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The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) is seeking two new non-executive members (one in the research area of Life Sciences and one in the research area of Physical Sciences) to serve on the Diamond Light Source Ltd Board of Directors.

Diamond Light Source Ltd is the UK’s national synchrotron science facility, located at the Harwell Science and Innovation Campus in Oxfordshire.   The facility is used by over 3,000 academic and industrial researchers across a wide range of disciplines including structural biology, energy, engineering, nanoscience and environmental sciences.

The Diamond Board of Directors has overall responsibility to the shareholders (STFC and The Wellcome Trust) and other stakeholders for the company, including its strategic direction & goals, its standards and governance, and its performance and achievements. The Board provides a critical governance role for Diamond by contributing high-level strategic challenge and support to the Diamond executive. The Board also plays a dual function by providing an appropriate degree of oversight to the Shareholders.

Role and Person Specification-

The successful candidates will have:

• Effective research leadership skills.
• Knowledge of the use of synchrotrons and synchrotron research infrastructures. 
• Experience of working in a multidisciplinary environment with a strong research culture.
• A demonstrable ability to think and act strategically, and address difficult decisions across a broad spectrum of policy issues.
• Ability to manage organisational change and engage with the Government’s research landscape reforms.
• Understanding of science innovation and commercialisation and the knowledge economy.
• Understanding of the UK and International research funding environment.
• Understanding of operational corporate governance.
• Ability to commit appropriate time to prepare for and attend meetings and contribute constructively to Board discussions.

Appointment to the Board of Directors is a part-time position. Travel and subsistence expenses will be reimbursed, as well as reasonable additional expenses incurred by people with disabilities.

Appointments are normally for four years with the possibility of reappointment.

Appointments to the Board of Directors are made on merit, taking account of the need to balance membership in terms of the range of experience.

Interviews are planned for on 13th September 2016 in London.  All reasonable expenses incurred in connection with attending an interview will be paid.

The next Diamond Board meetings are scheduled for 10 October and 1 December 2016.

Expressions of Interest should be sent to:
Mrs Zena Davis
Council Secretariat
Science & Technology Facilities Council
Polaris House
North Star Avenue
Swindon
SN2 1SZ

Email: zena.davis@stfc.ac.uk

You should submit the following:

• a covering letter of not more than two A4 sides in total detailing:
  • why you are applying for this vacancy
  • how you meet the criteria set out in the person and role specification. Please use supporting examples.
  • any other information you think may be pertinent to this vacancy
• A supporting CV of not more than two A4 sides.

The closing date is 16.00 on Wednesday, 17th August 2016. All applications will be acknowledged.