Policy Advisors - London, United Kingdom - Department for Science, Innovation & Technology

Department for Science, Innovation & Technology

Verified Company

London, United Kingdom

2 weeks ago

Posted by:

Tom O´Connor

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Description

Details:

Reference number:

Salary:

- £42,495 - £46,750

A Civil Service Pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
Job grade:
Senior Executive Officer
Contract type:
Permanent
Business area:
GO-Science
Type of role:
Policy
Project Delivery
Science
Working pattern:
Flexible working, Fulltime, Job share, Parttime
Number of jobs available:
3Contents

Location

About the job

Benefits:

Things you need to know

Location

LondonAbout the job

Job summary:

The Government Office for Science works at the heart of Government, ensuring policies and decisions are informed by the best scientific evidence and strategic long-term thinking.

It's an exciting time to join the organisation; we have outstanding and high-profile positions providing you an opportunity to inform and influence policy-making and the systems for use of science and engineering across government.

If you are highly motivated and looking for your next career challenge we want to hear from you.

Our mission is:

Science advice mechanisms that are efficient, effective, speak truth to power and are embedded irreversibly in Government systems.
Visible impact through both pro-active and demand-led science advice that is relevant, excellent, and delivered fit for purpose.

Further information can be found here:

We maintain an internal surge capability of staff who may be called at short notice to support an activation of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE).

Training and support will be provided. This is an excellent opportunity to develop crisis management skills.

Job description:

This is an exciting opportunity to work at the heart of the Government science advice and national security machinery. The roles sit within the National Security and Resilience (NSAR) team in the Government Office for Science which ensures crossgovernment strategy, policy, preparedness and crisis response activities are informed by high quality scientific advice and evidence.
The role holders will work on the preparedness and crisis response side of the team, a key function of which is to provide the secretariat for the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE). SAGE can be activated by the Cabinet Office to provide scientific and technical advice to Government decision makers in an emergency.
These are varied roles offering the opportunity for individuals to deliver real impact on national resilience and emergency preparedness. This includes delivering projects to continuously improve the functioning of SAGE and engaging with and influencing a wide range of stakeholders across Government and beyond.

Work on the continuous improvement of SAGE, ensuring it can be activated as required for any crisis at short notice, that the Government Chief Scientific Advisor is supported as chair of SAGE and that advice delivered is accessible to those who need it;

Ensure lessons from previous SAGE activations (including Covid19) and exercises are embedded into our policies and processes, thinking innovatively to identify novel solutions to ensure SAGE is fit for the future;
Be responsible for monitoring risks that may require a SAGE (examples include environmental hazards, emerging health risks, severe space weather);
Build and maintain strong relationships with science and operational stakeholders across Government who are responsible for national risks;
Harness those relationships and provide support and challenge to stakeholders in accessing the scientific expertise and capabilities they need to deliver against national security and resilience objectives.
The role will provide opportunities to work with a range of government stakeholders including policy and science teams, as well as across the Government Office for Science, and provide an excellent opportunity for staff to develop their skills and careers.
The post holder will become part of the SAGE secretariat during emergencies requiring a SAGE activation. This may require fast paced work, including outside usual working hours for short periods. Training and support are provided.

Person specification:

Key responsibilities may involve:
Developing and managing a SAGE Continuous Improvement programme;
Working on training and exercising of the SAGE mechanism;
Leading and delivering projects to improve how SAGE and the SAGE Secretariat functions;
Identifying further areas for SAGE improvement, ensuring activities of the team to deliver SAGE are sustainable;
Engaging with cross-government stakeholders, academics and other external experts as required;
Leading the monitoring and preparedness for at least one risk area;
Providing advice to the Government Chief Scientific Adviser on national security and resilience risks and S&T issues;
Supporting the provision of a reliable and resilient crisis response function through SAGE. This includes being part of an out of hours duty rota for the SAGE Secretariat