> Markdown version of [/jobs/ext/3602782-executive-director-of-environmental-data-innovation-and-growth](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/jobs/ext/3602782-executive-director-of-environmental-data-innovation-and-growth). Every page supports `.md` or `Accept: text/markdown`. Links point to the HTML versions so they work for humans too. Agent guide: [/agents.md](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/agents.md). --- # Executive Director of Environmental Data, Innovation and Growth - **Company:** UK Research and Innovation - **Location:** Swindon, UK - **Salary:** £59,442.0 - **Contract:** Permanent contract - **Skills:** Artificial Intelligence, Business Analytics Applications, Cyber Security, Data as a Services, Dataspaces, Interoperability, Web Platforms, Data Management - **Published:** October 7, 2026 - **Apply:** https://www.adzuna.co.uk/jobs/details/5915499040 ## About the Role * A strong record of setting strategic direction and delivering enterprise-scale data, digital or technology-enabled transformation, creating measurable scientific, organisational, societal or economic value. (S&I) * Established credibility in environmental science, data-intensive research or a related field, together with a strong understanding of the UK research and innovation landscape and the role of data and digital capability in enabling research outcomes. (S) * Strong understanding of data ecosystems, digital platforms, computational research infrastructure, interoperability and the opportunities and risks presented by artificial intelligence. (I) * Proven ability to lead major programmes, organisational change and cross-boundary partnerships, navigate uncertainty and maintain delivery in complex and fast-moving environments. (S&I) * Strong governance, assurance and risk-management capability across data, cyber security, artificial intelligence, intellectual property, investment and operational resilience. (I) * Strong financial and commercial acumen, including experience of managing significant budgets and investments, building strategic partnerships and translating scientific or technological capability into commercial outcomes of societal and/or UK PLC benefits. (S&I) * Inclusive and credible senior leadership, with excellent communication and influencing skills and a record of building multidisciplinary capability and high-performing teams across organisational boundaries. (S&I) Whilst the ability to lead and build relationships at a distance will be important, this is a role in which visibility will be essential. Regular travel to NERC and UKRI offices, research centres and other sites will therefore be expected. We are open and interested in the breadth and impact of candidates' experience, including evidence gained through non-traditional career routes. ## Description You will be NERC's executive leader for environmental data, informing our digital transformation and digital research infrastructure needs, artificial intelligence and the responsible creation of value from these assets as well as other NERC investments. As a newly created role, the Executive Director of Environmental Data, Innovation and Growth offers a rare opportunity to shape a bold, future-focused agenda for environmental science data, advancing knowledge while accelerating the application of research and innovation to deliver economic and societal benefit. You will have the opportunity to shape the data, inform the digital platforms and initiate our commercialisation portfolio as part of NERC's new operating model, establishing the organisational capabilities, accountabilities and ways of working needed to deliver the role's responsibilities. This is a pivotal leadership role at the heart of NERC and UKRI. You will set and deliver NERC's strategy and model development for data and digital, aligned with NERC's scientific priorities and UKRI's priority programmes. You will harness the opportunities set out in the UKRI strategy for a resilient Digital Research Infrastructure and AI Research and Innovation Strategic Framework. You will be responsible for shaping business development opportunities across the NERC investment portfolio, drawing on the UKRI Chief Development Officer and Innovate UK teams to define commercialisation opportunities from NERC investments. OBJECTIVES You will establish and embed a new enterprise-wide approach to environmental data, innovation and growth through e.g. commercialisation potential across NERC, maximising the potential of our data assets across all NERC investments. This will require clear accountabilities, effective governance and a joined-up approach to capabilities, investment and ways of working, while protecting the specialist and mission-critical expertise on which environmental science depends. A core element of the role will be building and leveraging partnerships across UKRI, government, research organisations, industry, philanthropy and international networks. You will use the strength of NERC's science, data and infrastructure to attract external investment, supporting our research funding investments to enable innovation and create greater public value. WAYS OF WORKING As a member of the NERC Executive Team, you will work collectively with NERC's Directors to ensure coherence and optimisation across the full NERC portfolio and to lead NERC through UKRI's wider transformation. You will work particularly closely with the Executive Director of Science to ensure that NERC's research investments generate high-quality, accessible and reusable data, models and analytical tools and that researchers have the skills, platforms and computational capabilities needed for the future. You will work with NERC's Chief Operating Officer, who is responsible for the operational lifecycle of NERC's infrastructure and assets, to