CEDA Head of Earth Observation

Head of Earth Observation, Centre for Environmental Data Analysis

RAL Space: Rutherford Appleton Laboratory Harwell, Oxfordshire

Contract Type: Open-Ended

Hours: Full-Time or Part-Time (minimum 30 hours per week) (We understand the importance of work-life balance, and are happy to discuss the possibility of flexible working with applicants)

Together, our scientists, technologists, engineers, and business support team explore the unknown and turn what they find into work that changes the world around us. Whether it’s sending probes into space or finding new ways to treat cancer, everyone here plays a vital role in making a positive difference to society. We ask some of the biggest questions in the universe, to answer some of the biggest challenges in the world. Whatever our role, we have the freedom to explore, learn and connect, as part of a community that loves to share knowledge and support one another.

As one of Europe’s largest research organisations, this is a place where there’s always something new to learn – about the world around us, about your career, but most of all, about yourself. Join us and discover what’s possible.

Come and discover how much you can achieve when you’re surrounded by world-leading experts, encouraged to constantly learn, and empowered to explore your curiosity.

CEDA - the Centre for Environmental Data Analysis - develop and run innovative data services and computational infrastructure to support environmental sciences research programmes in the UK and internationally. We operate the high-performance, globally unique JASMIN data analysis facility, providing storage and compute facilities to enable data-intensive environmental science. We manage the Earth observation (EO), atmospheric and climate science data for the Natural Environment Research Council’s Environmental Data Service (EDS) that supports tens of thousands of scientists around the world accessing petabytes of data. Highlights include a multi-petabyte archive of Sentinel Satellite data and the World Climate Research Programme (WCRP) multi-model data archive which underpins the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) global assessments.

About the Role

We are recruiting a CEDA Head of Earth Observation to lead and develop CEDA’s work programme in the EO domain and to be the EO Data Services Lead for NCEO – NERC’s National Centre for Earth Observation. You will provide the vision for our work in Earth Observation, shaping the services we provide, guiding our technical requirements and controlling how we interact with our stakeholders, both nationally and internationally. The CEDA Head of EO will have a national profile as a project leader. We want to facilitate EO research so that the UK gets the most value for its investment.

The role will include:

• Managing CEDA activities and projects in the EO domain, including collaborations with academic partners and industry.
• Being an advocate for CEDA and JASMIN in the UK and wider EO community and ensuring that the data and services that we provide meet their needs
• Leadership of national EO Data Services through NCEO, including reporting to NERC
• Maintain and develop relationships with key stakeholders - NERC, UK Space Agency, European Space Agency (ESA) and others - ensuring that we’re part of the right networks. Promote the work of CEDA at relevant community events, conferences, and workshops
• Develop new opportunities; lead and/or contribute to proposals for new funding (examples of successful funded projects include the ESA Climate Change Initiative Open Data Portal, ESA Sentinel Relay Hub, NERC Environmental Data Service)
• Represent CEDA, STFC or NCEO as appropriate in committees and working groups.
• Manage CEDA EO project budgets and staff within the CEDA team.

The role is primarily based at the Oxfordshire Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (RAL) with the option of hybrid working arrangements.

You will need:

• Post graduate qualification or equivalent experience in Earth Observation science, or related disciplines such as Physics, Geography, Earth Sciences
• Track record working with EO data stakeholders (industry and/or academia)
• Experience managing staff and/or financial management in a research environment
• Negotiation skills
• Excellent verbal and written communications skills
• Experience in writing proposals for funding
• Project Management skills
• Experience of software and computing environments for “big data” from observations.

STFC values their employees by offering a benefits package designed to provide an excellent work/life balance. This includes 30 days’ annual leave, 10.5 public and privilege holidays, flexible working hours, a workplace nursery, exceptional average salary pension scheme, social and sporting activities and societies and a subsidised restaurant.

The role is primarily based at the Oxfordshire Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (RAL) with the option of hybrid working arrangements. We are a small, open and friendly team of 30 staff and operate with a matrix management structure. National and international travel may be required to attend conferences and to co-ordinate work with our customers and partners.

Applicants who are unable to apply online should contact us by telephone on 07710 115815.