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Appointment details

URN 558 - Prime Minister’s Council for Science and Technology, Member (x3)

Summary

• Organisation: Council for Science and Technology
• Sponsor department: Department for Science, Innovation & Technology
• Location: London
• Sectors: Professional, Scientific and Technical
• Number of vacancies: 3
• Time commitment: 2 day(s) per month
• Length of term: 3 years
• Application deadline: 11pm on 29 June 2022

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Timeline for this appointment

1. Opening date

   17 May 2022

2. Application deadline

   11pm on 29 June 2022

3. Sifting date

   25 July 2022

4. Interviews expected to end on

   29 August 2022

Timeline dates are only an estimate and can change

About the appointment

Introduction

The Prime Minister’s Council for Science and Technology (CST) provides independent advice to the Prime Minister and government on the implications of science and research, engineering and technology. It reports directly to the Prime Minister on matters of science and technology that cut across the responsibilities of government departments. It is co-chaired by the Government Chief Scientific Adviser and an independent appointee.

CST works across a wide range of areas of science and technology relevant to national priorities. Recent advice has covered how government can take a systems approach to achieving net zero emissions by 2050, how to boost private sector investment in R&D and how science and technology can help to address regional economic disparities across the UK.

Further information about the Council for Science and Technology can be found here.

Appointment description

The role of CST members is to draw on their experience as a senior leader within business, academia, finance or the voluntary sector to bring a variety of perspectives on science and technology issues to help Government in developing and delivering sound evidence-based policy. The Council members work on a wide breath of issues and will need the ability to work across disciplines. The Council will consult regularly with Government on its work programme.

Members will be expected to contribute actively to both the Council’s policy agenda and to nurture links across the Council’s extensive network of senior stakeholders. They will need to work effectively with, and command the confidence of, the Prime Minister, Cabinet and Government Ministers, and those at the highest level within the research community, business and the public services. Members are encouraged to draw on their experience to provide independent critical thought across the breadth of the Council’s activity.

Members of CST are appointed as individuals. Members are not appointed as representatives of their particular profession, employer or interest group, and have a duty to act in the public interest. Members must at all times observe the highest standards of impartiality, integrity and objectivity in relation to the advice they provide.

Person specification

Essential criteria

• Lead Criteria: Credibility at national level in their specific fields (whether business, the not-for-profit sector, or academia);
• The ability to develop a strategic understanding of the policy issues relating to science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM);
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to develop and influence senior networks across government and with relevant stakeholders;
• Ability to operate at the interface between disciplines, bring together different perspectives, evaluate options and to develop evidence-based solutions;
• Personal and political sensitivity when working with colleagues, government, and external parties.

Desirable criteria

• Previous experience of working with or advising government would be helpful.
• Specific expertise and knowledge in an area relevant to CST’s future work: Economic and social science, innovation policy.
• Entrepreneurial or commercial experience, including leading business innovation or system transformation in sectors such as engineering and manufacturing, energy, transport or life sciences.

Please note - If there are a large number of applicants the sift will be assessed against the essential lead criteria.

Application and selection process

How to apply

Your application is submitted in two parts.

Both parts must be submitted by 23:00 on 29 June 2022 in order for your application to be considered complete. Applications received after this date will not be considered.

Part one: CV and Statement of Suitability

• One document combining a two-page statement of suitability and two-page CV (no more than four sides of A4 in total). The key to a good application is to give the reader specific information about how you meet the criteria for appointment. Think about your knowledge, skills, experience and personal attributes, and take full advantage of the space available. Provide practical evidence that best demonstrates how you meet the essential criteria
• Save the document as ‘Surname, First initial – URN558 – Council for Science and Technology.
• Send to publicappointments@beis.gov.uk with URN558 – Council for Science and Technology in the subject heading.

Part two: Diversity Monitoring and Conflict of Interest Form.

• Complete this form.

Advisory Assessment Panel (AAP)

Advisory Assessment Panels (AAP) are chosen by ministers to assist them in their decision-making. These include a departmental official and an independent member. For competitions recruiting non-executive members of a board (apart from the Chair), the panel will usually include a representative from the public body concerned.

AAP’s perform a number of functions, including agreeing an assessment strategy with ministers, undertaking sifting, carrying out interviews in line with the advertised criteria and deciding objectively who meets the published selection criteria for the role before recommending to ministers which candidates they find appointable. It is then for the minister to decide who to appoint to the role.

Eligibility criteria

To be eligible for consideration the candidate(s) will need to be a UK National / or Nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK / or Nationals of the Republic of Ireland.

The Government expects all holders of public office to work to the highest personal and professional standards. 

You cannot be considered for a public appointment if:

• you are disqualified from acting as a company director  (under the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986);

• have an unspent conviction on your criminal record;

• your estate has been sequestrated in Scotland or you enter into a debt arrangement programme under Part 1 of the Debt Arrangement and Attachment (Scotland) Act 2002 (asp 17) as the debtor or have, under Scots law, granted a trust deed for creditors.

When you apply, you should declare if:

• you are, or have been, bankrupt or you have made an arrangement with a creditor at any point, including the dates of this. 

