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Civil Service Pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
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Science
Social Research
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About the job
Job summary
#DSIT
The Government Office for Science works at the heart of Government, ensuring policies and decisions are informed by the best scientific evidence and strategic long-term thinking. It’s an exciting time to join the organisation; we have outstanding and high-profile positions providing you an opportunity to inform and influence policy-making and the systems for use of science and engineering across government. If you are highly motivated and looking for your next career challenge we want to hear from you.
Our mission is:
- Science advice mechanisms that are efficient, effective, speak truth to power and are embedded irreversibly in Government systems.
- Visible impact through both pro-active and demand-led science advice that is relevant, excellent, and delivered fit for purpose.
Our values are:
Collaboration We draw on the experience, skills and knowledge of individuals and partners to reach goals.
Kindness We are always inclusive, respectful, and compassionate. We look out for one another on work related and non-work-related matters where appropriate.
Openness We are curious and always openminded to new ideas, ways of working and points of view, irrelevant of how unconventional they might seem or who suggests them.
Integrity We commit to upholding the civil service value of integrity by remaining moral, honest, and transparent. We always strive to do the right thing.
Further information can be found here.
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/government-office-for-science
We strongly believe diversity of experience, thought, perspectives, skills, and background makes us a more innovative, welcoming Department, thus making better decisions and better delivering our objectives. We are actively seeking applications from every part of the community and particularly welcome applications from candidates of any age, background, disability, or from an ethnic minority background and any other protected characteristics. This will help us move to a workforce that reflects the people we serve to deliver better policies.
We are a friendly, inclusive team and emphasise personal development. We will ensure individuals with disabilities are provided adjustments to participate in the job application and interview process. We support your wellbeing by putting flexible working at the heart of our offer.; if successful, you will be able to discuss working arrangements with your new manager.
We maintain an internal surge capability of staff who may be called at short notice to support an activation of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE). Training and support will be provided. This is an excellent opportunity to develop crisis management skills.
Job description
The postholders will champion the importance of social science in government, and be a strong advocate for evidence-based policy and interdisciplinary analysis. The role requires strong social science research skills and expertise as well as the ability to communicate effectively and understand policy process and requirements, especially in a rapid-paced environment.
Person specification
Key responsibilities for the role include:
Lead on discrete projects or workstreams with a specific social or behavioural science element
Represent GO-Science in internal and external meetings with key stakeholders across Government, academic experts, funding agencies and learned societies
Support social science outreach, resources and capability building across GOS, including assisting with ad hoc requests across the organisation and with other government departments
Provide ad hoc social and behavioural science input, including support on methodology, for key CSI projects and for other GO-Science priority projects on a per needed basis
Provide secretariat for Cross-government Steering group
Contributing to evidence syntheses (including rapid evidence reviews) and policy/summary briefings.
Skills and experience
Essential
Demonstrable specialist knowledge of social science research at practitioner level with at least a postgraduate degree or equivalent experience. Proven track record of designing, delivering and analysing robust research (quantitative and/or qualitative; using primary or secondary sources)
Ability to communicate complex analysis/research in a clear and coherent way
Ability to establish strong working relationships with a range of policy and analytical colleagues and relevant external agencies and experts
Effective written and oral communication skills and the ability to engage with a wide variety of people
Experience managing multiple projects simultaneously and work flexibly
Quality assuring the use and interpretation of data, analysis and research
Intellectual curiosity and a passion for championing the use of social science as a core part of interdisciplinary research and evidence-based policy.
Desirable
Knowledge of relevant research themes (e.g. social science approaches to environment/climate change, emergency preparedness or technology and society)
A good awareness of the policy making environment, and experience working with multiple stakeholders to develop policy proposals and/or provide advice
Experience working in science or science policy roles
Experience of delivering secretariat functions.
Behaviours
We’ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
Benefits
£10,116 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.
Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology offers a competitive mix of benefits including:
- A culture of flexible working, such as job sharing, homeworking and compressed hours.
- Automatic enrolment into the Civil Service Pension Scheme, with an average employer contribution of 27%.
- A minimum of 25 days of paid annual leave, increasing by 1 day per year up to a maximum of 30.
- An extensive range of learning & professional development opportunities, which all staff are actively encouraged to pursue.
- Access to a range of retail, travel and lifestyle employee discounts.
- A hybrid office/home based working model where staff will spend a norm of 40-60% of their time in the office (minimum of 40%) over a month with flex dependent on balancing business and individual need.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV and personal statement. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.
Please use your personal statement (in no more than 500 words) to explain why you are interested in this role and what skills and experience you would bring to it.
Please note – the CV incorporated into the application form is for information purposes only and will not be scored.
Applications will be sifted on behavioural statements and personal statement.
In the event of a large number of applicants, applications will be sifted on the lead behaviour statement (Communicating and Influencing). Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.
The interview will consist of behaviour questions, as well as a written exercise.
Interviewees will be asked to deliver a presentation; further details will be provided nearer the time.
Expected Timeline subject to change
Sift dates: w/c 31st August 2023
Interview dates: w/c 14th September 2023
Interview Location: MS Teams.
Candidates are asked to note the above timetable, exercising flexibility through the recruitment and selection process.
Further Information
Reasonable Adjustment
We are proud to be a disability confident leader and we welcome applications from disabled candidates and candidates with long-term conditions.
We fully support adjustments throughout our recruitment process and we encourage candidates to discuss their adjustment needs by emailing the job contact which can be found under the contact point for applicants section.
We do not have an exhaustive list of adjustments that we support but just some examples include additional time to complete your application form, behaviour questions up to 72 hours prior to interview and having extra time at interview.
If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the ‘Contact point for applicants’ section.
If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.
New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.
A location based reserve list of successful candidates will be kept for 12 months. Should another role become available within that period you may be offered this position.
Please note terms and conditions are attached. Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you.
Any move to the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk
DSIT does not normally offer full home working (i.e. working at home); but we do offer a variety of flexible working options (including occasionally working from home).
DSIT does not currently hold a sponsorship licence and cannot offer Visa sponsorship to candidates through this campaign.
In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf. However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.
Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicants details held on the IFD will be refused employment.
A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.
Feedback
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Nationality requirements
Working for the Civil Service
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission’s recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
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Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : Carrie Heitmeyer
- Email : carrie.heitmeyer@go-science.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : dsitresourcing.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Further information
