At a Glance
- Tasks: Drive environmental sustainability initiatives and reduce carbon emissions across STFC.
- Company: Join the Science and Technology Facilities Council, a leader in scientific research.
- Benefits: Enjoy 30 days holiday, flexible hours, and excellent learning opportunities.
- Other info: Work in a supportive team with diverse projects and career growth.
- Why this job: Be an agent for change and contribute to a net-zero future.
- Qualifications: Great people skills, creativity, and knowledge of environmental sustainability.
The predicted salary is between 31418 - 31418 £ per year.
Overview
Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) – Salary: £31,418 per annum + £1,000 welcome bonus. Contract Type: Permanent. Hours: Full-time. Location: Rutherford Appleton Laboratory Harwell, Oxfordshire OX11 0QX. Closing date: 19 October 2025. Assessment Centre: December 2025 / January 2026. Start date: September 2026.
At STFC, we aim to be world class. To remain a leading scientific institution that is internationally recognised, it is crucial we play an active role and align with national net zero and clean energy priorities. In December 2024, STFC Executive Board approved an STFC Environmental Sustainability Strategy which provides the strategic direction for STFC. The strategy sets out our aspirations and direction of travel for environmental sustainability at STFC and the work the Environmental Sustainability (ES) Team do supports this strategic approach.
Having a strong environmental sustainability agenda is imperative for STFC to reduce our impact on the environment, lower our carbon emissions, and embed environmental sustainability fully into the organisation. Doing so will help us achieve our strategic vision, provide a proven foundation for our research, and ensure we help to solve the environmental challenges faced by society.
Come and discover how much you can achieve in supporting our work to be net zero and positive for the environment. This role will play a tangible part of STFC\\\'s drive towards net-zero and be responsible for an exciting and varied workload within a fast-paced team.
The Environmental Sustainability Team
The team sits in a central position under the Chief Operating Officer. It\\\'s cross organisational, and we work closely with colleagues across areas of STFC, acting as advisors to share best practice, support behaviour changes and embed environmental sustainability to reduce our environmental impact.
The team directly connects to and supports STFC\\\'s strategic aims, UKRI Environmental Sustainability Strategy and the wider UK Government Commitments. Responsible for leading all aspects of the long-term planning and implementation of sustainability programmes, projects, policies, reporting, and driving initiatives to enhance STFC\\\'s environmental impact and transition to net zero.
It\\\'s a small fast paced team that deals with a wide breadth of tasks and results, no one day is the same! Join this great friendly team and be an agent for change driving forward this important agenda.
Graduate Scheme
The STFC Graduate scheme will give you the opportunity to really pursue your interests and passion early in your journey with us, supported by technical training and a broader programme of career support and training and development.
Our dedicated Graduate Development Team will provide the right combination of challenge and support throughout, helping you achieve your ambitions. We know that professional recognition is also important to you too, so we will provide mentoring and expertise to help you achieve valued qualifications or chartered status in your chosen field.
Key Duties & Responsibilities
We are seeking two enthusiastic graduates to be at the heart of ensuring the team works well, with a focus on carbon emission reductions and efficiencies supporting the team to embed environmental sustainability across a sophisticated organisation. You need to show you have knowledge of carbon emissions, energy consumption to support our approach to energy efficiencies and communicate the agenda effectively across our science departments. You will be an agent for change, helping to drive the environmental strategic agenda forward.
This opportunity will work within a small and supportive team across all STFC sites throughout the UK. You will be coached/mentored towards either Chartered Environmentalist of SocEnv or an Associate Membership of IEMA.
Key duties include:
- Using your knowledge to improve environmental sustainability performance across STFC sites
- Developing and delivering communications, engagement, events and initiatives that encourage action and culture change to support our environmental sustainability commitments
- Using your skills and experience, develop and deliver sophisticated and high-profile carbon reduction projects to support the delivery of our Net Zero targets.
Person Specification
In order to apply for the role we are looking for the following:
Essential:
- Great people skills, the ability to work across hierarchies and engage various people about a complex agenda. An understanding of the complexities around behaviour/culture change. (S&I)
- Creative thinker with demonstrable communication skills, and capability to write a variety of content to drive change. (S&I)
- Teamwork and an understanding of stakeholder engagement, experience of events coordination. (S&I)
- Self-motivated, organised, able to work on own initiative and largely unsupervised with the ability to cope with a high volume of work. (S&I)
- Multi - tasking, designing and completing projects/initiatives that include multiple layers and complex stakeholder management and deliver different projects simultaneously (S&I)
- Strong knowledge of the causes of greenhouse gas emissions, carbon, energy cycles and hierarchy approaches to environmental aspects. A broad understanding of the legislative and local, national and international policy frameworks for environmental sustainability. (S&I)
Desirable:
- Student Membership of IEMA (S)
- A passion for environmental sustainability and becoming a change agent (S&I)
- Experience of working with procurement or travel teams (S&I)
Employee Benefits
We are offering a permanent position with a whole host of benefits including:
- 30 days holiday (in addition to 10.5 bank holidays and privilege days).
