Senior Scientific Advisers

Job summary

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is the UK government department responsible for safeguarding our natural environment, supporting our world-leading food and farming industry, and sustaining a thriving rural economy. Our broad remit means we play a major role in people's day-to-day life, from the food we eat, and the air we breathe, to the water we drink.

Science, analysis and data are at the heart of Defra’s work. The Science, Data & Analysis Group (SDA) provides specialist analytical, scientific, policy and systems-thinking expertise to deliver high quality, impactful analysis, assurance and insight to underpin Defra’s work and to inform decision-making.

The Chief Scientific Adviser (CSA) and SDA are responsibile for overseeing the quality of evidence that the department relies on for policy decisions.

The CSA also provides Ministers with scientific advice, sets the priorities for scientific research and evidence-gathering and is also Head of Defra’s Science and Engineering profession, championing science and scientists across the Defra group.

Job description

These roles sit within the SDA’s Central Science Division (CSD) and work on the priorities of the CSA. CSD provides 3 key functions across Defra science:

• Enabling – ensuring Defra has a strong science system, underpinned by clear strategy, skills and effective relationships with scientists across Defra group;
• Supporting – working strategically with priority policy areas, using research, innovation and partnerships to develop and strengthen the scientific evidence-base underpinning policy;
• Strategic – taking a proactive role in identifying and supporting cross-cutting and emerging scientific issues across Defra. CSD works in an agile and flexible way to support changing and emerging priority needs.

This makes the CSD a crucial work area for translating research into evidence for policy, creating that link between science and real-world-action. These roles are an excellent opportunity to help put science at the heart of Defra policies and to champion science and scientists more widely across Defra Group.

As part of this campaign we are seeking 2 Senior Scientific Advisers, with experience of working in science and an interest in putting that knowledge towards real-world-problems, to join the CSD. As part of this recruitment drive, we are also looking to make a reserve list of candidates who, if they meet our criteria, may be offered other roles in science in Defra.

If you are interested in applying to one of these roles, and finding out what it’s like to be a scientist in Defra, then please join us for an informative webinar on Tues 6th Oct, 13.30 - 14.00. Please sign up to the webinar via this link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/science-careers-in-defra-applicant-information-session-tickets-2002198338127

Person specification

You’ll work in one of the two roles outlined below. Both roles have similar functions as part of the overall scientific strategy work that is undertaken within the department. If you’re interested in capability building, innovation in research and Government Science then these roles would suit you well.

For either role you will be working across both internal and external stakeholders such as universities, UKRI, learned societies, research institutes and governmental Arm’s Length Bodies (ALBs).

Role 1: Research and Development Fellowship Programme Co-ordinator

This role will lead the delivery and strategic development of the Defra R&D Fellowship Programme, ensuring it contributes to a more agile, responsive, trusted and porous evidence system. The R&D Fellowship Programme brings early- to mid-career scientists from academia and industry into Defra to give them experience working in a policy-focused environment whilst delivering a priority R&D project. The post holder will develop routes for the movement of people, ideas, methods and innovation across sectors, while ensuring programme activity is aligned with Defra priorities, wider government science ambitions and emerging evidence needs.

This role would suit someone with experience in fellowships, secondments or similar talent development schemes. An understanding of government R&D reporting, Frascati principles and research commissioning/evidence assurance would be advantageous.

Role 2: External Advice Co-ordinator

This is an exciting opportunity to play a leading role in strengthening how Defra accesses, commissions and uses independent expert advice. Working within the External Advice Team, you’ll lead the secretariat function for Defra’s Science Advisory Council (SAC) and its subgroups, support the Chief Scientific Adviser (CSA) in accessing expert evidence, and help shape Defra's future approach to bringing expertise into the department. You’ll be working at the centre of Defra's evidence governance landscape, working across policy, analysis and science communities, senior leaders, Ministers' offices, external experts, academia and partners across government. You’ll be given significant responsibility for improving services, developing new approaches, and ensuring that expert advice can be accessed rapidly and effectively to support priority and emerging Defra challenges.

This role would suit someone with experience of supporting boards, committees or governance groups. Previous knowledge of managing public appointments, recruitment and external networking would also be advantageous.

Essential criteria

• Postgraduate degree or equivalent experience in a science or engineering discipline.
• Leadership Experience: You will need to demonstrate both an understanding of scientific leadership (ie. how evidence, R&D, innovation and external expertise support policy, delivery and organisational resilience) and programme leadership (managing complex programmes or portfolios with multiple stakeholders, governance requirements and delivery milestones).
• Partnership development: You will need to demonstrate an ability to build productive relationships across organisational boundaries, such as with academia, research organisations, ALBs, government departments or industry.
• Prioritisation and alignment: You must demonstrate an ability to align your work with organisational priorities, understanding the expectations of senior leaders and anticipating future needs.
• Communication and influencing: experience briefing senior leaders, influencing stakeholders and communicating complex evidence or programme issues clearly.
• Delivery at pace: strong organisational skills, with the ability to work through ambiguity and deliver high-quality outputs against competing deadlines.

Candidates will be assessed on their previous experience and technical skills at the application stage, and the behaviours of Leadership, Communicating and Influencing, Delivering at Pace and Working Together at the interview stage.

Qualifications

Postgraduate qualification in a science, engineering or related subject, or equivalent experience

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace
• Working Together

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• What area of science/engineering is your postgraduate qu