Senior Livestock Scientist

Government Recruitment Service; York; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A government agency in the UK is seeking a Livestock Science Lead to manage scientific evidence related to livestock sustainability and productivity. The role involves R&D portfolio management, policy engagement, and providing leadership within a supportive multi-disciplinary team. Candidates should have a strong background in managing evidence and influencing policy through scientific rigor.

Responsibilities

• Manage portfolio of R&D contracts and build relationships with policy teams.
• Structure policy problems and develop evidence to inform policymaking.
• Provide leadership in setting direction for livestock R&D.
• Translate complex technical issues for senior officials and ministers.
• Set strategic direction on prioritising evidence needs in the area.

Job description

Overview

Livestock is important to the UK for a number of reasons including food security, the economy and cultural heritage. However, livestock is also responsible for 64% of the total agricultural emissions in the UK and other environmental impacts.

As the Livestock Science Lead, you will provide scientific evidence to policy colleagues on livestock sustainability, productivity, and sector resilience, as well as line manage a small team of scientists. Key themes of work relate to livestock feed, breeding and genetics, and management. High-profile areas include scoping a national evidence programme for breeding lower greenhouse gas-emitting livestock, informing policy actions around methane suppressing feed products, and overseeing management of international R&D relationships on livestock.

This demanding and interesting specialist role sits within the Agri-Food Science evidence team, part of the Agri-Food Chain (AFC) Directorate. The team works flexibly, sharing skills and expertise to develop science-driven policy and research in agriculture. You will be an integral part of a multi-disciplinary friendly and supportive science team embedded within the directorate.

Responsibilities

• You will manage a portfolio of R&D contracts, build relationships with policy teams, academics, industry and cross-government including the Devolved Administrations. You will be responsible for shaping your evidence portfolio, reviewing deliverables and communicate evidence findings to policy.
• You will typically work closely with cross-cutting policy leads to structure policy problems and develop evidence to shape and inform policy making. You will seek to maximise the value of existing evidence and data, clearly communicating knowledge in an accessible way.
• As a scientist, you will be expected to get to grips with policy issues, and provide leadership in setting the direction of livestock R&D, and in your relationships which includes R&D contractors, to ensure delivery of robust, value for money, and policy relevant R&D. You will also engage closely with other evidence colleagues.
• You will provide written and verbal briefing to senior officials and/or ministers. You must be able to translate often complex technical issues to suit the required audience explaining their impact with clarity.
• You will be responsible for setting the longer-term strategic direction on prioritising evidence needs in your area. You will proactively look ahead, scan, and pre-empt evidence needs, by leading interactions with policy teams, developing external networks with business and academia, and using other means to achieve a big picture view.

Team Context and Impact

This role will allow you to further develop your experience in an exciting science area whilst refining skills in evidence portfolio management, team management, risk evaluation, decision making, and impactful stakeholder engagement.

You will be an integral part of a multi-disciplinary friendly and supportive science team embedded within the directorate, providing leadership and influencing policy through robust evidence.

You will be responsible for setting the longer-term strategic direction on prioritising evidence needs in your area and engaging with policy teams, external networks with business and academia, and other evidence colleagues to achieve a big-picture view.