UK Research and Innovation

Job Description

British Antarctic Survey

Reference: BAS 25/129 1629

Contract type: Fixed Term Appointment – ending 31st May 2029

Location: Cambridge

Salary: £41,344 - £45,479 – Band D S2

Closing date: 4 January 2026

Purpose

We are seeking an Ecological Risk Assessor to work with us on Eco-ICE: Ecological Impact Assessment of Earth Cooling Experiments in the Arctic, a new £4.9M ARIA funded project led by BAS. Geoengineering has emerged on the international agenda as a potential tool to mitigate human-induced global warming. Any proposed climate intervention, however, requires a robust, independent ecological risk assessment to avoid unintended ecological harm and ensure informed, responsible decision-making. Eco-ICE aims to independently assess the ecological risks and impacts associated with ARIA funded climate cooling interventions in the polar marine environment, in particular the mechanical thickening of Arctic sea-ice.

There will be no field-work component within Eco-ICE, instead the project will conduct laboratory experiments and modelling based on small-scale field experiments that will be undertaken by the geoengineering team. The post holder will incorporate the scientific results of the modelling and laboratory experiments conducted by the Eco-ICE team, to produce a comprehensive Ecological Risk Assessment (ERA). This will include an evaluation of the (i) likelihood, (ii) magnitude, (iii) duration, (iv) reversibility, and (v) significance of potential impacts. Importantly, this ERA will be a key component of a best-practice Ecological Impact Framework (EIF) which will guide and support the assessment of potential future climate intervention experiments in the polar environment. It is expected that this best-practice framework will be a major, far-reaching output of Eco-ICE; designed to be fully accessible to a broad range of stakeholders, including researchers, regulators, and policymakers.

The postholder should have experience in co-designing and co-producing ERAs. Working within a multi-disciplinary team (ecological and climate researchers) and interacting with a broad range of stakeholders, you will have a key role in the project, from the initial development stage through to final integration and synthesis of the results. Importantly, you will co-lead the design and development of the Ecological Impact Framework. This framework will identify and structure the critical components necessary for a robust, independent assessment of the ecological risks of geoengineering field experiments. The EIF will guide the parameterisation and contextualisation of laboratory and computer models designed to empirically test the ecological impacts of the geoengineering experiments. The aim of the EIF will be to provide best-practice guidance to support the ecological risk assessment of potential future geoengineering experiments.

The postholder must be capable of working both independently and collaboratively within the Eco-ICE team, as well as with a broad range of stakeholders. You will also be expected to engage with external experts for the peer-review of the EIF and ERA. The role requires strong organisational skills, including to organise workshops, collate and disseminate findings, and the ability to ensure scientific rigour and stakeholder relevance throughout the project.

This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to an innovative research project that has the potential to deliver an objective assessment, through evidence-based findings, of a field where the boundaries have yet to be fully developed.

This position is split across two research teams within BAS. You’ll be joining the Atmospheric, Ice and Climate team which strives to understand the processes that drive atmosphere-ocean-sea-ice coupling and interconnection. You’ll also be joining the Ecosystems team which aims to understand the combined impacts of global climate-driven change and commercial fishing on polar marine ecosystems.

You’ll help us to deliver an independent and empirically tested ecological risk assessment of mechanical thickening of Arctic sea-ice. Importantly, you will also contribute to the development of best practice guidance for evaluations of potential future climate interventions.

Within the role, there will be an opportunity to develop skills in scientific synthesis and risk assessment as well as diverse stakeholder interactions and communications. Within BAS there are multiple opportunities for staff to upskill, from technical abilities using scientific software and equipment to interpersonal and leadership training.

The BAS science teams you’ll be joining have ongoing projects that span a broad spectrum of scientific fields and interest. From atmospheric wind modelling to grappling with predicting sea ice-sheet fluctuations to tracking krill, fish and sea bird populations in the Antarctic. With Eco-ICE you will interact with and utilise the wealth of polar knowledge in-house at BAS.

