Sustainable Lab Manager

Overview

The University of Sheffield is committed to delivering its core mission of life enhancing research, innovation and education in the most sustainable way possible. Our newly updated Sustainability Strategy sets ambitious plans to reduce both direct and indirect impacts of our activities and embed sustainability into our culture. The Sustainable Lab Manager will play a key role in reducing the environmental impact of our world class research by increasing pro environmental behaviour across the faculties, embedding sustainability in research culture, identifying opportunities and delivering innovative initiatives, and acting as an expert adviser on lab design and development.

Responsibilities

• Increase pro environmental behaviour across the faculties through the ongoing management and development of LEAF.
• Embed sustainability in the organisation's research culture by contributing to the development of organisational / faculty policies, procedures and standards.
• Identify opportunities and deliver innovative initiatives and projects.
• Act as a point of expertise and advise design teams and colleagues on best practice during the lab design and development of new and refurbished lab facilities, ensuring efficient use of space and resources.
• Work collaboratively with environmental professionals and faculty colleagues to build a network of strong relationships, delivering tangible and continual improvements in environmental performance, and evaluate and share learning across the organisation.
• Oversee the management and ongoing development of LEAF and ensure organisational targets are achieved (100% enrollment of suitable labs by 2027, 100% certification to bronze by 2028, 100% certification to silver by 2030).
• Manage the LEAF internal audit process and certification.
• Provide support to faculties through the development of guidance and documentation, in person events, and specialist advice.
• Contribute to the development of organisational / faculty policies, procedures and standards that support best practice in lab based research activities.
• Review and evaluate data and management information (expenditure, energy use, carbon emissions) to baseline performance, identify opportunities for improvement and report using KPIs.
• Develop, plan and prioritise a programme that improves laboratory efficiencies and helps deliver the University's environmental objectives.
• Develop business cases, undertake cost benefit analyses and make recommendations to senior colleagues and committees to obtain funding/approval for new projects.
• Work closely with colleagues across the faculties and EFM, leading and contributing to the delivery of projects and initiatives, ensuring resources and finances are available.
• Delegate work and tasks within project teams and ensure work is completed to the required standard, within agreed timescales and allocated budgets.
• Act as a sustainability advocate on development projects, engaging with design teams and clients/end users, ensuring project specific sustainable lab design requirements and targets are developed, agreed and delivered.
• Provide advice and support on sustainable lab design, operation and procurement of resource efficient equipment.
• Carry out other duties commensurate with the grade and remit of the post.

Person Specification

• Relevant post A level qualifications in a science subject (essential).
• Significant experience of working in a science, medicine and/or engineering research or teaching environment (essential).
• Up to date knowledge of environmental and sustainability issues and best practice in higher or further education, NHS, pharma or R&D sectors (essential).
• Experience of managing and delivering short term projects, including setting objectives, priorities, planning delivery and meeting deadlines (essential).
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to influence and engage colleagues at all levels, including senior managers and other professionals, to engender change (essential).
• Ability to think laterally, creatively and independently and identify opportunities for improvement (essential).
• Experience of reviewing data and information, assessing options, writing reports and making formal recommendations to senior colleagues (essential).
• Experience of developing policies, procedures and standards and implementing them within a large organisation (essential).
• Ability to support, advise, motivate, lead and mentor small teams of people (essential).
• Highly motivated with the ability to work on own initiative and manage, plan and prioritise own workload (essential).
• Experience of being part of multi disciplinary project teams and working closely with a wide range of colleagues and taking responsibility for the delivery of specific tasks (desirable).

Compensation and Details

Grade: 7
Salary: £38,784 to £47,389 per annum pro rata, with potential progression to £51,753 through sustained exceptional contribution.
Work arrangement: Full time
Line manager: Environment and IMS Manager
Direct reports: None

Benefits

• A minimum of 41 days annual leave including bank holiday and closure days (pro rata) with the ability to purchase more.
• Flexible working opportunities, including hybrid working for some roles.
• Generous pension scheme.
• A wide range of discounts and rewards on shopping, eating out and travel.
• A variety of staff networks, providing opportunities for social interaction, peer support and personal development (e.g., Race Equality, LGBT+, Women's and Parent's networks).
• Recognition awards to reward staff who go above and beyond.
• A commitment to your development with access to learning and mentoring schemes and Professional Services Shared Skills Framework.
• A range of generous family friendly policies:
  • Paid time off for parenting and caring emergencies.
  • Support for those going through menopause.
  • Paid time off and support for fertility treatment.
  • And more.

We are a Disability Confident Employer. If you have a disability and meet the essential criteria for this job you will be invited to take part in the next stage of the selection process.