Science and Engineering Fast Stream 2025
Apply before Midday on Thursday 7th November 2024
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About the job
Job summary
Society faces many challenges which science can help solve. The Civil Service needs highly talented, versatile, and numerate science and engineering leaders to deliver on exciting and challenging work that will make a difference to the lives of people across the UK.
The Covid-19 pandemic highlighted the essential role of scientists and engineers in improving government decision-making: to ensure not only that scientific evidence underpins policy but that it is also effectively communicated.
You may be a science or engineering graduate straight out of university, an experienced postgraduate academic, a seasoned industry professional or an existing civil servant with a technical background. Join the Science and Engineering Fast Stream and you will become part of a modern, vibrant and active community of professionals with one goal in common: to give back to the communities they serve.
Job description
Over three years you will experience a wide range of stretching but rewarding postings across the Civil Service such as assistant Private Secretary to Ministry of Defence Chief Scientific Adviser, Earth Observations Policy Support in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and a Materials Advisor for The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. These are the types of roles you may experience and this means that you will likely work in areas outside of your scientific/engineering knowledge, and you will use your experience and expertise to grow through a tailored and accelerated leadership development programme.
The Government Science Engineering Profession are keen to broaden experience and the SEFS scheme offers a unique interchange placement which may include working in Local Government, Charity and Private Sector roles. Together, these postings will develop your ability to apply your scientific mindset and your leadership potential, to prepare you to become a future senior leader in the Civil Service.
During all of your postings you will be involved in building and applying scientific knowledge so that government can address key issues such as climate change or sustainable housing. You could be conducting critical analysis of large datasets, modelling a public health crisis or generating new evidence to inform decision making for clean energy. You may also be working to create new legislation and regulation, or helping industry to comply with statutory requirements, such as food safety standards or transport emissions.
From your scientific background you will understand the importance of developing and communicating evidence bases by interacting with scientific communities in academia and industry.
You will be passionate about science and engineering, and whilst on the programme will advocate for increasing its use across the Civil Service, and help to promote the Government Science and Engineering Profession.
As a future leader, you will be expected to lead on work from an early stage, including but not exclusively of a technical nature. This might involve management of research projects or working with policy teams to develop solutions for ministers and senior civil servants. By acting as an intelligent customer, you could oversee technical work to ensure successful delivery of a policy like a new inter-city transport project, or a research programme into artificial intelligence. To do so you will work adeptly and strategically with academics, industry experts and other key delivery partners inside and outside of government.
You could also be involved in horizon scanning work to identify future trends and patterns of emerging technologies, such as autonomous vehicles, or genomics. You may be involved in applying systems thinking to help solve some of the highly complex problems government faces.
Your unique skillset combining technical and leadership ability, and your adaptability to work in both technical and non-technical environments will make you widely deployable across the Civil Service at the end of the programme. When you finish after three years, you may wish to specialise in specific policy areas, taking on technical leadership and oversight roles, potentially influenced by your specific disciplinary background. Or you may instead want to use your scientific and engineering skills in a policy or operational delivery role, bringing a fresh perspective to teams. Alternatively, you may focus instead on direct leadership and management roles, but remain affiliated to the profession, and continue to promote science and engineering across the Civil Service.
Which ever path you eventually take, the Science and Engineering Fast Stream will develop you into a confident and inspiring future senior leader of the Civil Service, supporting our ambition to put science and engineering at the heart of government policy making.
Person specification
eligible to work in the UK
you need, or expect to have, before the start of the programme, a 2:1 or higher undergraduate degree in any subject including degree apprenticeships
and hold a postgraduate degree in any science or engineering discipline, or be a chartered engineer or scientist registered by one of the professional institutions licensed by the Engineering Council or by the Science Council. For Integrated Masters you need, or expect to have, a 2:1 or higher.
we expect you to have secured your postgraduate degree before you start the programme.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Making Effective Decisions
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Changing and Improving
- Communicating and Influencing
- Working Together
- Developing Self and Others
Benefits
Things you need to know
Selection process details
At the initial application stage you will be asked to complete some background information which will include some diversity questions - which are for monitoring purposes only and will have no bearing on selection outcomes - along with the opportunity to identify your preferences in terms of the different Fast Stream schemes. You can choose up to four.
When you apply please register with a personal email address, and not a work or university email address.
Assessment Phases
There are 3 online tests:
Using Data - In this test you will be asked to weigh up options and to make decisions on different scenarios, perform calculations, solve problems and evaluate and interpret numerical information.
Work-based scenarios - This test measures interpersonal skills, utilising video based scenarios and you are required to assess the effectiveness of various responses.
Case Study assessment - In this test you are required to take Work based scenarios on an imaginary role, learning and responding to a series of challenges and situations and adapting to the changes you are presented with.
Additional information - depending on the schemes you have chosen, there may be additional information to be completed, or an intermediate sift process.
Fast Stream Assessment Centre - if you pass the above stages you'll be invited to attend a half day assessment centre. This will be conducted virtually on line. The Fast Stream Assessment Centre (FSAC) reflects some of the key elements of a Fast Stream role and will consist of a leadership scenario, a team scenario and a written scenario. Information will be presented via an app that you will be able to access remotely.
Final Selection Board - most schemes will then require a Final Selection Board. We'll ask you to attend this final assessment if you reach the required standard at FSAC.
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).
Diversity and Inclusion
Apply and further information
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : faststream.applicationsupport@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
- Email : faststream.applicationsupport@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : faststream.applicationsupport@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Further information
If you feel that your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and wish to make a complaint, then in the first instance you should contact Government Recruitment Service at: cabinetofficerecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk.
If you are not satisfied with the response that you receive, then you can contact the Civil Service Commission at: info@csc.gov.uk.
For further information on the Recruitment Principles, and bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission, please visit their website at: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk.