ensure that strategic requirements for data and digital capability are translated into sustainable, resilient and effectively managed services and infrastructure, and, commercialisation potential of NERC's infrastructure and facilities is realised. You will also work closely with UKRI's digital, data and technology leadership under the Chief Information Officer and commercialisation offer under the Chief Development Officer to connect NERC's specialist capabilities with UKRI-wide platforms, services and standards, particularly enabling good data stewardship. You will ensure that NERC's digital infrastructure is anchored effectively within UKRI's wider ambitions so that environmental data can be stored, curated and shared efficiently across organisational and disciplinary boundaries. MAIN OUTPUTS AND ACTIVITIES Reporting directly to the NERC Executive Chair, you will have responsibility for: Enterprise strategy and executive leadership * Ensuring NERC's data, digital platform requirements and potential commercial capabilities inform the design and delivery of its research investments, including programme governance, peer review, partnership development, impact generation and evaluation of outcomes. * Setting and delivering NERC's strategy for data, innovation and transformation, aligned with NERC, UKRI and national research priorities, including the NROs. * Acting as NERC's executive lead for data innovation and digital needs, ensuring investment and delivery are driven by scientific impact, organisational value and affordability. * Contributing to the overall leadership, performance, culture and strategic direction of NERC. Environmental data leadership and stewardship * Working with the Executive Director of Science, ensuring NERC's investments in long-term observations, environmental models and data services remain scientifically aligned, sustainable and fit for purpose. * Providing strategic leadership for the stewardship, governance and utilisation of NERC-funded environmental data. * Establishing an enterprise-wide data and digital function across NERC, BAS and BGS, ensuring this function delivers across the whole of NERC's investment portfolio. * Championing responsible, secure and ethical data use. Digital research infrastructure and transformation * Leading the strategic development of NERC's requirements of UKRI digital research infrastructure and associated transformation programmes. * Ensuring specialist environmental science capabilities are aligned with wider UKRI digital, data and technology strategies. * Driving a coherent and sustainable approach to digital platforms, services and computational capabilities. * Overseeing the delivery, governance and benefits realisation of major data investments. Environmental Data for Research UK * Leading the future development of Environmental Data for Research UK (EDRUK) within NERC and across UKRI, taking care to build from the effective parts of the existing Environmental Data Service (EDS) so we can move at pace to fully exploit potential new markets and applications. * Building partnerships and delivery models across UKRI, government and the wider research community. * Ensuring researchers can effectively discover, access and use environmental data and analytical tools. Artificial intelligence for the environment * Working with colleagues across UKRI, leading NERC's approach for the responsible use of artificial intelligence. * Developing investment priorities and partnerships that maximise the value of AI across environmental research and operations. * Ensuring appropriate governance, ethics, transparency and security arrangements are in place. Supporting business development and external investment * Leading NERC's approach to business opportunities and external investment related to its science, data and research infrastructure, working closely with UKRI structures to inform delivery. * Developing external investment, partnerships and innovation opportunities across the NERC investment portfolio. * Developing investable propositions that can we shaped into commercial pathways with research centres, partners and through UKRI service provision. People, capability and culture * Leading and developing a high-performing, inclusive and multidisciplinary team. * Building the environmental data, innovation and transformation capabilities required for the future. * Providing visible leadership across NERC's wider data and digital community. * Championing equality, diversity, inclusion and effective organisational change. Governance, finance and assurance * Holding accountability for assigned budgets, programmes, services and associated benefits. * Ensuring robust governance, risk management, financial control and value for money across the portfolio. * Providing high-quality advice and assurance to NERC and UKRI governance bodies. * Ensuring compliance with relevant policies, delegated authorities and regulatory requirements. ASSESSMENT CRITERIA We are seeking a dynamic, creative and respected leader who is inspired by the opportunity to shape and fund the future of environmental data science. You will command professional esteem, ideally across public and private sectors, and engage proactively with NERC and UKRI's diverse science, data and digital communities. You will draw on their expertise to shape future investment priorities and build partnership and leverage opportunities through trusted relationships with senior academic, public-sector, industry and international leaders. Success will require strategic oversight and the ability to adapt at pace, keeping ahead of emerging scientific priorities and rapidly advancing technological and computational capabilities while supporting teams to deliver at scale. Candidates will be assessed against the following criteria throughout the recruitment process