3295 - Science Engagement and Promotion Officer - London

Welsh Government; Wales; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A governmental body in the UK is seeking a Science Engagement and Promotion Officer to assist the Chief Scientific Adviser for Wales. This role involves supporting stakeholder engagement, promoting Welsh science policies, and developing partnerships across government and research communities. The successful candidate will have a degree in a STEMM field and experience in policy monitoring and stakeholder relationship building. Flexible working options and a government pension plan are included.

Benefits

Flexible working options

Learning and development tailored to the role

Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

Qualifications

• Experience working with various stakeholders including government bodies and organizations.
• Understanding of science and technology policies and legislation.
• Ability to provide critical analysis and engagement strategies.

Responsibilities

• Support the Chief Scientific Adviser for Wales in meetings and stakeholder engagement.
• Collect scientific and technical information from various sources.
• Monitor UK Government policies relevant to SRDIT.
• Assist in developing collaborative SRDIT initiatives.

Skills

Scientific and technical evidence generation

Stakeholder engagement

Policy monitoring

Building partnerships

Education

Degree or higher degree in a science or engineering discipline (STEMM)

Job description

The Welsh Government Chief Scientific Adviser for Wales (CSA Wales) operates out of the WG London Office on a weekly basis. The Welsh Government Office for Science supports the CSA Wales. As the 'Science Engagement and Promotion Officer', which is a DRC funded post, the post holder will support the Chief Scientific Adviser for Wales within the Welsh Government Office for Science (WGOS) on matters relating to science, research, development, innovation and technology (SRDIT). The post holder will work closely with the CSA Wales, the Head of Science and other senior officials in WGOS and elsewhere in Welsh Government. Part of this role will be engagement with UK Government departments in London and throughout the UK. The post holder will assist the CSA Wales and Head of Science in building strong working relationships and establishing intelligence communication channels between Welsh Government and UK Government and other relevant organisations. The role will include working with Arms‑Length Bodies (ALBs), Public Sector Research Establishments (PSREs), National Laboratories (NLs) and external bodies (i.e. non‑government) such as science and engineering academies and institutions, universities, businesses and industry groups to maximise opportunities for Wales as a small smart country and a great place for business. The role will contribute to promoting Welsh science and technology capabilities and capacities, help identify new opportunities for collaboration and assist in informing future direction. In addition, the post holder will be required to assist in science and technical evidence gathering on a range of topics, supporting the CSA Wales is primarily about collecting evidence on many aspects of Sci&Tech, communicating with stakeholders and facilitating engagement between the CSA Wales and stakeholders. To support the Chief Scientific Adviser for Wales (CSAW) by:

1. Supporting the CSAW in person as Secretariate for CSAW's meetings – arranging meetings, taking minutes, informing stakeholders of actions and providing feedback.
   • Assisting the CSAW in his/her engagement with stakeholders at UK Government and other organisations.
   • Helping to foster constructive partnerships and relationships, taking a practical engagement role in cross‑government and external networks;
   • Assisting in arranging Welsh Government Cabinet Secretaries, Ministerial and CSAW visits to London which relate to bilateral SRDIT issues;
   • The post holder will be expected to attend meetings with the CSAW in person in London and elsewhere as appropriate, especially in relation to engagement with UK Government. This means working in the WG London office and London more generally for at least the time when the CSAW is in London (and elsewhere as appropriate on other visits). This applies also for engagements in London by other WGOS staff when the CSAW may not be present.
2. Collecting scientific and technical information, evidence and data.
   • Liaising with Wales's SRDIT stakeholders and community and assisting in collection of evidence and data;
   • Assimilating, assessing and interpreting SRDIT information, data and evidence.
3. Keeping a watch on UKG policies, strategies, actions and initiatives.
   • Developing an intelligence and understanding of the UK Government landscape, in particular the London Departments and by networking inside this landscape, thus providing support to CSAW and the Welsh Government Office for Science staff as required;
   • Developing an awareness and understanding of UK stakeholders' positions on the future of SRDIT policies, strategies and activities, especially the major RD&I funding departments, e.g. the sponsor Department for UKRI (currently DSIT as of 2024);
   • Identifying relevant officials and engaging them to establish and build working relationships and communication channels for intelligence insights into UK, EU and International SRDIT policy and strategy developments;
   • Monitoring SRDIT policies and strategies development, delivery programmes and performance by UK Government science and innovation, gathering information to feed into the Head of Science meetings with Welsh Government Ministers and Senior Officials;
4. Identifying and assisting in SRDIT legislation development and constitutional issues, especially where UKG has reserved and concurrent powers.
   • Helping to ensure that collaborative SRDIT endeavours are aligned to Welsh Government policies, strategies and take account of the Wellbeing of Future Generations Act.
5. Identifying and exploiting opportunities
   • Identifying funding opportunities for Welsh SRDIT stakeholders, including universities, businesses and institutes in Wales arising at UK and international level;
   • Helping to connect UK and world businesses with the Welsh Government and SRD&I stakeholders.
   • Alongside the CSAW and WGOS Head of Science, interface directly with UK Government Departments and other Administrations on specific opportunities, projects, programmes and proposals.
6. Promoting Wales.
   • Assisting in increasing the visibility and influence of Welsh SRDIT.
7. Undertaking any other duties as required commensurate with the grade.

The role will also involve travel to Wales and throughout the UK.

Behaviours

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Working Together
• Communicating and Influencing

Technical Skills

• Generates, collates and provides succinct scientific or technical evidence to fulfil requirements including providing critical analysis and investigation of sources.

Success Profiles

This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

Welsh Government, like all other Government Departments use Success Profiles when we recruit. For each role we consider what you will need to demonstrate to be successful. This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job. It raises performance and improves diversity and inclusivity.

Selection Process

The selection process and stages are:

Number of Stages: 2 stage process

Stage 1 Application Form

Stage 2 Interview

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard checks.

Nationality requirements

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre‑settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre‑settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Apply at advertiser's site

Please apply via the advertised site.

Qualifications

Do you have a degree or higher degree in a science or engineering discipline (STEMM)?

Benefits

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

Contact and Complaints

• If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with these principles and wish to make a complaint please email [e-mail]. Please ensure that you refer to the vacancy reference number.
• If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Welsh Government, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: [e-mail].