Chair Or NEDS Appointment to the Name of Partner Organisation s1
Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) Executive Chair
Applicant pack
July 2017
Vacancy Description
We are seeking an inspirational candidate with international standing and a proven track record to lead the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) as its Executive Chair, once it is established as one of the nine Councils of UK Research and Innovation in April 2018.
As part of UK Research and Innovation’s Executive Committee, the Executive Chair will have a critical role in sustaining the excellence of UK research and innovation and increasing its social and economic impact. The STFC Executive Chair will lead nearly 2,000 scientists operating world-leading science facilities across 6 sites in the UK, develop the council’s campuses, manage the UK’s participation in major international facilities, and champion and increase the impact of particle physics, astronomy and nuclear physics research.
The Executive Chair will lead on developing the UK’s research and innovation infrastructure roadmap on behalf of UKRI. This will involve designing and agreeing a process to map out the UK’s research and innovation infrastructure, both domestically and internationally, consulting with the wider research and innovation community in the UK and identifying and agreeing future investment priorities.
UK Research and Innovation
The creation of UK Research and Innovation represents the largest reform of the research and innovation funding landscape in the last 50 years. As a new, independent, non-departmental public body, it will bring together the functions of the seven Research Councils[1], Innovate UK and the research and knowledge exchange functions of the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) (to be known as Research England). The Higher Education and Research Act 2017 (HERA), which underpins these reforms, received Royal Assent on 27 April 2017.
The Science and Technology Facilities Council
The STFC was established in 2007. It supports research, innovation and skills in the fields of particle physics, astronomy, nuclear physics and space science through the award of funding to researchers in the UK and participation in major international collaborations. It also designs, builds, operates and exploits world-leading, large-scale research and innovation facilities in the UK on behalf of the entire UK scientific community, regardless of discipline. In addition, STFC manages the UK’s participation in and relationship with major international facilities such as CERN, the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) and the European Spallation Source (ESS). Its Research and Innovation campuses help businesses to thrive by promoting academic and industrial collaboration and encouraging translation of research to market applications and now support over 300 businesses.
STFC’s research seeks to understand the universe from the largest astronomical scales to the tiniest constituents of matter, yet it creates impact on a very tangible human scale. From cancer treatment to airport security, high-tech jobs to hydrogen-powered cars, energy generation to accident-scene emergency care; STFC’s impact is felt within and beyond the UK in many aspects of daily life.
In 2016/17 the STFC’s budget was around £660 million and it directly employs nearly 2,000 staff. It funds around 800 PhDs in universities and its activity supports over 1,700 academics working in astronomy, nuclear and particle physics. It also provides access for 3,600 researchers from academia and industry to the UK’s large science facilities (e.g. Diamond Light Source, the ISIS Neutron and Muon Facility and the Central Laser Facility).
The STFC will become one of nine Councils within UK Research and Innovation in April 2018, with delegated autonomy and authority, and with an individual delegated budget set by the BEIS Secretary of State. The Executive Chair will continue to be responsible for funding decisions within the STFC’s subject matter remit, and the mission and objectives of the STFC will not change as a consequence of its incorporation within UK Research and Innovation. However, the STFC will benefit from the significantly enhanced capability that UK Research and Innovation will bring, in a context of rising budgets for research and innovation. This includes a single UK Research and Innovation strategic, analytic and corporate centre with capability and expertise benefitting from economy of scale; much increased flexibility in developing multidisciplinary activity and joint working between the Councils; and a stronger more joined-up voice within government.
Further Information
BEIS is committed to providing equal opportunities for all, irrespective of race, age, disability, gender, marital status, religion, sexual orientation, transgender and working patterns and to the principle of public appointments on merit with independent assessments, openness and transparency of process Applications are welcome from all, especially women, minority ethnic and disabled candidates who are under-represented at this level in public life.
Applications are very welcome from those who wish to work part-time, in particular as part of a job-share arrangement, and those who wish to undertake the role on secondment from their current employer.
