Overview

Open Date:
27/01/2025, 11:15

Close Date:
23/02/2025, 23:55

Research Institute

MRC Mary Lyon Centre

Research Institute / Unit Information

The Mary Lyon Centre at MRC Harwell (MLC) is located in an expanding science and innovation campus in Oxfordshire and is an internationally renowned centre at the forefront of genetics research. As the hub of the new National Mouse Genetics Network, the specialist facilities and capabilities of the MLC support a number of research groups across the UK to accelerate our understanding of human diseases, such as cancer, developmental disorders, and neurodegeneration.

UK Research and Innovation is a new entity that brings together nine partners to create an independent organisation with a strong voice for research and innovation. More information can be found at www.ukri.org.

Job Details

  • Band: MRC – 5
  • Location: Harwell Campus, Oxfordshire
  • Salary: £29,552 per annum
  • Contract Type: Fixed Term
  • Job Type: Administration & Management
  • Full Time / Part Time: Full Time
  • Contract Length: Twenty-three (23) months

Job Description

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:

  • Leading and administering the work of the site’s Green Group’s activities
  • Using LEAF as a guide, working with researchers to lessen the environmental impact from the laboratories, animal husbandry, and other facilities
  • Making improvements to the biodiversity on the site by enabling and managing small projects and working on an ongoing basis with site staff and contractors
  • Communicating the achievements in environmental sustainability improvement across the site and to other stakeholders
  • Improving the use of resources onsite by working with the supply chain and the operations team, and by making improvements to waste segregation and reduction
  • Interpreting and smoothly introducing mandatory environmental standards, and monitoring and reporting to the site and services
  • Disseminating best practices to the entire MRC Harwell staff and supporting the introduction of best practices
  • Being a visible presence onsite to attend meetings, audit environmental impact, and arrange sustainability activities
  • Working with environmental leads from across the MRC facilities, as well as UKRI and external stakeholders, to identify initiatives that can be introduced to MRC Harwell

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:

  • Estates, facilities, and lab management, to reduce energy and water usage, reduce waste and improve segregation and recycling, and improve the biodiversity and species abundance of the site
  • Researchers, research groups, and animal technicians, to lessen the impact of the research that is undertaken on the site
  • The MRC Head Office team and the wider UKRI environmental sustainability community, to report and communicate successes and challenges
  • MRC Harwell’s suppliers and contractors, to develop lower-impact supply chain options and shape services to promote greater sustainability

Career Development

The post-holder will benefit from 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.

Person Specification

Education / Qualifications / Training Required

Essential:

  • Degree level qualification in environmental sustainability or a related field, with a proven interest in sustainability issues and/or comparable experience in an environmental sustainability role

Desirable:

  • Experience of internship and/or voluntary work in an environmental sustainability-related field

Knowledge and Experience

Essential:

  • Knowledge of the current landscape and key themes and principles relating to environmental sustainability in the UK

Desirable:

  • Previous experience in a laboratory environment
  • Experience of supporting sustainability projects

Personal Skills / Behaviours / Qualities

Essential:

  • Passion for environmental sustainability
  • Desire to forge a career in sustainability
  • Excellent analytical and reporting skills
  • Proactive approach in implementing sustainability ideas
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
  • 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:

  • Demonstrable experience of supporting or implementing sustainability in an organisation
  • Experience of reporting data to meet sustainability accreditations and/or standards

Further Information

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 engaging and retaining the best possible talent and to creating an environment that encourages excellence in scientific research through good equality 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:

  • Code of Conduct
  • Equality and Diversity policy
  • Health and Safety policy
  • Data Protection and Security policy

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.

Benefits

The MRC offers a unique working environment where scientific researchers and professional support staff can actively partake in world-class innovation and collaboration opportunities. Employees have access to a wide catalogue of training & development, including professional registration with the Science Council.

In addition, MRC (part of UKRI) provides access to:

  • A defined benefit pension scheme
  • 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 Assistance Programme Scheme
  • Health and Wellbeing Support
  • A salary sacrifice cycle-to-work scheme

For more details, please follow this link: Benefits

Our success is dependent on embracing diversity and drawing on the skills, understanding, and experience of all our people. We warmly invite applicants from diverse backgrounds and heritage, including individuals with disabilities. As a “Disability Confident” employer, we guarantee interviews for all applicants who have disclosed a disability and meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy.