Overall Purpose
The post-holder is responsible for driving improvements in environmental sustainability within the Mary Lyon Centre at MRC Harwell, building on existing initiatives and activities, and helping to reduce the overall impact of this cutting-edge medical research facility.
The post-holder will be trained to evaluate the sustainability requirements of the site, develop projects to monitor and improve environmental issues and, where appropriate, put in place processes to improve sustainability.
This is a graduate position in a complex facility. Therefore, training will be provided to the post-holder to formally develop their environmental sustainability skills, in order to apply those skills to the role.
Main Duties/ Key Responsibilities
The post-holder will lead environmental sustainability activities across the site, championing green initiatives, and leading and developing the work of the Green Group. These activities include:
Working Relationships
As the environmental sustainability lead onsite, the post-holder must establish and nurture relationships with colleagues from across MRC Harwell, the MRC as a whole, and UKRI, at all levels of responsibility. This includes:
Career Development
The post-holder will benefit by being part of the MRC Harwell graduate programme. This will provide general vocational training in a busy and exacting work environment, teaching the post-holder general skills related to life-science research.
The post-holder will also be formally trained, in line with the competencies set out by the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment, to become an environmental sustainability professional; building upon their experience gained through their university degree.
As well as the formal training programme, the post-holder will be mentored by experienced and dedicated MRC staff in a supportive environment.
Additional Information
The post-holder will be required to be on site daily; occasional working from home may be possible outside of the initial training period in certain circumstances.
Interviews will be held on Thursday 8 May and Friday 9 May 2025.
Education/Qualifications/Training required:
Essential:
Desirable:
Knowledge and Experience:
Personal Skills/Behaviours/Qualities:
The post-holder will be expected to work onsite to be a visible presence, championing environmental sustainability, and making a valuable and positive contribution, with a range of stakeholders.
Equality & Diversity:
The MRC values the diverse skills and experience of its employees and is committed to achieving equality of treatment for all. Our objectives are that all individuals shall have equal opportunities for employment and advancement on the basis of their skills, aptitudes and abilities. The MRC is committed to the engagement and retention of the best possible talent and to creating an environment that encourages excellence in scientific research through good equalities and diversity leadership and management.
Corporate/Local responsibilities & requirements:
The post-holder must at all times carry out their responsibilities with due regard to the MRC’s:
The above lists are not exhaustive and the post-holder is required to undertake such duties as may reasonably be requested within the scope of the post.
All employees are required to act professionally, cooperatively and flexibly in line with the requirements of the post and the MRC. You are advised to submit your application as soon as possible as we reserve the right to close this vacancy once we have received sufficient applications.
You are advised to submit your application as soon as possible as we reserve the right to close this vacancy once we have received sufficient applications.
The MRC is a unique working environment where scientific researchers and professional support staff can actively partake in world class innovation and collaboration opportunities and their skills and knowledge through accessing a wide catalogue of training & development, including professional registration with the Science Council.
In addition, MRC (part of UKRI) provides its community of employees access to a whole host of useful benefits, including a defined benefit pension scheme and excellent holiday entitlement (30 days plus 2.5 privilege days & 8 bank holidays), family friendly policies (6 months full pay maternity & adoption leave), a range of shopping/travel discounts, access to our Employee Assistant Programme Scheme, Health and Wellbeing Support and a salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme. Please follow this link to find out more - Benefits Our success is dependent upon our ability to embrace diversity and draw on the skills, understanding and experience of all our people. We warmly invite people from diverse backgrounds and heritage, including people who identify as having a disability, to apply for a role that excites them. As "Disability Confident" employers, any candidate who opts into the scheme and best meets the essential criteria, will be shortlisted for interview.
UKRI supports research in areas that include animal health, agriculture and food security, and bioscience for health which includes research on animals, genetic modification and stem cell research. Whilst you may not have direct involvement in this type of research, you should consider whether this conflicts with your personal values or beliefs.
We will conduct a full and comprehensive pre-employment check as an essential part of the recruitment process on all individuals that are offered a position with UKRI. This will include a security check and an extreme organisations affiliation check. 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.
This opportunity is closed to applications.
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