In order to ensure that UK Research and Innovation is made up of executives with the appropriate level of skills and experience, both UK nationals, and international candidates are encouraged to apply.
Sir Paul Nurse’s review of the UK Research Councils, available at:
https:\\www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/478125/BIS-15-625-ensuring-a-successful-UK-research-endeavour.pdf
The Government’s White Paper, ‘Success as a Knowledge Economy’ available at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/523546/bis-16-265-success-as-a-knowledge-economy-web.pdf
The Higher Education and Research Act, available at:
http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2016-17/highereducationandresearch.html
The Industrial Strategy Green Paper, available at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/building-our-industrial-strategy
Key Duties:
The successful candidate will become the STFC Executive Chair on 1 April 2018, taking on responsibility for strategy and delivery of STFC’s remit. In addition, the successful candidate will lead on developing the UK’s research and innovation infrastructure roadmap on behalf of UKRI.
While UK Research and Innovation will not be legally established until 1st April 2018; certain responsibilities of the role – such as the successful candidate feeding their views into the STFC Council Member appointment process and working with the leadership of UK Research and Innovation to launch the new organisation – will need to start well in advance of this date. With this in mind, there may be scope for the successful candidate to work in some capacity prior to 1 April 2018.
Responsibilities of the STFC’s Executive Chair
Main Responsibilities will be to:
· Lead and manage the STFC and its staff in the successful delivery of its objectives, providing the inspirational and inclusive leadership, and vision to maintain and develop the quality, outputs and impacts of its research, facilities, international, skills and capital investment portfolio;
· Work with, and Chair, the STFC Council to lead and develop STFC’s strategic approach to research and innovation funding and delivery. This includes its grants programmes, its funding of postgraduate and skills training, the funding and development of its scientific facilities and its investment in other major longer term capital projects; and ensuring that the UK develops its world-class position in physical sciences and scientific facilities, supported by the Council’s ‘Senior Independent Member’;
· Lead UK participation in major international experiments including CERN, SKA and ESS to maximize the value and impact of these programmes, including the benefit to the UK;
· Represent the STFC in its responsibilities as principal shareholder in its partnership with the Wellcome Trust to operate the Diamond Light Source and ensure safe, effective and efficient leadership of the major science facilities operated at its campuses (notably ISIS and CLF at Rutherford Appleton Laboratory; the Cockcroft and Hartree facilities at Daresbury, and the Astronomy Technology Centre and Higgs Innovation Centre operated in partnership with the University of Edinburgh);
· Actively engage and consult with the academic community, government, industry and international partners to develop and catalyse new ideas and communicate the strategic outputs;
· Be a core member of the UK Research and Innovation Executive Team, led by and accountable to the UK Research and Innovation CEO, to deliver best value from the overall science and innovation funding system and actively contribute to the development and implementation of the strategy of UK Research and Innovation;
· Ensure that UK Research and Innovation provides a strong, unified voice for science, research and innovation in the UK and globally, both in facilitating the dialogue with government and partners on the world stage
· Work collaboratively across UK Research and Innovation Councils to foster interdisciplinary work and build on collective capabilities, providing support and challenge when required.
· Lead on developing the UK’s research and innovation infrastructure roadmap on behalf of UKRI. This will involve designing and agreeing a process to map out the UK’s research and innovation infrastructure, both domestically and internationally, consulting with the wider research and innovation community in the UK and identifying and agreeing future investment priorities.
