Head of External Affairs

UKRI - NERC Head Office Swindon

Salary £48,202

Full Time (Part time and flexible working will be considered)

Open-ended 

About Us

The Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) is a partner organisation within UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). UKRI is a new entity that brings together nine partners to create an independent organisation with a strong voice for research and innovation and a vision to ensure the UK maintains its world-leading position in research and innovation.

NERC is the UK's leading funder of environmental science research. Our scientists study and monitor the physical, chemical and biological processes on which our planet and life itself depends – from pole to pole, from the deep Earth and oceans to the atmosphere and space.

About the Role
The Head of External Affairs will be part of NERC’s Communications and Engagement team, within the Corporate Affairs Directorate. The role reports to the Associate Director of Communications and Engagement.  

The purpose of the Communications and Engagement team is to demonstrate the value and impact of NERC funded science so as to promote NERC’s profile and build NERC’s reputation as a leader in environmental science and to demonstrate its contribution to economic growth and prosperity in the UK and internationally. 

The External Affairs function will engage parliamentarians, policy makers and other stakeholders to enable them to join and inform debates about current issues, raising awareness of NERC and its science and providing evidence and solutions to inform decision making. It will also build NERC’s role and profile and its advocacy base in order to gain positive recognition for what NERC delivers among all stakeholder groups, including across Government.

You will be externally focussed and look for opportunities for NERC to take a proactive and strategic approach in engaging our key stakeholders. 

About you

You will be educated to degree level or appropriate knowledge/experience and have a proven track record of engaging Whitehall and Westminster audiences in a strategic way and working in a political environment, with experience in current processes. 

You must be outgoing and proactive in networking with people from all sectors and have strong interpersonal skills, building relationships inside NERC, across UKRI and with our stakeholders. 

It is essential that you are able to model good corporate behaviours and influence others to do the same while having the ability to thrive in a changing organisation. 

An enthusiasm for environmental science is also essential for this role. 

You will be confident and self-guiding and be able to hit the ground running due to excellent sector expertise and insight. 

Familiarity with the Government Communication Service and the Modern Communications Operating Model would be beneficial in this role but is not essential. 

What we offer

We offer a defined benefit occupational pension scheme, a generous annual leave allowance of 30 days plus 10.5 days bank and other holidays and flexible working hours.

How to Apply

Applicants are required to include a cover letter outlining their suitability for this role. 

Applications are handled by UK SBS; to apply please click the apply button. Applicants who are unable to apply online should contact us by telephone on +44 (0)1793 867000.

Closing date: 15^th July 2018

Interview date: 9^th August 2018