Chief Scientific Adviser (National Security) Ref. 3343
Department: Specialist Roles
Location(s): London, Manchester or Cheltenham with frequent travel between sites
Contract Type: Fixed Term or Secondment
Hours of Work: Full Time – office based with occasional flexibility for home working
Salary: Up to £156,163 annual salary; NSP £4,630, plus London Pay Addition of £6,250 (if applicable)
The Role
Chief Scientific Advisers (CSA) perform an independent challenge function, ensuring that science and engineering research, evidence, and advice is robust, relevant, and high quality. They bring scientific and engineering evidence to key decision-making, provide oversight and assurance of science and engineering capability and activities in their department.
The Chief Scientific Adviser for National Security (CSA) leads on advice and delivery of science and technology (S&T) for the three security and intelligence agencies: MI5, SIS (MI6), and GCHQ, with the post reporting to Director GCHQ. This includes overseeing UKIC’s major S&T transformation effort via the Science, Technology and Engineering Programme (STEP).
As a member of the Government Chief Scientific Adviser’s (GCSA) team, they also provide strategic advice on national security S&T in HMG and the wider national security community. The CSA engages widely with academia, international partners, and industry to access and influence the best thinking and innovation to address national security problems. They then use this to both shape and implement HMG’s strategic approach to national security S&T. The agenda is driven by the operational and strategic challenges facing us and the post will work in close partnership with colleagues across the agencies. The CSA also provides advice to senior officials and Ministers across HMG and the wider national security community.
Key Responsibilities:
- Providing strategic S&T advice to the three intelligence agency heads (Director GCHQ, DG MI5, and ‘C’) and working in partnership with their leadership teams.
- Fulfilling the role of Senior Responsible Officer for STEP; UKIC’s major transformation effort.
- Bringing S&T to bear on our sharpest problems, by connecting closely into mission, capability, and enabling teams across the agencies.
- Advising on the direction of the agencies’ organisational strategies, and their collaboration initiatives, particularly in the areas of data, technology, and innovation.
- Developing understanding of the international S&T landscape to help shape UK national security thinking, identify opportunities, and build collaboration with international partners.
- Supporting, coordinating, and ensuring the coherence of S&T research and development programmes across the community.
- Sponsoring innovation, including engagement with the National Security Strategic Investment Fund (NSSIF).
- Collaborating with international partners on science and technology developments.
- Overseeing the MI5, SIS, and GCHQ Scientific Advisory Council.
- Supporting relevant S&T professions across the agencies, being an advocate for staff and supporting their professional development and careers.
- Representing the GCSA and national security science in a range of HMG fora.
- Providing linkage to, and insight from, world leading research groups, academia, and industry.
- Engaging thoroughly with the Government Chief Scientific Adviser and the Chief Scientific Advisers network.
Person Specification:
The successful candidate will be an excellent strategic leader who will embrace our mission, live our values, and lead by example. They must be able to demonstrate their experience and skills against the following essential criteria:
- Credibility as a scientist, engineer, or technologist, renowned in a relevant discipline.
- Thought leadership, and demonstrable commitment to an evidence-driven approach.
- Senior leadership experience, with evidence of providing inspiring leadership and coordinating and driving delivery across disparate teams and partners.
- Experience of collaborating with international partners on science and technology.
- Ability to operate effectively in a complex stakeholder environment.
- A record of seeking out sources of innovation and promoting innovation.
- Excellence in communication, able to connect across science, mission, and policy communities.
- Commitment to personal development and promoting diversity and inclusion.
Competencies:
You will be assessed against the following competencies at SCS3/Director General:
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Working Collaboratively
- Communicating and Influencing
- Driving Innovation and Change
- Delivering Outcomes
How to Apply and the Selection Process:
Our recruitment process is fair, transparent, and based on merit. The closing date for applications is 11pm on Thursday 17th October 2024 , and all applications should be submitted via the link provided by this date.
Your application should demonstrate your motivation for applying as well as the essential criteria and any desirable skills as listed in the advert. We ask that you structure your statement with a sub-heading for each of the essential criteria, followed by evidence of how you meet that criterion.
Candidates will be informed as soon as possible thereafter if they have been selected to proceed. The selection process will comprise the following assessments:
- Staff Engagement Panel
- Technical Assessment
- Psychometric Assessments
For a confidential discussion about the role before applying please email
Terms of Appointment:
- A fixed term appointment of three years with the potential to be extended up to five years.
- Nationality and Security Clearance: Agency Developed Vetting will be required.
- Remuneration up to £156,163 annual salary; NSP £4,630, plus London Pay Addition of £6,250 (if applicable).
- Please be aware that this role requires the successful candidate will be publicly avowed.
Rewards and Benefits:
A range of benefits will be available to you, including the following:
- 30 Days Annual Leave, and an additional 10.5 days public and privilege holidays.
- Opportunities to be recognised through our employee performance scheme.
- Interest-free season ticket loan.
- Cycle to work scheme.
- Facilities such as a gym, restaurant, and on-site coffee bars (at some locations).
- Paid parental and adoption leave.
Eligibility Criteria:
To be eligible to apply, you must meet our residency criteria. You must be a born or naturalised British citizen. Candidates must normally have been resident in the UK for 7 out of the last 10 years.
Please note: You should only launch your application from within the UK. If you are based overseas, you should wait until you visit the UK to launch an application. Applying from outside of the UK will impact on our ability to progress your application.
Equal Opportunities:
Diversity and inclusion are critical to our mission. We therefore welcome and encourage applications from everyone, including those from groups that are under-represented in our workforce.
We’re Disability Confident:
We are proud to have achieved Leader status within the DWP’s Disability Confident scheme.
Right to Withdraw Statement:
Please be aware that we withhold the right to bring forward the closing date for this role from the original closing date once a certain number of applications have been received.
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