About the job

Job summary

NERC Public Engagement Senior Portfolio Manager

The Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) - Head Office

Salary: £43,116 per annum (dependent on skills and experience). 
Hours: Full time 
Contract Type: Open Ended.
Location: Polaris House, Swindon, Wiltshire however hybrid and flexible working arrangements available.

Closing Date: 18/02/24

The Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) is the largest funder of environmental science in the UK. We invest £300 million each year in research, training and innovation through UK universities and research centres. Our scientists study and monitor the whole planet from pole to pole, from deep Earth and oceans to upper atmosphere and space. Through collaboration with scientific partners, business and policymakers, our science supports sustainable economic growth and improves public wellbeing.

Job description

We are looking for a Senior Portfolio Manager to join the Community Engagement Team, to help us build a cohort of credible, confident and expert ambassadors to engage the public in diverse ways with environmental science. We aim to create hope for the future, allowing public audiences especially young people to engage with current issues raised by environmental science.  This role will lead and manage a portfolio of NERC investment activities that bring researchers and the public together.

Ideally experienced in

• A strategic awareness of the research and innovation landscape within which NERC operates, and our stakeholders, and ideally bring relevant expertise.
• Excellent communication skills, and an ability to absorb, understand and present complex information persuasively to different audiences.
• Ability to build effective working relationships with internal and external stakeholders at all levels of seniority, as well as strong negotiation and influencing skills, leading to positive outcomes.
• Excellent programme management skills and an ability to effectively manage budgets and resources.
• Strong organisational and time-management skills, and an ability to flexibly manage a diverse and rapidly changing portfolio, setting and working to deadlines.
• Self-motivated, be able to resolve complex issues, identify and present solutions, and work independently, whilst being part of a team.

Person specification

• Degree, or equivalent relevant qualifications or expertise, preferably in environmental sciences.
• Working knowledge and experience of the research and/or innovation landscape in the UK and the science areas and/or communities supported by NERC.
• Demonstrable track record in negotiating and influencing effectively (both verbal and written media) across teams, the wider organisation and external stakeholder communities.
• Experience of partnership working and customer/ contractor relationships, and an ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and partnerships with a range of internal and external stakeholders at all levels, that result in tangible outcomes for the organisation.    
• A track record of successful project, programme and/ or portfolio management, including financial management and the identification of risks and interdependencies.
• Willingness to travel in UK and abroad, including occasional overnight (or longer) absences.  

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £43,116, UK Research and Innovation contributes £27 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

For full details on the role, please visit our careers site. Please submit an application including your CV and a Cover Letter that clearly showcases how your skills and experience align to the requirements of the role.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window). People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.