is inspired by the opportunity to shape and fund the future of environmental data science. You will command professional esteem, ideally across public and private sectors, and engage proactively with NERC and UKRI’s diverse science, data and digital communities. You will draw on their expertise to shape future investment priorities and build partnership and leverage opportunities through trusted relationships with senior academic, public-sector, industry and international leaders.

Success will require strategic oversight and the ability to adapt at pace, keeping ahead of emerging scientific priorities and rapidly advancing technological and computational capabilities while supporting teams to deliver at scale.

Candidates will be assessed against the following criteria throughout the recruitment process:

(S) – Assessed at shortlisting

(I) – Assessed at interview

(S&I) – Assessed at shortlisting & interview

• A strong record of setting strategic direction and delivering enterprise-scale data, digital or technology-enabled transformation, creating measurable scientific, organisational, societal or economic value. (S&I)
• Established credibility in environmental science, data-intensive research or a related field, together with a strong understanding of the UK research and innovation landscape and the role of data and digital capability in enabling research outcomes. (S)
• Strong understanding of data ecosystems, digital platforms, computational research infrastructure, interoperability and the opportunities and risks presented by artificial intelligence. (I)
• Proven ability to lead major programmes, organisational change and cross-boundary partnerships, navigate uncertainty and maintain delivery in complex and fast-moving environments. (S&I)
• Strong governance, assurance and risk-management capability across data, cyber security, artificial intelligence, intellectual property, investment and operational resilience. (I)
• Strong financial and commercial acumen, including experience of managing significant budgets and investments, building strategic partnerships and translating scientific or technological capability into commercial outcomes of societal and/or UK PLC benefits. (S&I)
• Inclusive and credible senior leadership, with excellent communication and influencing skills and a record of building multidisciplinary capability and high-performing teams across organisational boundaries. (S&I)
  

Whilst the ability to lead and build relationships at a distance will be important, this is a role in which visibility will be essential. Regular travel to NERC and UKRI offices, research centres and other sites will therefore be expected.

We are open and interested in the breadth and impact of candidates’ experience, including evidence gained through non-traditional career routes.

BENEFITS

We recognise and value our employees as individuals and aim to provide a favourable pay and rewards package. We are committed to supporting employees’ development and promote a culture of continuous learning. A list of benefits below.

• An excellent defined benefit pension scheme.
• 30 days’ annual leave in addition to 10.5 public and privilege days (full time equivalent).
• Employee discounts and offers on retail and leisure activities.
• Employee assistance programme, providing confidential help and advice.
• Flexible working options.
  

Please click here for more details on the Benefits of working at UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)

APPLICATION GUIDANCE

How to evidence the criteria:

We encourage you to use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) in your cover letter to clearly demonstrate how your experience meets each of the ‘person specification’ criteria outlined in the job description. For examples of the STAR method, please visit: The STAR method | National Careers Service’.

Please ensure your CV and cover letter are no longer than two A4 pages each, using a minimum font size of 11. Once submitted, your application cannot be edited via our careers website; however, if you encounter any issues or need to update your documents, please contact us at SeniorRecruitment@ukri.org.

OTHER INFORMATION

If you'd like to have an informal chat about the role before applying, you're welcome to get in touch with us at seniorrecruitment@ukri.org

Security Level: The successful candidate must hold, or be willing to undergo, the relevant security clearance. Please note that UKRI reserves the right to initiate or repeat security screening as required during the course of employment.