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About the job
Job summary
The responsibilities for the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology for 2023 are as follows:
- Positioning the UK at the forefront of global scientific and technological advancement
- Driving innovations that change lives and sustain economic growth
- Delivering talent programmes, physical and digital infrastructure and regulation to support our economy, security and public services
- R&D funding
For 2023, our priorities are:
- Optimise public R&D investment to support areas of relative UK strength and increase the level of private R&D to make our economy the most innovative in the world.
- Promote a diverse research and innovation system that connects discovery to new companies, growth and jobs including by delivering world-class physical and digital infrastructure (such as gigabit broadband), making the UK the best place to start and grow a technology business and developing and attracting top talent.
- Put our public services including the NHS and schools at the forefront of innovation, championing new ways of working and the development of in-house STEM capability to improve outcomes for people.
- Strengthen international collaboration on science and technology in line with the Integrated Review, and ensure our researchers are able to continue to work with leading scientists in Europe and around the world.
- Deliver key legislative and regulatory reforms to drive competition and promote innovation, including the Data Protection and Digital Information Bill, the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumer Bill and our pro-innovation approach to regulating AI.
- Pass the remaining stages of the reformed Online Safety Bill to keep British people, especially children, safe online.
Our Inclusive Environment
We are building an inclusive culture to make the Department a brilliant place to work where our people feel valued, have a voice and can be their authentic selves. We value difference and diversity, not only because we believe it is the right thing to do, but because it will help us be more innovative and make better decisions.
We offer first-class flexible working benefits, excellent employee well-being support and a great pension. We are fortunate to have a range of excellent staff networks and are proud to be a Disability Confident Leader employer. We will support talented people from all backgrounds to build a career and thrive.
We actively welcome applications from anyone who shares our commitment to inclusion. We will fully support candidates with a disability or long-term condition who require adjustments in our recruitment process.
Find Out More
We regularly run events where you can find out more about the department and tips for the application process. You can sign up for upcoming events here: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/departmentforsciencetechnologyandinnovation?
You can also follow our LinkedIn Careers Page: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/dsitcareers/
Job description
The Office for Life Sciences (OLS) is joint unit, between the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) and the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC). We are a high-performing and outward-facing team at the forefront of advancing UK interests in a priority sector which generates turnover of over £80 billion per year. We work across a range of exciting policy areas to deliver the Governments Life Sciences Vision, helping to ensure that the UK is one of the best places in the world for life sciences companies to grow, creating economic opportunity and jobs across the country and delivering health benefits for the UK population.
We are a dynamic strategy, policy, and implementation unit which attracts highly talented and motivated people from a range of backgrounds. We bridge the gap between the private sector, Government and the NHS, to support, grow and maintain this vital sector. In addition to taking a huge amount of pride in our work, we are a friendly, supportive, and inclusive team with a strong and vibrant team ethos.
Key Responsibilities
In this role, you will build networks and close relationships with the life sciences industry, understanding commercial, policy, and strategic interests, advising Ministers when required to achieve the objectives of the Life Sciences Vision.
The successful candidate will:
1) Be the Governments strategic relationship manager with several top priority life sciences companies, working across government departments to solve problems and opportunities for mutual benefit.
2) Work closely with Ministers and Senior Officials across Government to land key Life Science investments in the UK. Recent examples include the deal with BioNTech to deliver new cancer vaccines and the 10-year strategic partnership with Moderna.
3) Organise high profile events that further the objectives of UK Government, working closely with Ministers and industry to make these a success. Recent examples include the G7 Health Ministers Summit, and the PM-chaired Global Biopharmaceutical CEO Roundtable.
4) Support the development of the OLS investment strategy to drive inward investment and economic growth in the sector to achieve our health priorities.
Person specification
1. Is adept at building and maintaining excellent relationships with partners, often at very senior levels, in this role you will need to build networks across Government, industry and the NHS community, and tactically use these to deliver OLS objectives.
2. Can objectively review a range of inputs from multiple stakeholders to reach evidence-based recommendations on sophisticated policy, commercial and relationship issues, and expertly support Ministers and senior officials by providing high quality advice and briefing.
3. Has experience in leading cross-Government teams to deliver complex projects, often to short timelines and with wide-ranging senior interest.
4. Relishes the opportunity to learn more about the captivating work that Life Sciences companies carryout and seize the economic and health opportunities therein.
Skills, knowledge or experience in Life Sciences or Business Engagement is desirable, but by no means essential.
Behaviours
We’ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
Benefits
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, a personal statement and a number of behavioural statements.
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 show what motivates you to want to work in Life Sciences?
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 personal statement.
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 and strength based questions.
Sift and interview dates
Expected Timeline subject to change
Sift dates: w/c 11/12/2023
Interview dates: w/c 08/01/2024
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 cannot offer Visa sponsorship to candidates through this campaign.
DSIT holds a Visa sponsorship licence but this can only be used for certain roles and this campaign does not qualify.
In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service or Disclosure Scotland 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.
For further information on the Disclosure Scotland confidential checking service telephone: the Disclosure Scotland Helpline on 0870 609 6006 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email Info@disclosurescotland.co.uk
Applicants who are successful a t 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 : Tom Whitting
- Email : tom.whitting@officeforlifesciences.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : dsitresourcing.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Further information
