Director of National Geoscience

Salary: £71,792 to £78,971 per annum (depending on skills and experience)

A great benefits package is offered!, including an outstanding pension scheme (with an extremely generous employer contribution – on average 27% of your pay), 30 days annual leave plus bank holidays

Contract Type: Permanent

Hours: Full-time – 37 hours a week (some flexible and remote working options may be available)

Location: BGS headquarters in Nottingham or BGS offices in Edinburgh (You will be required to regularly travel to other BGS offices as well as travelling nationally and internationally to attend key partnership events to promote the work and science of BGS)

Closing date: Wednesday 23 October 2024

About the role

The exciting new BGS position of Director of National Geoscience (DNG) is the strategic scientific lead for delivering the fundamental understanding of the geology of the UK. The DNG leads a programme across the BGS structure delivered by staff in both the National area and in other teams. The key objectives of the role are:

To ensure that BGS retains and develops knowledge and understanding of UK geology and ensure that our regional geological surveys (mapping and modelling) are relevant to societal challenges and environmental sustainability in the UK.

Working with a leadership team, you will provide the bridge across the BGS science and informatics portfolio and its external stakeholder community. You will also lead on co-designing the programme of mapping, modelling, geological skills and knowledge development. Furthermore, the DNG works with colleagues across BGS to ensure research translation that intersects external stakeholder needs, BGS internal research drivers and data quality considerations. The DNG will lead on developing a secure pipeline of external income that ensures the relevance and sustainability of geological survey information and its impact in UK society.

To be an active member of the Senior Management Board, contributing to the strategic leadership and corporate governance of BGS.

As a member of the Senior Management Board (SMB), the DNG contributes to setting strategic and corporate priorities for BGS. This responsibility also includes planning, implementation, day-to-day leadership and management of BGS and leading and contributing to working groups and committees. You will advise the SMB and the BGS Board on the future National programmes required to underpin the delivery of the BGS strategy and business objectives.

As a member of the Science Strategy Group (SSG), you will work closely with colleagues to develop a coherent long-term science programme. This includes a strategic oversight of skills, ensuring up-to-date workforce plans and the proactive development of future capabilities. Within the SSG, the DNG develops criteria for prioritisation and resource allocation of public task funding within BGS, reviews the performance of current science topics and agrees targets for external income generation.

Key duties / responsibilities

• Oversee and lead a diverse and integrated programme of projects encompassing the geological mapping and modelling of the UK in line with the BGS Strategic priority of delivering Maps and Models for the 21st century.
• Actively contribute to the strategic science leadership and corporate governance of BGS though membership of SMB and SSG.
• Represent BGS to external stakeholders, especially in geological knowledge services and information – attract new funding and create strategic partnerships.
• Work with colleagues to co-ordinate BGS’s relationships with external key partners and other stakeholders, ensuring that BGS has a network of external partnerships, both nationally and internationally including foreign GSO’s and government departments.
• Engage as necessary with the BGS Science Advisory Committee and the BGS Board on the development and delivery of the overall science strategy for BGS as a national centre of excellence for geosciences in a way that maximises and demonstrates its impact.
• Lead the National leadership team, setting clear direction and objectives and performance management processes against programme objectives and budgets to ensure delivery of the BGS Strategy and business plan.
• Work closely with the Challenge Programme Manager in your area and across the other challenge areas to ensure a fit for purpose, well skilled scientific workforce for the future BGS. Ensure geological knowledge and skills development across BGS, deliver financial oversight and work to balance budgets for the National area.
• Responsibility for adhering to all BGS/UKRI policies, processes and procedures, including formal staff management, procurement and funding.
• Ensure positive health, safety, wellbeing, and environmental performance across the National Science area – in particular, invest in developing a more pro-active, good practice around travel and fieldwork H&S.
• Act as a scientific mentor and leadership role model in relation to BGS’s values and its commitment to equality, diversity and the creation of an inclusive working environment, ensuring that these values and principles are clearly reflected in the BGS Science Strategy and in day-to-day management.
• Ensure the National programme of activities operates in line with BGS’ Research Ethics and Research Integrity policy.
• Contribute to visible geoscience through leadership at conferences, meetings, workshops, events and media content, with the ability to translate for non-technical and public audiences.

Essential

• Strong senior management and leadership experience with a proven ability to set direction and to develop and implement strategy (S&I)
• A successful track record of overseeing the delivery of projects, (both scientific impact/outcomes and financial/programme) (S&I)
• A PhD in a relevant science field, or equivalent comparable work experience (S)
• A strong science profile evidenced by, for example: peer-reviewed published papers, conference presentations, including keynote addresses; senior journal editorial experience; a large portfolio of successful scientific grant proposals and industry/government related contract agreements (S&I)
• Excellent communication skills, evidenced by clear examples of good negotiating and influencing skills (S&I)
• Experience of identifying and securing significant external income opportunities (S&I)
• Awareness and understanding of the BGS Strategy and Public Science Role as well as wider earth science sector issues (S&I)
• Ability to handle multidimensional problems, overcoming barriers and developing creative solutions to continually improve (S&I)

Desirable

• Evidence of the ability to develop strategic and institutional relationships and collaborations with multiple, complex stakeholders, both at a national and international level (S&I)
• Familiarity with Public Sector Information and other relevant legislative issues (S)