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Civil Service Pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
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About the job
Job summary
The Chief Scientific Adviser (CSA) is a Director in the Senior Civil Service (SCS Pay Band 2) and is one of the most senior and influential positions within the department; with the post holder directly supporting the DSIT Secretary of State, Ministers, Permanent Secretary, National Technology Adviser and senior officials.
DSITs policy remit covers fascinating and emerging sectors and technologies. Therefore, this role offers the right candidate an exciting opportunity to showcase the art of the possible, working collaboratively across government and beyond to fundamentally shift the dial on our understanding of these sectors and technologies.
As CSA you will bring deep expertise in science and innovation, the ability to work fluently across a range of disciplines and experience working across academia and industry. You will provide scientific advice across DSIT and drive the departmental science system to ensure the Department’s policies are based on the best available science and engineering evidence.
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 core team, providing support and outreach externally and into the Department as well as embedded scientific experts responsible for specific areas of scientific advice.
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.
Job description
As Chief Scientific Adviser you will:
- Provide scientific leadership and advice to ministers and policy makers to support DSIT 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.
- Play an active role in departmental senior leadership teams and the governance and strategic direction of DSIT.
- Work closely with the Director of Analysis to oversee and provide quality assurance of commissioned research work, ensuring it is underpinned by the highest standards of rigour and integrity.
- 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.
- Lead and continue the development of DSIT structures to provide scientific advice to support policymaking and the wider DSIT science system, including development of staff and engagement with our partner organisations.
- Be responsible for thepublication of the Areas of Research Interest (ARI) document and update of the departmental science plan to articulate the role of science at DSIT.
- Build the external scientific profile of the department and act as a science ambassador to maximise engagement across Government and the external research community.
- Share good practice across government and maximise the collective expertise of the CSA network to identify and resolve cross departmental problems.
- Provide professional leadership for scientists and engineers in the department as Head of the departmental Government Science and Engineering(GSE) Profession.
Person specification
The ideal candidate will have the following key skills and experience:
- Recognised nationally and internationally as a science leader in academia or other research environment; whose area of expertise is of relevance to DSIT’s policy remit. In particular, we value those who can demonstrate deep knowledge, or achievements, in the translation of research to societal impact or economic benefit. A significant proportion of the department’s work relates to digital technology, but not exclusively so.
- 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, working in partnership with others.
- 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, including academia, industry and government, 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.
Behaviours
We’ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
Benefits
£26,190 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
Saxton Bampfylde Ltd is acting as an employment agency advisor to the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) on this appointment.
Candidates should apply directly for this role through the following link using code ABIIB:
https://www.saxbam.com/appointment/department-for-science-innovation-and-technology-2
Click on the apply button and follow the instructions to upload a CV and statement of suitability, and complete the online diversity questionnaire*.
The closing date for applications is midday, Monday 11 December 2023.
*The diversity questionnaire online form will not be shared with anyone involved in assessing your application. Please complete as part of the application process
To apply for this post please submit the following no later than midday, Monday 11 December 2023. As part of the application process you are asked to complete the following:
1.A CV setting out your career history, highlighting specific responsibilities and achievements that are relevant for this role, relevant achievements in recent posts, together with reasons for any gaps within the last two years.
2.A Statement of Suitability (no more than 1000 words) explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with particular reference to the criteria in the person specification.
The Panel
Paul Kernaghan, Civil Service Commissioner, will chair the panel and will provide assurance that selection for appointment to the Civil Service is on merit on the basis of fair and open competition.
The assessment panel will also consist of:
- Dave Smith, National Technology Adviser (DSIT)
- Alison Kilburn, Director of Analysis (DSIT)
- Sarah Sharples, Chief Scientific Adviser (DfT)
Longlist
The panel outlined above will assess your application to select those demonstrating the best fit with the role by considering the evidence you have provided against the criteria set out in the “essential requirements” section of this pack. Failure to address any or all of these may affect your application.
Candidates who are longlisted will be invited to an initial interview with Saxton Bampfylde consultants ahead of the shortlisting meeting with the panel.
Shortlist
Shortlisted candidates:
- May need to undertake a leadership assessment which will consist of psychometric assessments
- Participate in a staff engagement exercise with a selection of colleagues from across DSIT.
- Complete a final panel interview, chaired by Paul Kernaghan from the Civil Service Commission.
If you are shortlisted, you will be offered an informal conversation with Angela McLean (Government Chief Scientific Adviser) ahead of the final panel interview. This does not form part of the assessment process and is merely an opportunity for you to find out more about the role.
Please note that candidates who are shortlisted for final panel interview will be subject to light-touch social media checks by Saxton Bampfylde.
Indicative Timeline
Please note that these dates are only indicative at this stage and could be subject to change. If you are unable to meet these timeframes, please indicate this in your application. The Staff Engagement Exercise and final stage panel interviews will be held in person and based in London. Candidates are asked to note the indicative timetable, exercising flexibility through the recruitment and selection process. The anticipated timetable is as follows:
Advert Closing Date:
midday, Monday 11 December 2023
Interviews with Saxton Bampfylde for longlisted candidates: w/c 1-15 January 2024
Informal 1-1 conversation and leadership assessments for shortlisted candidates:
w/c 29th January w/c 5th February 2024
Staff Engagement Exercise and Final Stage Panel Interviews
w/c 12 February 2024
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
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.
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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 : Rhys Davies
- Email : Rhys.Davies@saxbam.com
Recruitment team
- Email : Rhys.Davies@saxbam.com
Further information
