LONDON’S GLOBAL
UNIVERSITY UCL BARTLETT FACULTY OF THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT BARTLETT SCHOOL OF ENVIRONMENT, ENERGY & RESOURCES
Job Description
Research Fellow in Standards, Policy & Regulation for increasing Circularity of Mineral-based Construction Materials Joint Post in UCL Bartlett School of Environment, Energy and Resources and UCL Faculty of Laws
Grade 7, £36,028-£43,533 per annum including, London Allowance
Location: Bloomsbury, London FTE 1.0 (0.8 FTE will also be considered). The post is available from 8 February 2021 or as soon as possible thereafter and is funded until December 2022 in the first instance, further funding to support the post may be available.
are a global university with over 150 nationalities Reports to: represented by student body and a very large Dr Teresa Domenech (Bartlett) university with 43,800 students and 14,300 employees. Professor Eloise Scotford (Laws) UCL CircEL was established as an interdisciplinary UCL Context hub for research and education for the Circular UCL is ranked 7th in the QS World University Economy in 2015. We aim to develop the scientific Rankings, placing it in the top 1% of higher and socio-economic understanding and education institutions globally, 3rd in the UK and technological basis for design and implementation Europe, and best in London. of systems, processes and policy that will support the transition to a sustainable Circular Economy. UCL is a diverse global community of world-class Construction is one of our focus areas, with strong academics, students, industry links, external multidisciplinary expertise relevant to the built partners, and alumni. Our powerful collective of environment across UCL. individuals and institutions work together to explore new possibilities1. Academic excellence is st demonstrated by our 30 Nobel laureates and our 1 rank in UK for research strength (REF 2014). We The Faculties emissions. Construction materials are by far the largest material resource flow globally. In the UK, This post will be a joint post between the UCL we use them at a rate of more than half a million Bartlett School for Energy, Environment & tonnes per day, and they comprise more than 60% Sustainable Resources and UCL Faculty of Laws. of UK waste. Meanwhile, new infrastructure, as a
proportion of total new construction, has doubled The UCL Bartlett Faculty of the Built Environment is over the past 20y, and the National Infrastructure & the UK’s leading multidisciplinary faculty of the built Construction Pipeline projects £600 billion environment, covering architecture, construction investment in infrastructure over the next 10 years. and project management, planning and Yet the construction industry faces serious environmental design as well as other specialist challenges with accessing materials while also fields. It is the world’s top ranked institution for reducing its greenhouse gas emissions and other architecture and built environment globally following environmental impacts. the QS World Subject rankings in 2019. It has the most world-leading research in its field in the UK, We are therefore collaborating with world-leading according to the Government’s Research experts at the Universities of Loughborough, Excellence Framework (REF 2014). Leeds, Sheffield and Lancaster, the British UCL Laws is consistently ranked as one of the top Geological Survey, and a network of national and law schools in the UK. It is home to the Centre for international stakeholders from across the Law and Environment, a world-leading centre for construction industry, to provide leadership in this environmental law. sector. Our research in support of a Circular Economy for built environment infrastructure in the Further information about the Bartlett can be found UK will be undertaken by 15 multidisciplinary here: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/bartlett/. Further research groups, each anchored around a information about Laws can be found here: postdoctoral research project. Overall, the https://www.ucl.ac.uk/laws/. academic collaboration will involve at least 25 world-class academics, 15 postdoctoral UKRI Interdisciplinary Circular Economy researchers, and 30 doctoral students and 30 MSc Centre on Mineral-based Construction students, representing more than 15 disciplines. Materials (ICEC-MCM) All our activities will be undertaken in interaction with a dynamic Stakeholder Interest Group of more University College London is looking for a dynamic than 100 members, representing the whole value and dedicated individual to conduct research about chain and life cycle for construction materials. Our policy and standards for circular mineral-based exciting programme of work will lead to actionable construction materials, as part of a new UKRI solutions that will create economic value from Interdisciplinary Circular Economy Centre on minimising use of energy and virgin raw materials, Mineral-based Construction Materials (ICEC- and progress towards the United Nations MCM). This exciting and influential collaboration Sustainable Development Goals. The portfolio of with five other academic partners and a large group activities will have a total budget of more than £8M. of external stakeholders, to support the transition to a Circular Economy for construction materials in The postdoctoral Research Fellow conducting infrastructure. ICEC-MCM is part of five new research around regulation and policy for centres as part of a £22.5 million government increasing circularity of mineral-based construction investment. materials will be at the core of one of the 15 research groups in this prestigious collaboration. Construction is one of the top 3 sectors of the UK Working as part of a team, including specialists in economy. It is responsible for 8% of GDP and 10% this field from the University College London of both UK employment and greenhouse gas Circular Economy Lab (UCL CircEL), University College Institute for Sustainable Resources and circular use of resources from a regulatory UCL Faculty of Laws, they will have primary perspective; responsibility for conducting a 22-month Collect evidence of best practice to create programme of work that has been designed in enabling framework conditions to foster collaboration with the wider research teams. The circularity; academic research is expected