Board Chair

Location: Meetings are held at various UK locations including the BGS offices in Keyworth (near Nottingham), London and Edinburgh.

Duration: The Chair will be appointed for a term of three years, with possibility of reappointment for a further term.

Honorarium: An annual honorarium payment of £6,000 will be paid to the Chair, where eligible. This is premised on an expected 10-15 days’ contribution per year. Travel and subsistence is paid in line with UKRI policy.

The British Geological Survey (BGS) is an applied geoscience research centre that is part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and affiliated to the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC). It is a world leading geological survey that provides a core science mission to inform government of science related to the subsurface and its interfaces and also undertakes applied research for solutions to earth and environmental processes, both in the UK and globally. It is funded directly by UKRI as well as through research grants and via private sector contracts.

BGS has an annual budget of approximately £60 million and employs 650 people. It has two main sites, a head office in Keyworth near Nottingham and the Lyell Centre, which is a joint collaboration with Heriot Watt University in Edinburgh. BGS works with more than 150 private sector organisations as well as having close links with 40 universities and sponsors approximately 100 PhD students each year.

The role

The BGS is looking for an experienced leader to serve as Chair of its Board. This role is crucial in guiding BGS and advancing its work in geoscience, ensuring strong governance and delivering public value. Under the direction of the NERC Executive Chair, the BGS Chair will work closely with a number of senior Directors at BGS in achieving strategic objectives, encouraging innovation, and ensuring success.

Key Responsibilities:

· Lead the BGS Board, providing strategic direction and ensuring high governance standards.

· Coordinate the development and implementation of BGS's strategy in alignment with NERC and UKRI priorities and ensure the BGS business plan and associated budget is aligned to these.

· Encourage innovative thinking and ensure BGS maintains its status as a global leader in geoscience and support the BGS in attracting external income and in diversifying commercial funding lines.

· Support BGS in sustaining world-class geoscientific research, maintaining strong stakeholder relationships, and enabling commercial diversification.

· Hold the executive team accountable for performance and ensure clear reporting against strategic goals.

· Champion integrity, transparency, and accountability across the organisation.

· Advocate for BGS's role in national and international geoscience, engaging with important collaborators and partners.

What we’re looking for:

We recognise that a variety of perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences enriches our work environment and therefore we actively welcome applications from a diverse range of candidates.

Candidates should have a strong personal interest and previous experience of working closely within the sectors of interest to BGS (government, private sector and academia) with the ability to build strong relationships with related stakeholders, the NERC-BGS executive and potential customers. Other key criteria include:

· Strong leadership in complex environments, with a focus on achieving results.

· Experience on advisory boards, as a member or Chair.

· Expertise in corporate governance and strategic planning.

· Knowledge of working within a research environment and the UK geosciences sector, including government initiatives.

· Ability to support commercial diversification and build strong stakeholder relationships.

· Excellent interpersonal skills, such as communication, negotiation, collaboration, and diplomacy.

How to Apply

The closing date for the receipt of applications is Thursday 13 March 2025.

Interviews are expected to be held in London on Thursday 10th April 2025.

Applicants are required to provide an up-to-date CV and a statement of suitability outlining their suitability for the role. Please click ‘apply’ for further information and to visit our careers page.