Council for Science and Technology Secretariat

Vacancy Description

The Council for Science and Technology (CST): The Council for Science and Technology (CST) is a high-powered independent body that advises the Prime Minister and the First Ministers of Scotland and Wales on a wide range of strategic science and technology policy issues. Its 16 members are individuals at the top of their professions drawn from across industry and academia, and representing a wide range of scientific disciplines. Sir David King, the Government’s Chief Scientific Adviser, co-chairs the Council together with Sir Keith Peters, the President of the Academy of Medical Sciences. The current work programme includes a focus on

• considering how maximum value creation can be obtained from R&D inputs, with a particular focus on innovation in the services sector and SMEs
• exploring how potential health impacts are assessed and used in policy making across government
• how the UK can maintain its world-class research base in a changing world.

The CST secretariat: The CST secretariat is a team of three people (range 11, 10 and 8) based within the Office of Science and Technology. The secretariat does whatever is necessary to support CST in producing well-considered advice to government. This ranges from ensuring that meetings run smoothly and productively to drafting CST’s advice. A key role of the secretariat is to maintain momentum between meetings, ensuring that work progresses and that members remain engaged. The job holder will report to Peter Brooke (range 11).

The Job

The main elements of the job will include:

• Leading on the preparation of the quarterly CST meetings, including developing agendas, identifying suitable speakers/guests, commissioning and drafting supporting papers.
• Taking particular responsibility for driving forward the work of one of CST’s subgroups and supporting the work of other subgroups.

This could include: working with CST members to plan a programme of work; developing a network of relevant contacts within and outside government; undertaking research in support of the subgroup’s work, extracting information from a wide range of sources and contacts; contracting with consultants to provide additional analysis where a need is identified; drafting papers for the subgroup and for CST.

• Managing and developing R8 team member.
• Managing CST’s programme budget (currently £150k pa).
• Overseeing the smooth running of CST’s administration including: website maintenance; meeting arrangements; finance payments.

Essential skills and attributes

• Willingness to take responsibility for own decisions and the ability take a leadership role, alongside a proven ability to work on own initiative and to plan and prioritise work;
• Strong interpersonal skills to build effective working relationships with CST members and with contacts across government and outside, and the confidence and ability to deal with very senior people inside and outside government
• Clear and concise oral and written communication skills
• Experience of gathering information from a wide range of sources; good analytical skills to extract key points
• Ability to develop an understanding of new policy areas quickly.

Desirable

• A science background and/or a real interest in science and society issues.

Development opportunities You will have the opportunity to develop a wider perspective on how government policies relating to science and technology are developed, working with colleagues across government departments and focusing on strategic, high-level issues. You will gain experience of how an independent advisory body operates and how government makes use of external expertise.

A development programme will be agreed with the successful candidate.

How To Apply

If you would like further information, please see www.cst.gov.uk or contact Jacqui Russell (current postholder) on 020 7215 3973, Jacqui.Russell@dti.gsi.gov.uk; or Peter Brooke (line manager for the post) on 020 7215 2876, peter.brooke@dti.gsi.gov.uk.

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