· Maximise efficiency and ensure value for money from public investment;
· Represent and develop positive relationships between the STFC and its numerous and diverse stakeholders in government and public funding agencies, higher education institutions, academic and research communities, international partners, the third sector, industry and the public at large and internationally;
· Promote the STFC’s innovation and campus strategies, ensuring appropriate balance between science and commercial exploitation, and ensuring that STFC works effectively with innovators within UK Research and Innovation and the HEIs and with other industrial and commercial partners, in order to appropriately exploit the research and research infrastructure it funds and manages, as well as its own IP, and to broadening its income base;
Person Specification:
The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy wishes to attract the highest calibre of candidates for this role. The successful candidate will be able to command confidence and represent the STFC at the highest level and be able to demonstrate the following:
Skills, Experience and Standing
· A highly respected candidate of international standing with a proven track record in leading major research institutes and running large scientific facilities;
· An inspirational communicator able to command confidence and have credibility across both the academic domain of the physical sciences and the broader stakeholder landscape;
· Strong financial management with experience of managing major scientific programmes and facilities to deliver technical objectives to budget and schedule;
Strategic Vision
· An ability to develop, lead and manage a clear and strategic vision for physical sciences and scientific facilities through the development of high quality, value for money programmes built on a thorough understanding of and engagement with the stakeholder landscape;
· An ability to take a broad view of the STFC’s objectives and issues arising across the range of its remit in the context of UK Research and Innovation;
· An ability to advise on major business developments which bring a significant change in the Council’s role or activities and on its exposure to and management of risk;
Leadership and Management
· Proven leadership and management skills with a deep understanding and experience of change management and evidence of having successfully led cultural change and organisational development;
· Experience of managing and building capability of a cadre of skilled employees and programme managers and able to inspire and motivate colleagues at all levels in the organisation;
· Extensive experience of leading an organisation, the management of large and complex budgets and developing individuals to deliver their best;
Breadth of Understanding
· In depth understanding of current developments in the full spectrum of the physical sciences and facilities landscape both in the UK and overseas, and other areas relevant to the work of the STFC; and
· An ability to understand and demonstrate the highest standards of scientific research and its wider relevance to and impact on the cultural, social and economic wellbeing of the country.
Terms of Appointment:
The annual salary / remuneration package and detailed portfolio of responsibilities can be discussed with individual candidates depending on their skills and experience.
Benefits include:
· membership of a Performance Related Payment scheme
· an option to join the standard Civil Service Pension scheme.
The STFC Executive Chair will be appointed for a term of 3–5 years.
The successful candidate must demonstrate a high standard of corporate and personal conduct and should particularly note the requirement to declare any conflicts of interest that arise in the course of the office’s operations and the need to declare any relevant business interests, positions of authority or other connections with commercial, public or voluntary bodies. These will be published in the annual report with details of all Board Members' remuneration from BEIS sources.
BEIS offers professional training courses on public sector finance and governance for those new to the public sector.
Selection Process:
Closing date: 22 September 2017
Shortlist panel meeting: Late September 2017
Panel interviews: October 2017, taking place in London
Ministerial decision on whom to appoint: TBC
Successful candidate takes up post: April 2018
The selection panel membership is planned to be:
· Panel Chair: Jenny Dibden, BEIS Director of Science, Research and Innovation
· Professor Sir Mark Walport, UK Research and Innovation CEO designate
· Independent Panel Member: Dame Janet Thornton
How to Apply
The closing date for applications is 22 September, 2017.
Please submit the following documents by email to
· A Covering Letter ☐
· A CV ☐
· Candidates Application Form ☐
Please ensure that you include “Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) Executive Chair” in the subject box.
Alternatively, you can send your application in hard copy to:
Public Appointments Team, 7th Floor, Spur 2, 1 Victoria Street, London, SW1H OET
Applicant packs can be provided in other formats upon request.
Conflicts of Interest
If you or a family member have any personal or business interest or potential conflict of interest with the activities of the Body you will be expected to declare this.
Any conflict will not prevent you going forward to interview, but may be explored with you during the selection process.
You will also be required to uphold the standards of conduct established by the Committee of Standards in Public Life, also known as the Nolan Principles (Please see last page).
Diversity and Equal Opportunities
The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy is committed to the principle of public appointments on merit with independent assessment, openness and fairness of process and to providing equal opportunities for all.