SCS2 Chief Scientific Adviser
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
Apply before Midday on Monday 21st October 2024
Details
Reference number
Salary
Job grade
Contract type
Secondment
Length of employment
Business area
Type of role
Science
Senior leadership
Other
Working pattern
Number of jobs available
Contents
Location
About the job
Job summary
The Chief Scientific Advisor (CSA) is the most senior scientist in the FCDO and plays a leading role in enabling the FCDO and the Government to harness the power of research, evidence, expertise and science diplomacy to deliver the Integrated Review, International Development Strategy, International Technology Strategy and support the UK to be a leading science power globally.
The CSA is professionally independent and performs an independent challenge function to FCDO, having lead responsibility for the provision of science advice to the FCDO, and ensuring that policy advice and action is underpinned by science, rigorous evidence and sound technical analysis, and that reliable sources of analysis and technical expertise can be accessed, including at pace, in emergencies.
They have overall leadership and management of over 260 staff, with direct responsibility for research management and delivery of approx. £1.1b R&D in this Spending Review period.
Job description
Person specification
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Communicating and Influencing
- Delivering at Pace
- Working Together
Benefits
Things you need to know
Selection process details
Civil Service external recruitment processes at Director level are regulated by the Civil Service Commission, and we follow clear guidelines to ensure that our recruitment is fair and open. You can find further information here: Civil Service Commission Recruitment Principles. We also design our recruitment processes to reflect our values-based approach to HR (using staff engagement panels, for example) and to ensure that shortlisted candidates have the opportunity to meet key stakeholders for the role, before they join us.
Saxton Bampfylde Ltd is acting as an employment agency advisor to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) on this appointment. For further information about the role, including details about how to apply, please visit www.saxbam.com/appointments using reference AXWD2. Alternatively telephone +44 (0)20 7227 0880 (during office hours). Applications should be received by midday, 20 October 2024.
You must be a British Citizen at the time of application. This job requires Developed Vetting security clearance as a condition of employment.
The recruitment and appointment process will begin with the submission of a Covering Letter accompanied by a CV. The Covering Letter (2 A4 pages maximum) will be expected to set out how the candidate meets the criteria set out in the Job Description.
Candidates’ CVs and Covering Letters will be assessed against their ability to deliver against the requirements set out in the Job Description.
An eligibility sift will be conducted and successful candidates will progress to an initial interview with Saxton Bampfylde, followed by a short-listing process.
Initial interviews are expected to take place the week commencing 13th January 2025 in London.
The panel will be chaired by Lea Paterson, from the Civil Service Commission. Other panel members are likely to include (but may not be limited to) the FCDO Director General for Economics, Climate & Global Issues, Professor Dame Angela McLean, the Government Chief Scientific Adviser.
How to apply
Saxton Bampfylde Ltd is acting as an employment agency advisor to the FCDO on this appointment.
Candidates should apply for this role through our website www.saxbam.com/appointments using code AXWD2. Click on the ‘apply’ button and follow the instructions to upload a CV and cover letter and complete the online diversity questionnaire*. The closing date for applications is 12pm 21th October 2024.
*The diversity questionnaire online form will not be shared with anyone involved in assessing your application. Please complete as part of the application process.
Please note that references and open-source due diligence checks (including into social media accounts) may be undertaken for all short-listed candidates. If shortlisted you will be asked to complete a candidate information form, which will include details of your current remuneration package, plus the names and contact details of two referees who we can contact at the shortlist stage (before the final interview) including for how long they have known you and in what capacity. We will not contact them without your consent.
If shortlisted, you will be invited to undertake a series of assessments as part of this recruitment prior to a final interview panel. This may include:
- A Staff Engagement Exercise (SEE)
Full details of the assessment process will be made available to shortlisted candidates. All stages of the Assessment process may be held virtually.
If you are successful at the application stage, you will be invited to attend an in person panel interview in London in order to have a more in-depth discussion of your previous experience and professional competence in relation to the criteria set out in the Person Specification.
The interview will be a blended assessment consisting of a series of questions against the Civil Service Success Profiles.
The Behaviours you will be assessed against are:
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Communicating & Influencing
- Delivering at Pace
- Working Together
For more information about Success Profiles, please click here.
Candidates may be required to give a presentation on a particular topic at the interview and this will be sent to you in advance.
Please note that the FCDO will not reimburse any travel costs or expenses incurred as part of the selection process.
Current FCDO staff members are advised that this is an external campaign and, as such, you will be required to go through the same process as all other candidates.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
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.
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 : Saxton Bampfylde Ltd on behalf of the FCDO – Advert Reference Number: AXWD2
- Email : rhys.davies@saxbam.com
- Telephone : +44 (0)20 7227 0880
Recruitment team
- Email : rhys.davies@saxbam.com
Further information
If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should, in the first instance, contact External.Recruitment@fcdo.gov.uk If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the FCDO, you can contact the Office of the Civil Service Commissioners at info@csc.gov.uk
