Environmental Sustainability and Engineering Summer Placement

UKRI; Oxford; On-site; GBP 24,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading research organization in the UK is offering a summer placement within the Environmental Sustainability team. The role includes collaborating on sustainable practices, creating inventories of technical equipment, and supporting sustainability initiatives. Candidates must be returning university students with strong communication skills and a passion for engineering or science. This full-time fixed term role offers valuable hands-on experience while contributing to real-world environmental challenges.

Benefits

30 days holiday pro rata

Flexible working hours

Public transport links

Excellent learning opportunities

Qualifications

• Must be in full-time education and returning for undergraduate degree.
• Right to live and work in the UK required.
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with the SPADE team to improve sustainability practices.
• Create an inventory of technical equipment across STFC.
• Collect information for case studies on sustainability projects.

Skills

Team working capabilities

Interest in engineering and/or science

Time management and organizational skills

Ability to communicate information clearly

Ability to work independently

Education

Full-time university education

Tools

Microsoft Office 365

Job description

Overview

Science and Technology Facilities Council

Salary: £23,493 per annum

Contract Type: Fixed Term – 11 weeks

Hours: Full-time

Location: Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell, Oxfordshire OX11 0QX

Closing date: 8th March 2026

Interview: Virtually via Microsoft Teams in April 2026

Start date: July 2026

SPADE (Sustainability Principles and Advice for Design and Engineering) is a cross-departmental initiative that launched in March 2023 to provide easily accessible environmental sustainability tools and advice to all members of staff. Initially started by a small group of graduates, the project has grown and is now funded by STFC’s Environmental Sustainability team. The SPADE team consists of staff in a variety of roles, from a range of departments, across multiple STFC sites. The remit of SPADE now includes improving STFC’s processes to empower staff to work more sustainably, working with staff at all levels of the organisation to enact substantial change.

This summer placement will be embedded within the Environmental Sustainability team, giving them access to support and guidance from the team, however the role will be focused on supporting SPADE and the SPADE projects, which will involve communication and interaction across the organisation.

Engineers and technical staff are essential to the science that STFC undertakes, operating innovative science facilities, pioneering new technologies, and developing research and instrumentation across a wide range of fields, such as physics, computer science, and space. Making our engineering and technical functions sustainable is key to making our extraordinary science sustainable.

Summer Placements at STFC

STFC’s incredibly diverse range of placements allow you to work alongside world leading engineers, scientists, and technicians in highly collaborative environments. Whichever you choose, you will become a critical member of the team in which you will be exposed to exciting projects and challenges from the start. You will also be supported every step of the way by our dedicated Early Careers Development Team

Key Duties & Responsibilities

• To collaborate with the SPADE and Environmental Sustainability teams to support the development of improved sustainability practices.
• To create an inventory of technical equipment available across STFC’s engineering facilities and workshops, to enable materials and equipment to be shared between groups and departments.
• To collect information for and write case studies on technical projects which have incorporated environmental sustainability considerations into their designs.
• To engage with and support STFC environmental sustainability working groups and initiatives.

Person Specification

The below criteria will be scored during Shortlisting (S), Interview (I) or both (S&I).

In order to apply for the role we are looking for the following:

Essential:

• You are in full time education at university, and will be returning to university/your studies to complete your undergraduate degree once the summer placement has concluded (S)
• You have the right to live and work in the UK for the duration of the placement(S)
• Presents and communicates information clearly, both written and verbally (S&I)
• Can demonstrate good team working capabilities (S&I)
• Interest and enthusiasm for engineering and or science (S&I)
• Good time management and organisation skills with an ability to meet deadlines (S&I)
• Ability to work independently when required (S&I)
• Familiarity with Microsoft Office 365 or similar (S)

Desirable:

• Interest and enthusiasm for environmental sustainability (S&I)
• Familiarity with engineering hardware and equipment (S&I)
• Willingness to undertake short international visits for project meetings (S)

Employee Benefits

We are offering a fixed term position with a whole host of benefits including:

• 30 days holiday pro rata
• Flexible working hours
• Easily accessible public transport links/ free parking.
• Excellent learning and development opportunities.

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.

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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!