- Flexible working hours.
- An excellent defined average salary pension scheme.
- Easily accessible public transport links/ free parking.
- Excellent learning and development opportunities.
- Cycle to work scheme.
Link to more benefits: https://stfccareers.co.uk/rewards-and-benefits/
As this job does not fulfil the UK Government minimum criterion for obtaining sponsored migrant worker status we will be unable to apply for sponsorship for anyone not eligible to work in the UK. At interview, all shortlisted candidates are required to bring with them identification documents and original documents that prove they hold or can obtain the right to work in the UK. You can check your eligibility here: https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa/y
Application Guidance
Please note that we can only accept a maximum of 2 applications per candidate.
Part of our application process involves submitting your CV and a cover letter. Your cover letter should address your suitability for the opportunity based how you meet each essential criteria stated in this advert.
Please note that we hold the right to close this vacancy early if a sufficient number of applications have been received.
We ask some of the biggest questions in the universe, to answer some of the biggest challenges in the world. Together, our scientists, technologists, engineers and business support team explore the unknown across every field you could think of. And they turn what they find into work that changes the world around us.
What could you achieve with the world-leading facilities and experts of one of Europe\\\'s largest research organisations by your side? Join us and discover what\\\'s possible!
About the Team
The Science and Technology Facilities Council is a world-leading multi-disciplinary science organisation where curiosity-driven, blue-skies thinking meets practical, application-led science and engineering. Our goal is to deliver economic, societal, scientific and international benefits to the UK and its people - and more broadly to the world.
One of Europe\\\'s largest research organisations, we\\\'re trusted to support, enable and undertake cutting-edge projects in an amazing diversity of fields. Through world-class facilities and people, we are driving ground-breaking advances in science, engineering, computing and technology. Our research seeks to understand the Universe from the largest astronomical scales to the tiniest constituents of matter, yet creates impact on a very tangible, human scale.
For more information about STFC please visit https://stfc.ukri.org/. You can also visit our careers site https://www.stfccareers.co.uk/
Environmental Sustainability Graduate employer: UKRI
At the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a vibrant work culture that fosters innovation and collaboration. Located at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory in Oxfordshire, our team is dedicated to driving environmental sustainability initiatives while providing extensive professional development opportunities, including mentoring towards chartered status. With generous benefits such as 30 days of holiday, flexible working hours, and a supportive environment, STFC is the perfect place for graduates passionate about making a meaningful impact in the field of sustainability.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Environmental Sustainability Graduate
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the environmental sustainability field. Attend events, join online forums, and don’t be shy about reaching out to professionals on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can offer valuable advice.
✨Tip Number 2
Show your passion! When you get the chance to chat with potential employers, make sure to express your enthusiasm for environmental sustainability. Share your ideas on how you can contribute to their goals, especially around carbon reduction and energy efficiency. Let them see that you’re not just looking for a job, but you genuinely want to make a difference.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for assessments! Since STFC has an assessment centre, brush up on your skills and knowledge related to environmental sustainability. Practice common interview questions and scenarios they might present. Being well-prepared will help you stand out and show that you’re serious about the role.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! We encourage you to submit your application directly on the STFC careers site. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, you’ll find all the details you need about the role and the team you could be joining!
We think you need these skills to ace Environmental Sustainability Graduate
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the Environmental Sustainability role. Highlight relevant experiences and skills that align with the job description, especially around carbon emissions and sustainability initiatives.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter should be more than just a summary of your CV. Use it to showcase your passion for environmental sustainability and how your background makes you a perfect fit for the team at STFC.
Showcase Your Communication Skills:Since this role involves engaging various stakeholders, demonstrate your communication prowess in both your CV and cover letter. Share examples of how you've effectively communicated complex ideas in the past.
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining our team at STFC.
How to prepare for a job interview at UKRI
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of carbon emissions, energy consumption, and environmental policies. Being able to discuss these topics confidently will show that you're genuinely interested in the role and understand the complexities involved.
✨Show Your People Skills
Since this role involves engaging with various stakeholders, practice how you'll communicate your ideas effectively. Think about examples from your past experiences where you've successfully influenced others or led a project, and be ready to share those stories.
✨Be a Creative Problem Solver
Prepare to showcase your creative thinking skills. Consider how you can approach sustainability challenges in innovative ways. Bring along any ideas or projects you've worked on that demonstrate your ability to think outside the box.
✨Demonstrate Your Passion
Let your enthusiasm for environmental sustainability shine through. Share why this field matters to you personally and how you envision contributing to STFC's goals. A genuine passion can set you apart from other candidates.