to be followed by a Identify optimal combinations of regulatory and one-year placement with a policy partner, for voluntary instruments to promote circularity of practical implementation of the academic findings. mineral-based construction materials in connection with large infrastructure projects; Locate these optimal instruments in a roadmap for a Circular Economy for mineral-based construction materials. Main purpose of the job Work collaboratively with the SERL team to deliver the smart meter data portal including The main purpose of this role is to undertake cross- developing data quality and analytical disciplinary research around law/regulation and processes policy for increasing circularity of mineral-based Advise and contribute to discussions regarding construction materials. Analysis of potential research by other members of the wider team, regulatory instruments is required to develop a including other Research Fellows, doctoral and coherent framework that minimises trade-offs and Masters students; exploits synergistic effects in the transition towards Participate in organisation of, and present their circularity of construction minerals. work at, quarterly meetings and workshops; Participate in formal quarterly research group As a core member of this prestigious meetings (as well as more frequent informal collaboration, including specialists in this field meetings), and prepare quarterly reports from the University College London Circular Economy Lab (UCL CircEL), University College according to the funding requirements; Institute for Sustainable Resources, and UCL Take a lead role in advising and mentoring at Faculty of Laws, this post will have primary least two undergraduate or Masters’ projects, responsibility for conducting a 22-month whose objectives will support those of the programme of work that has been designed in postdoctoral research project; collaboration with the wider research teams, Lead preparation of 2 journal papers (e.g., with the post splitting this time equally between enabling policy and regulatory frameworks; the Faculty of Laws and the Bartlett. The developing of vision and scenarios through academic research is expected to be followed RoadMapping, or other relevant topics that by a one-year placement with a policy partner, arise during the research) and several policy for practical implementation of the academic findings and industry briefs. In addition to the duties above, to perform other tasks assigned by the line manager and by the Duties and responsibilities: Director of the UCL Institute for Sustainable
Resources from time to time. These duties will Conduct a systematic, comprehensive review of be in line with what a Research Fellow who is the UK policy and regulatory landscape for the fully participating in the UCL Institute for whole supply chain and life cycle of mineral- Sustainable Resources might be reasonably based construction materials; expect to undertake. These should not unduly Engage with different stakeholders in the interfere with progress of research projects. supply chain and surrounding context to better understand drivers and obstacles to more In addition, the post holder will be expected:
To actively follow and promote UCL policies, including Equal Opportunities and The successful candidate will need to meet UCL’s Race Equality policies. expectations of core behaviours as outlined in To maintain an awareness and observation https://www.ucl.ac.uk/human-resources/policies- of fire and health and safety regulations. advice/core-behaviours-framework As duties and To carry out any other duties responsibilities change the job description will be commensurate with the grade and purpose reviewed and amended in consultation with the of the post. post holder. Essential Application / or Interview Person Specification Desirable
Criteria Qualifications, experience and knowledge PhD in a relevant field or a Masters degree with at least four years of Essential A/I experience in environmental law or relevant policy analysis Experience in policy impact assessments Desirable A/I Understanding and experience in policy analysis (such as policy Essential A/I conclusions, policy recommendations and policy roadmaps) OR understanding and experience in waste law Understanding and experience in policy analysis AND waste law Desirable Excellent understanding and experience of application of quantitative and Desirable A/I qualitative research methods Experience elaboration of policy briefs and engagement with policy Desirable A/I makers A good publication record, commensurate with the applicant’s career Desirable A stage
Skills and abilities Evidence of a scientifically rigorous approach Essential A/I Experience in interdisciplinarity Essential A/I Excellent IT skills in Microsoft Office, including Outlook, Excel, Word, and Essential A MS Teams as well as the Internet Good English oral communication skills Essential I Good English written communication skills Essential A Good interpersonal skills Essential A / I Strong analytical, creative and problem-solving skills Essential A / I A methodical and accurate approach to work with attention to detail Essential A / I Ability to work without direct supervision Essential A / I Ability to assimilate and act on advice from the supervisors and other team Essential A / I members Ability to manage own workload to meet deadlines Essential A / I Ability to respond creatively to resolve unanticipated challenges Essential A / I
Personal attributes An understanding of and commitment to the principles of the Circular Essential A / I Economy and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Confidence to present well-prepared information Essential A / I Openness to academic collaboration and sharing of information Essential A / I An appreciation of the contributions made by a multidisciplinary and Essential A / I diverse team Taking pride in delivering an excellent service to colleagues, students, Essential I partners and the wider community Anticipating and avoiding potential strategic flaws and risks in plans Essential I Making inclusivity, diversity and (inter)cultural awareness core to actions Essential I and decision-making for self and team
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If you have specific questions about the role please contact Teresa Domenech, [email protected]