Duties

• Participate in round-table discussions with geoengineering team
• Develop an Ecological Impact Framework (EIF) to assess the specific case study of ice-thickening experiments and to provide a standard model framework for evaluating future projects.
• Produce an ecological risk assessment (ERA) of the ice-thickening experiments informed by scientific findings from the laboratory experiments and modelling.
• Liaise with the project team, independent board of expert advisors and stakeholders throughout the project, including convening meetings and workshops to seek input on the EIF and ERA design, communicate project information and updates, and disseminate results.
• Prepare data and reports as required, and lead/contribute to scientific papers where appropriate, and help develop a best practice guide for future evaluations of this type.

Skills, Qualifications, and Experience

Essential

• PhD or equivalent experience, in ecological risk assessment, environmental science/policy, or ecological governance
• Experience producing ecological risk assessments
• Experience working on sensitive and/or high-profile environmental topics
• Strong project planning and organisational skills, proven ability to manage self and resources to meet objectives and deadlines
• Self-motivated, experience of working well independently as well as part of a larger team
• Track record of publishing technical reports and/or papers in peer-reviewed scientific journals
• Proficient written and spoken English, ability to communicate (verbally and written) with a range of scientific and nonscientific audiences
• Ability to work collaboratively with a diverse range of stakeholders
• Ability to remain objective throughout an evaluation process
• Competent in using tools for databases/data sharing, reporting and archiving

Desirable

• Experience with analysing ecological data and/or ecological modelling and/or ecological experiments
• Postdoctoral experience
• Marine/polar ecological understanding/background
• Experience in the co-design, and co-development of evaluation/guidance frameworks.

As a BAS employee, you’ll be eligible for the following benefits:

• 30 days annual leave plus bank holidays and 2.5 privilege days
• Civil Service pension (with 26% or more employer contribution, depending on your band)
• 24 hours/365 days access to employee assistance programme (including support with physical, mental, social, health and financial issues)
• Flexible and family friendly working opportunities
• Cycle to work scheme
• Access to discounted shopping on a range of retail, leisure, and lifestyle categories and much more

We will give full consideration to requests for flexible and part time working, such as reduced hours, compressed hours or job sharing. We also offer hybrid working and recognise the many benefits this brings. The nature of the role will determine if flexible and hybrid working options are possible.

The pay band minimum is the normal starting pay for those new to a role. In exceptional circumstances, when relevant skills and experience can be identified, a higher starting salary may be considered.

About Us

UKRI - UK Research and Innovation

UKRI is an organisation that brings together the seven disciplinary research councils, Research England and Innovate UK. Together, we build an independent organisation with a strong voice and vision ensuring the UK maintains its world-leading position in research and innovation.

Supporting some of the world’s most exciting and challenging research projects, we develop and operate some of the most remarkable scientific facilities in the world. We are pushing the frontiers of human knowledge through fundamental research and delivering benefits for UK society and the economy through world-class research, skills and business-led innovation.

More information can be found at www.ukri.org.

Choosing to come to work at UKRI means that you will have access to a whole host of benefits from a defined benefit pension scheme, excellent holiday entitlement, access to employee shopping/travel discounts and salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme. For more details, visit benefits of working for UKRI.

How we support EDI in the workforce

At UKRI, we believe that everyone has a right to be treated with dignity and respect, and to be provided with equal opportunities to thrive and succeed in an environment that enables them to do so. We also value diversity of thought and experience within inclusive groups, organisations and the wider community. For further information, please visit ‘How we support EDI in the workforce’.

Disability Confident Employer

As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all applicants with a disability who opt into the disability confident scheme and meet the minimum criteria for the role. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

How to apply

Online applications only preferred for this role. Please submit a CV and covering letter which clearly outlines how you fulfil the criteria specified along with your motivation for UKRI and the role. Ensure that the job reference number is included in the filename description of each document uploaded. Note that failure to address the above criteria or submit an application without a covering letter may result in the application not being considered. Assessment will only be based upon the content of your submitted covering letter and CV and not the ‘experience’ section of the application.

UKRI seeks to ensure it creates and maintains a system of openness, fairness and inclusion – a collaborative, trusted environment, which is attractive to and accessible to everyone who is interested in developing their career with us.

The role holder will be required to have the appropriate level of security screening/vetting required for the role. UKRI reserves the right to run or re-run security clearance as required during the course of employment.

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