Chief Scientific Advisor

This role will be based in either DCMS hubs – London or Manchester.

As a Director in the Senior Civil Service (SCS Pay Band 2), the Chief Scientific Adviser (CSA) occupies one of the most senior and influential positions within the department; with the post holder directly supporting the DCMS Secretary of State, Ministers, Permanent Secretary and senior officials.

The CSA is responsible for ensuring that science and engineering evidence and advice is robust, relevant and high quality and that there are mechanisms in place to ensure that policy making is evidence-driven and underpinned by science and engineering. They are supported by a small core team, providing support and outreach externally and into the Department as well as embedded scientific experts responsible for specific areas of scientific advice. A College of Experts is also in place to provide extra expert advice when required.

The CSA also works as part of the cross-government CSA network to ensure that scientific advice in government is appropriately communicated and actioned, resolving issues that cut across departments. The CSA is the departmental Head of the Government Science and Engineering (GSE) profession.

We strongly encourage applications from the widest possible backgrounds to accommodate diversity of thoughts and perspective.

As Chief Scientific Adviser, you will:

• Provide scientific leadership and advice to ministers and policy makers to support DCMS in its execution of departmental priorities, establishment of research frameworks and reviews. 
• Ensure science and engineering evidence and advice for departmental policies and decisions is robust, relevant and high quality and that there are mechanisms in place to ensure that policy making is underpinned by science and engineering.
• Lead and continue the development of the CSA directorate, departmental scientific advisory structures and the wider DCMS science system, including development of staff and coordination with arm’s-length bodies.
• Be responsible for the Areas of Research Interest Document (ARI) and update of the departmental science plan to articulate the role of science at DCMS.
• Lead the departmental Government Science and Engineering (GSE) Profession and build the department’s community.
• Strengthen the scientific and technical capability across the department and increase the internal skills base, enhancing expertise within policy teams by strengthening links with UKRI funders, research programmes and external research teams.
• Build the external scientific profile of the department and act as a science ambassador to maximise engagement across Government and the external research community.
• Work closely with the Director of Analysis to continue the transformation of the use of evidence in the department. Oversee and provide quality assurance of commissioned research work, ensuring it is underpinned by the highest standards of rigour and integrity.
• Play an active role in departmental senior leadership teams and the governance and strategic direction of DCMS.
• Share good practice across government and maximise the collective expertise of the CSA network to identify and resolve cross departmental problems.

The ideal candidate will have the following key skills and experience.

Essential requirements:

• Recognised nationally and internationally as a science leader in academia or other research environment; whose area of expertise is of relevance to the sectors covered by the department and its arm’s-length bodies.
• Able to operate at a senior level in a medium to large organisation, with the ability to think and act strategically and develop creative solutions to complex problems.
• Excellent at communicating complex scientific and evidence issues clearly and succinctly to decision makers, and ability to act as an effective advocate and ambassador of science.
• Experienced at working effectively in a multidisciplinary way to achieve goals, including identifying and drawing on the advice and experience of experts across a wide range of fields.
• Capable of assimilating, evaluating and interpreting scientific findings and advice across the full spectrum of disciplines, where necessary at short notice and under pressure.
• Skilled in influencing a diverse range of audiences and senior stakeholders and the ability to be effective in a sensitive political environment open to public scrutiny.
• The capability to deliver across a range of responsibilities from advising and supporting detailed, internal policymaking through to representing the department externally.
• Experience of the policy-making process and understanding of how government departments operate.

Alongside your salary of £95,000, Department for Culture, Media and Sport contributes
£25,650 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.

Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

DCMS values its staff and offers a wide range of benefits to everyone who works here. We’re committed to developing talent, and supporting colleagues to have great careers in our department. To support with that, some of the benefits we offer include:

• Flexible working arrangements and hybrid working – DCMS staff work on a flexible basis with time spent in offices, and time spent working from home

• 26.5 days annual leave on entry, increasing to 31.5 days after 5 years’ service

• A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%

• Access to the Edenred employee benefits system which offers discounts to popular retailers and access to various useful resources such as financial and savings advice

• 3 days of paid volunteering leave

• Up to 9 months maternity leave on full pay + generous paternity and adoption leave

• Staff reward and recognition bonuses that operate throughout the year

• Occupational sick pay

• Access to the Employee Assistance Programme which offers staff 24/7 confidential support and resources such as counselling, debt guidance and management advice

• Active and engaged staff networks to join including the LGBT+, Ethnic Diversity, Mental Health and Wellbeing and Gender Equality Networks

• Exceptional learning and development opportunities that you can explore alongside your day to day work

• Season ticket loan, cycle to work scheme and much more!

Terms and conditions at SCS grades will vary. Those applying for SCS roles should refer to the candidate information pack for more information on terms and conditions.

This role has a minimum assignment duration of 3 years. An assignment duration
is the period of time a Senior Civil Servant is expected to remain in the same post to enable them
to deliver on the agreed key business outcomes. The assignment duration also supports your career through
building your depth of expertise.

As part of accepting this role you will be agreeing to the expected assignment duration set out above.
This will not result in a contractual change to your terms and conditions.
Please note this is an expectation only, it is not something which is written into your terms and
conditions or indeed which the employing organisation or you are bound by. It will depend on your
personal circumstances at a particular time and business needs, for example, would not preclude any
absence like family friendly leave. It is nonetheless an important expectation, which is why we ask you
to confirm you agree to the assignment duration set out above.

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.

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Job contact :

• Name : Rhys Davies
• Email : rhys.davies@saxbam.com

Recruitment team

• Email : rhys.davies@saxbam.com

www.saxbam.com/appointments