Overview

Full Time/Part Time: Full Time
Salary: £29,552 per annum
Contract Type: Fixed Term
Contract Length: Twenty three (23) months

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.

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 practice 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

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.

Person Specification

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

  • Experience of internship and/or voluntary work in an environmental sustainability related field
  • Previous experience in a laboratory environment
  • Experience of supporting sustainability projects
  • Demonstrable experience of supporting or implementing sustainability in an organisation
  • Experience of reporting data to meet sustainability accreditations and/or standards

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 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.