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 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
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 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.
Additional Information
The post-holder will be required to be on site daily; occasional working from home may be possible outside of the initial training period in certain circumstances.
Interviews will be held on Thursday 8 May and Friday 9 May 2025.
