Co-Director of the Lyell Centre and BGS Strategic Lead in Scotland
The British Geological Survey (BGS) is joining forces with Heriot-Watt University (HWU) to
create The Lyell Centre - a new centre for earth and marine science and technology at the
University’s campus in Edinburgh. The Lyell Centre is a strategic collaboration between the
two organisations that represents a unique opportunity to unify their respective strengths.
The overarching objective of this new venture is to find pragmatic, evidence-based solutions
to critical global challenges associated with the Earth’s surface, sub-surface, oceans and
atmosphere. Further collaboration with key strategic partners across Europe and globally will
enable even greater synergy, creating a leading European centre for research and innovation
at the core or marine science and geoscience.
The purpose-built £21m Lyell Centre facilities comprise laboratory, office and collaborative
space to support innovative joint working. To realise the strategic vision and ambitions for
the Lyell Centre, BGS is implementing a governance and management structure that will
support and strengthen strategic collaboration, shared research strategies, and comprehensive
industry engagement and innovation.
The BGS is seeking to appoint an inaugural Co-Director of the Lyell Centre to provide
leadership, vision and a clear strategy for the development of this strategic collaboration with
the British Geological Survey (BGS). This key management role will also provide strategic
leadership for the BGS in Scotland.
The Co-Director will act as the key internal and external BGS representative for the research
of the Centre, such that it will make a strong contribution to the wider research growth and
profile of BGS in Scotland. It is expected that Co-Director will actively drive the external
profile and engagement of the Centre, nationally and internationally.
The BGS is committed to a flexible approach with the leading scientist who will be appointed
to this position, in order to ensure that the Co-Director role is balanced against the wider
responsibilities of the post. The Lyell Centre Co-Director will report to the BGS Executive
Director, Professor John Ludden and also a joint BGS-HWU Lyell centre management board,
and will:
 own and promote the Lyell Centre vision, and deliver on high level ambitions and defined
business plan objectives;
 develop the role of the BGS in Scotland
 identify and develop a coherent joint research strategy for the Lyell Centre with its key
partner HWU and other supporting collaborators, through identifying and promoting
individual and collaborative research opportunities;
 represent the Centre’s research to external bodies (such as funding agencies and councils,
industry, and policy bodies), thus contributing to the promotion and profile-building of the
work of the Centre and, more broadly, the BGS role in Scotland;
 be responsible for the BGS office in Scotland, covering all building issues, Health &
Safety and local trade union relationship
 facilitate Centre responses to government consultations, advise external bodies on the
impact of research on policy, technical and scientific advances and where appropriate
represent the Executive Director of BGS in strategic discussions with Scottish
Government;
 through collaboration across the BGS and with HWU, develop and promote an innovative
research culture within the Centre;
 undertake administrative, representative and associated tasks as required
Person specification
The Co-Director will be an internationally recognised scientific leader in one of the BGS
areas of science. As a senior member of the BGS management team, it is expected that the
appointee will be able to demonstrate the following relevant experience, abilities, attributes,
and skills:
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a successful track record of science leadership at a senior level;
a strong track record of generating external income from scientific research and/or industry and
government and of publishing research outcomes in high quality academic journals;
evidence of prior leadership of complex, multi-disciplinary research projects;
a willingness to act as the public face of the Centre across all areas of its research;
an ability to identify and develop opportunities for personal and collective research, and to develop
and implement an ambitious joint research strategy, across the Centre;
a commitment to providing inspiring leadership in collaborative pure and applied research;
the ability to articulate to other members of the Centre, and to the wider BGS, a compelling vision
of the powerful contribution that its work can make in some of the world’s key research
challenges;
exceptional team-working, communication, interpersonal and management skills.
Terms of appointment
It is intended that the appointment will be for a fixed term initially and the duration and working pattern
will be open to discussion with the successful applicant. The BGS will pay a salary fully
commensurate both with the significance of this appointment and with the required calibre of the
successful candidate.
Appointment process
The appointment of the Co-Director of the Lyell Centre will be determined by an appointment
process chaired by the BGS Executive Director, Professor John Ludden.
Applications are managed by the RCUK Shared Services Centre; Applications should consist
of a full CV detailing academic and professional qualifications, full employment history,
latest remuneration and relevant achievements. This should be accompanied by a covering
letter describing briefly how candidates meet the criteria in the Person Specification, why the
appointment is of interest to them and what they believe they can bring to the role.
To
apply
for
this
post
please
visit
our
job
board
at
http://www.topcareer.jobs/Vacancy/irc223414_6356.aspx and complete an online application
form. Applicants who would like to receive this advert in an alternative format (e.g. large
print, Braille, audio or hard copy), or who are unable to apply online should contact us by
telephone on 01793 867003, Please quote reference number IRC2223414.
The closing date for applications is 27 May 2016. The interviews will be held at the Lyell
Centre on 16 June 2016.
The Natural Environment Research Council is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes
applications from all sections of the community. People with disabilities and those from
ethnic minorities are currently under-represented and their applications are particularly
welcome. The British Geological Survey is an Investors in People organization and has
achieved Bronze status for Athena Swan – a scheme that recognizes excellence in women's
employment in science, technology, engineering, maths and medicine (STEMM) in UK
higher education.
There is a guaranteed Interview Scheme for suitable candidates with disabilities.
NATURAL ENVIRONMENT RESEARCH COUNCIL