NERC Cruise Programme Review Group: member vacancies

• Closing date: 7 August 2024
• Number of positions: Up to eight
• Length of term: Three years (with opportunity to extend)
• Time commitment: One two-day meeting per year, plus preparation and reading time

The Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) Cruise Programme Review Group (CPRG) exists to:

• provide objective advice to NERC on all delivery aspects of the operations that make up the NERC Marine Facilities Programme
• monitor and review the outputs from these marine services and facilities

NERC is looking for people with experience and expertise in the use of marine facilities to:

• represent the views of the marine science community
• facilitate a productive dialogue between the community and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)

Who we’re looking for

We are looking to recruit up to eight new members with scientific, technical and user expertise within the marine research sector, including those from:

• higher education institutions
• research centres
• research institutes
• industry
• international operators

You should be able to:

• evidence your experience in any area of marine research that comes within the UKRI science and innovation remit
• represent the views of the marine science community
• facilitate two-way communication between the research community and NERC

What you’ll be doing

CPRG is coordinated through and led by NERC.

CPRG will report to:

• the chair of NERC’s Cruise Programme Executive Board
• the directors of the National Oceanography Centre (NOC, for National Marine Facilities (NMF))
• the directors of the British Antarctic Survey (BAS)

The NERC Marine Facilities Programme is comprised of:

• science research cruises onboard the NERC research ships operated by NMF and BAS
• technical seagoing support provided by NMF and BAS
• marine facilities that are provided through NERC’s barter arrangements with other operators

CPRG is expected to:

• review the previous year’s Marine Facilities Programme, including reports from NERC Marine Planning, British Antarctic Survey and National Oceanography Centre
• monitor the level of performance of the services and facilities that are provided through the Marine Facilities Programme
• monitor the procedures and processes used to provide ships and marine facilities, to ensure an effective, efficient and coordinated service
• report and advise on all other aspects of the Marine Facilities Programme

The chair of CPRG sits on the Cruise Programme Executive Board, to provide assurance to NERC that strategic investments benefit the UK’s marine science community.

Members will:

• provide constructive review on the planning, preparation and delivery of NERC’s Marine Facilities Programme, helping to ensure NERC’s investment into seagoing science delivery is justified
• provide vital insight into the potential future needs of marine service functions

Find out more about CPRG and the terms of reference for the group.

Meetings

CPRG conducts one meeting per year (over two days), which may be conducted in person or virtually.

Pre-meeting reading and preparation is required.

Members may also occasionally be asked to support relevant working groups or provide related advice to NERC.

NERC will reimburse members for all reasonable travel and subsistence expenses in attending face-to-face meetings, in accordance with the UKRI travel and subsistence policy.

The next meeting is expected to take place in November 2024.

How to apply

Complete the CPRG application form.

How we’ll assess your application

Applications will be reviewed by an internal panel, comprising members of NERC, British Antarctic Survey (BAS) and National Oceanography Centre (NOC).

The panel will assess applications against the following criteria:

• relevance of expertise
• willingness and ability to represent the views of the marine science community and constructively challenge in a multi-stakeholder environment
• ability to add value to themselves and the community, and to facilitate communication between the research community, NOC, BAS, NERC and UKRI
• rationale for joining

We expect you to be able to commit the necessary time and attention to your appointment and to have the full support or the necessary permission of your employer.

Further information

Equality, diversity and inclusion

At NERC, as part of UKRI, we believe that everyone has a right to be treated with dignity and respect. Everyone should be provided with the appropriate opportunities and tools to flourish and succeed within an ethical and trusted working environment that enables them to do so and that is attractive and accessible to everyone.

We also value diversity of thought and experience and are committed to creating systems that value differences so that everyone can feel welcomed, included and nurtured throughout their time with us.

Learn more about how we support equality, diversity and inclusion in the workforce.

Appointments to the advisory teams are made primarily on merit and we are keen to obtain greater diversity across the membership.

We particularly encourage applications from women, from people who identify as an ethnic minority, people with a disability, and other groups who are currently under-represented.

We welcome applications from people based in all regions and nations of the UK.

Where candidates are of equal merit, NERC will use its discretion to ensure that there is a balanced composition of members within CPRG.

As such, the recruitment process will consider the balance of members with respect to:

• career stage
• institution
• sector experience
• expertise

Ask a question about CPRG

Dr Jacob Wood, Senior Programme Manager in Marine Planning

Email: jacob.wood@nerc.ukri.org or marineplanning@nerc.ukri.org

Last updated: 1 July 2024