Overview
As Environmental Sustainability Officer, you will be responsible for driving improvements in environmental sustainability within the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology (LMB), Cambridge. Research science can have a considerable environmental impact; this role will help to reduce the overall environmental impact of our cutting-edge research facility and meet UKRI’s ambitious sustainability targets.
You will work with the Scientific Services and Sustainability Manager to design, manage and promote sustainability initiatives across the LMB, building on and championing existing green initiatives, as well as developing new projects.
Main duties/ Key responsibilities
To help embed sustainability in processes and departments across the LMB. These activities include:
- Leading and administering the LMB’s Green Committee and Lab Sustainability team.
- Working and engaging with researchers to lessen the environmental impact from the laboratories, animal husbandry, and other facilities, using sustainability standards as a guide where relevant.
- Training new staff and students in sustainable practices.
- Developing and introducing best practices into the LMB to reduce the environmental impact of our staff and research.
- Disseminating and promoting these best practices, through generation of promotional material, organising events/competitions, writing newsletters and engaging on social media.
- Monitoring engagement with sustainable initiatives and adjusting where appropriate.
- Integrating sustainability into the leaving process for departing staff and working with lab leavers to ensure this process is followed.
- Working with suppliers, our Stores Manager and the researchers to reduce the environmental impact of the products we purchase.
- Making improvements to waste segregation and implementing initiatives to reduce waste.
- Making improvements to biodiversity on site by managing small projects and working with Estates and Facilities staff who manage the external site.
- Communicating achievements in environmental sustainability across the site and to other stakeholders.
- Monitoring our progress towards sustainability goals and reporting to senior Managers, and the MRC Sustainability Team where relevant.
- Helping to identify and apply for grants for new sustainability initiatives.
- Working with environmental leads from across the MRC facilities, as well as UKRI and external stakeholders, to establish best practice, share ideas and coordinate on projects.
Requirements
Essential:
- Degree level qualification in a life science-related subject or environmental sustainability and/or comparable experience.
- Knowledge of current landscape, key themes and principles relating to environmental sustainability in the UK, as well as specifically in biological research laboratories.
- Passion for environmental sustainability.
- Desire to forge a career in sustainability.
- Demonstrable experience of supporting or implementing sustainability in an organisation.
- Excellent analytical and reporting skills.
- Proactive approach to implementing sustainability ideas.
- Excellent verbal communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to build enduring and effective working relationships with staff at all levels.
- Excellent written communication skills.
- Detail conscious and very well organised.
- Ability to work independently.
- Excellent level of IT literacy and good working knowledge of Microsoft packages.
- Proactive and flexible approach to work, with a willingness to travel on occasion.
Desirable:
- Work experience in an environmental sustainability-related field.
- Previous experience in a laboratory environment.
- Experience of managing or coordinating projects related to sustainable improvements.
- Experience of reporting data to meet sustainability accreditations and/or standards.
