The national security community’s mission is to keep the country safe and promote its resilience and prosperity. We work to protect the UK from threats, whether from terrorism, cyber, or damaging espionage by hostile states.
Science and Technology (S&T) presents strategic opportunities, and strategic threats, to the UK. The national security community needs to be at the cutting edge of S&T, to ensure that we succeed in detecting and disrupting the activities of those that are intent on harm, and that we secure maximum strategic advantage for the UK. We have a key part to play in building the UK as a global science power, and in fostering innovation that solves national security problems while also enhancing the UK’s economic prosperity.
The Government Chief Scientific Adviser and the UK Intelligence Community are seeking an exceptional Chief Scientific Adviser (CSA) to lead on advice and delivery of science and technology for the three security and intelligence agencies; and, as a member of the Government Chief Scientific Adviser’s (GCSA) team, to provide strategic advice on national security S&T into HMG and the wider national security community. The CSA will engage widely with academia and industry, in order to access and influence the best thinking and innovation to address national security problems. They will both shape and implement HMG’s strategic approach to National Security science and technology. The agenda is driven by the operational and strategic challenges facing us and the CSA will provide advice to senior officials and Ministers across HMG and the national security community.
The successful candidate will be a highly credible scientist, engineer or technologist and an excellent strategic leader. They will need to be able to synthesise information so that it is useful for decision-makers and to have strong communication skills in order to have credibility with challenging audiences who do not necessarily have a scientific background. You will work collaboratively with the Government’s Chief Scientific Adviser, the cross-Government community of CSAs, and other high profile national and international bodies to share best practice, further develop partnerships and ensure access to a wide knowledge base.
The new CSA must be committed to their own development, to growing capability in others and to strongly promoting diversity and inclusion.
Saxton Bampfylde Ltd is acting as an employment agency advisor to the HM Government on this appointment. For further information about the role, including details about how to apply, please visit www.saxbam.com/appointments using reference OAMARA. Alternatively, telephone +44 (0)20 7227 0880 (during office hours). Applications should be received by noon on Wednesday 2 December 2020.