Scottish Government

Remuneration: This is a Senior Civil Service Pay Band 2 role, starting salary circa £99,700 (FTE). If applicable, secondment from your existing employer might also be considered. External candidates, who are not applying on secondment, are expected to start at the minimum. For existing civil servants applying on level transfer or promotion, starting salary is determined by reference to salary with current department.
Contract: This role is being offered as a three day a week, three-year secondment or as a three-year Fixed Term appointment.
Location: Glasgow or Edinburgh, although it is recognised that all staff are expected to be working from home for the foreseeable future. Once office-based, it is expected that at least one day a week is likely to need to be spent in Edinburgh for meetings.
The Scottish Government is responsible for over £40 billion of expenditure each year. This provides the public services used every day by the citizens of Scotland including health, education, justice, housing and social security. Science underpins much of the Scottish Government’s work, and science advice and evidence is valued from a range of specialist, professional science advisers.
The Scottish Government is seeking a Chief Scientific Adviser (CSA) for Scotland to play a leading role in ensuring that scientific and engineering evidence supports the Scottish Government’s ambitious programme for inclusive economic growth. The CSA is professionally independent and performs an independent challenge function to the Scottish Government, championing science as a key driver of the economy and promoting the effective use of scientific evidence in policy-making in the Scottish Government and beyond.
The appointed candidate will provide expert science advice to Ministers and senior policy advisers. As well as having primary responsibility for ensuring the Scottish Government has access to high quality science advice across Scottish Government, they will have a unique opportunity to champion the role of science both within and outside the Scottish Government.
The appointed candidate will work closely with the Scottish Government Chief Scientific Adviser for Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture, and the Scottish Government Chief Scientist for Health, to ensure a joined-up approach to science advice, chairing the Scottish Government CSA group. They will also chair the Scottish Government’s Science Leadership Network, representing science-based staff within the Scottish Government.
The appointed candidate is likely to be an outstanding scientist, widely respected at a national or international level and an authoritative voice on scientific issues. They will bring a strong network across the boundaries of scientific disciplines and be able to expand the network to contribute to strategic issues at Scottish, UK and/or international levels. The appointed candidate will be an excellent communicator and be able to command the confidence of a wide range of stakeholders and be adept at translating complex and challenging issues for a wide range of different audiences.
Saxton Bampfylde Ltd is acting as an employment agency adviser to the Scottish Government on this appointment.
For further information about the role, including details about how to apply, please visit www.saxbam.com/appointments using reference TANAJA. Alternatively, telephone +44 (0)20 7227 0880 (during office hours). Applications should be received by 23:55 on Tuesday 9 February 2021.