Chair of Marine Facilities Advisory Board (MFAB)

POSITION START DATE: SUMMER 2025

APPLICATION CLOSING DATE: 28 FEBRUARY 2025 

We are looking to appoint a new chair of the Marine Facilities Advisory Board (MFAB). This is an exciting opportunity to work with a small team of experts from the research community and National Marine Facilities, to respond to the UK’s future requirements for the National Marine Equipment Pool.

Purpose:

The purpose of MFAB is to acquire views from the UK’s marine science community, in order to advise the National Oceanography Centre (NOC) and the Natural Environment Research Council’s (NERC) on the current capability and future needs of the NCLRI Marine Facilities award with a particular focus on the National Marine Equipment Pool (NMEP). As the commissioned marine facilities form part of the broader ocean observing infrastructure, MFAB will also help advise the development of the British Oceanographic Data Centre (BODC) and the physical samples repositories (e.g. British Ocean Sediment Core Research Facility (BOSCORF). 

MFAB forms part of the governance framework for the National Capability Large Research Infrastructure (NCLRI) Award to provide assurance to NERC that NOC is managing the award in the most effective and cost-efficient way to reflect the community’s current and future needs. In addition, the outputs of MFAB will help inform the future commissioned capabilities and will be made available to the Future Marine Research Infrastructure (FMRI) Programme.

Activities of MFAB:

MFAB will regularly review the status of equipment in the NMEP (e.g. condition, level of use, expected future demand). Reviews will be conducted in consultation with the UK scientific user community, noting advances in technology, and the linkages with BODC and physical sample repositories. MFAB will undertake these activities within the constraints of the annual National Capability Large-scale Research Infrastructure (NC-LRI) funding award to provide advice to NOC on the development of the NCLRI capabilities. The MFAB Chair will report on annual activities to the CPEB.

Membership: 

• Chair - independent of NOC
• External equipment specialist
• International barter partner
• NERC Head of Marine Planning
• NOC Chief Operating Officer
• NOC Associate Director, National Marine Facilities
• Head of the British Oceanographic Data Centre
• Head of the British Ocean Sediment Core Research Facility
• Up to ten members from the UK marine scientific user community, who are appointed on the basis of expertise, rather than to represent their institution.

Activities of the position:

• The chair will provide strategic leadership for the committee, to ensure that the objectives of the MFAB terms of reference are met.
• Ensure that views from the user community are acquired to inform discussion on the condition of equipment in the NMEP, make recommendations for retirements, and provide views on potential new investment in the National Marine Equipment Pool. 
• Report activities to the Cruise Programme Executive Board and, when required, the NOC Association (NOCA) and NOCA Steering Board. 

Person specification: 

• Experience of chairing boards and committees, including complex multidisciplinary discussions, drawing out views, arriving at consensus, navigating uncertainty and producing clear outcomes.
• Impartiality, fairness and able to treat sensitive information confidentially.
• Has been a Principal Investigator on a ship-based expedition.
• Responsible, inclusive and fair leadership to motivate and inspire.
• Effective decision-making and communication skills.
• Sound understanding of the UK’s marine science and technology landscape and how the National Marine Equipment Pool meets the needs of the community and how the NMEP is funded.

Commitment: 

• Two meetings per year, usually virtual, either one half day or one day split across two days.
• Preparation and reading time, plus liaison work with MFAB Secretary.
• Membership is for a term of three years, with the option to renew.

Expenses:

Unless otherwise authorised, the position of member is unremunerated.

Most meetings will be conducted on-line, however, if conducted in person, reasonable expenses can be claimed, such as for travel to meetings.

How to apply - please click on 'Apply' and submit:

• An expression of interest (EOI) letter (maximum two pages), outlining how you meet the person specification, citing examples.
• A recent CV.
• Please declare any potential conflicts of interest - NOC conflicts of interest policy available on request from Jackie Pearson, Secretary to MFAB: jfpea@noc.ac.uk.

Applications will be reviewed, against the list of person specifications, by the chair of MFAB and members of National Marine Facilities.

Diversity, Equality and Inclusion:

At NOC we want to ensure that no-one is at a disadvantage or feels excluded because of who they are, what they believe in, or the experiences that they bring. Members will be selected based on their suitability against the person specification above. Where candidates are of equal merit, MFAB will use its discretion to ensure that there is a balanced composition of members within MFAB. As such, the recruitment process will consider the balance of members with respect to equality, diversity and inclusion, sector experience and expertise.

Applicants: 

We welcome applications from all sections of the community and from any career stage. People with disabilities, early career researchers and those from ethnic minorities are currently under-represented and their applications are particularly welcome. NOC has the Investors in People silver accreditation.

If you would like an informal discussion about the role, please contact Professor Carol Robinson, MFAB Chair: Carol.Robinson@uea.ac.uk

Attached: MFAB Terms of Reference.