• you are subject to a current police investigation.

You must inform the sponsor department if, during the application process, your circumstances change in respect of any of the above points. 

When you apply you should also declare any relevant interests, highlighting any that you think may call into question your ability to properly discharge the responsibilities of the role you are applying for. You should also declare any other matters which may mean you may not be able to meet the requirements of the Code of Conduct of Board Members (see Outside interests and reputational issues section below)

If you need further advice, please contact publicappointments@beis.gov.uk

Security clearance

The successful candidate will be required to undertake Baseline Personnel Security Standard checks in line with the Civil Service guidelines. Additional Security Clearance may also be required for certain roles. However, where this applies, candidates will be notified during the appointment process. Further information on National Security Vetting can be found on the Gov.uk website here.

Additional information for candidates

Equality and diversity

We encourage applications from talented individuals from all backgrounds and across the whole of the United Kingdom. Boards of public bodies are most effective when they reflect the diversity of views of the society they serve and this is an important part of the Government’s levelling up agenda.

We collect data about applicants’ characteristics and backgrounds, including information about people’s educational and professional backgrounds, so that we can make sure we are attracting a broad range of people to these roles and that our selection processes are fair for everyone. Without this information, it makes it difficult to see if our outreach is working, if the application process is having an unfair impact on certain groups and whether changes are making a positive difference.

When you submit your application, your responses are collected by the Cabinet Office and the government department(s) managing your application. The data is used to produce management information about the diversity of applicants. You can select “prefer not to say” to any question you do not wish to answer. The information you provide will not be seen by the Advisory Assessment Panel who review applications against the advertised criteria and conduct interviews.

Disability confident

We are a member of the Government’s Disability Confident scheme. We use the Disability Confident scheme symbol, along with other like-minded employers, to show our commitment to good practice in employing people with a disability. The scheme helps recruit and retain disabled people. 

As part of implementing the scheme, we guarantee an interview for anyone with a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the role and who has asked that their application is considered under the scheme. Indicating that you wish your application to be considered under the scheme will in no way prejudice your application. By ‘minimum criteria,’ we mean that you must provide evidence which demonstrates that you meet the level of competence required under each of the essential criteria, as set out in the job-advert.

When you apply you will have the opportunity to select if you would like your application considered under this scheme.

Reasonable adjustments

Government departments are committed to making reasonable adjustments to make sure applicants with disabilities, physical or mental health conditions, or other needs are not substantially disadvantaged when applying for public appointments. This can include changing the recruitment process to enable people who wish to apply to do so.

Some examples of common changes are:

• ensuring that application forms are available in different or accessible formats;
• making adaptations to interview locations;
• allowing candidates to present their skills and experience in a different way;
• giving detailed information on the selection / interview process in advance to allow candidates time to prepare themselves;
• allowing support workers, for example sign language interpreters;
• making provision for support animals to attend.

When you apply you will have the opportunity to request reasonable adjustments to the application process.

Principles of public life

Holders of public office are expected to adhere to and uphold the Seven Principles of Public Life https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-7-principles-of-public-life/the-7-principles-of-public-life--2. These are:

1. SELFLESSNESS - Holders of public office should act solely in terms of the public interest. They should not do so in order to gain financial or other material benefits for themselves, their family or their friends;
2. INTEGRITY - Holders of public office should not place themselves under any financial or other obligation to outside individuals or organisations that might seek to influence them in the performance of their official duties;
3. OBJECTIVITY - In carrying out public business, including making public appointments, awarding contracts, or recommending individuals for rewards and benefits, holders of public office should make choices on merit;
4. ACCOUNTABILITY - Holders of public office are accountable for their decisions and actions to the public and must submit themselves to whatever scrutiny is appropriate to their office;
5. OPENNESS - Holders of public office should be as open as possible about all the decisions and actions that they take. They should give reasons for their decisions and restrict information only when the wider public interest clearly demands;
6. HONESTY - Holders of public office have a duty to declare any private interests relating to their public duties and to take steps to resolve any conflicts arising in a way that protects the public interest;
7. LEADERSHIP - Holders of public office should promote and support these principles by leadership and example.

Code of conduct for board members

The Government expects all holders of public office to work to the highest personal and professional standards. In support of this, all non-executive board members of UK public bodies must abide by the principles set out in the Code of Conduct for Board Members of Public Bodies. The Code sets out the standards expected from those who serve on the boards of UK public bodies and will form part of your terms and conditions of appointment.

Management of outside interests and consideration of reputational issues

Holders of public office are expected to adhere and uphold the Seven Principles of Public Life and the Code of Conduct for Board Members of Public Bodies. Before you apply you should consider carefully: 

• any outside interests that you may have, such as shares you may hold in a company providing services to government; 
• any possible reputational issues arising from your past actions or or public statements that you have made; 
• and/or - any political roles you hold or political campaigns you have supported; 

which may call into question your ability to do the role you are applying for.

You will need to answer relevant questions in relation to these points when making an application. Many conflicts of interest can be satisfactorily resolved and declaring a potential conflict does not prevent you from being interviewed. If you are shortlisted for an interview, the panel will discuss any potential conflicts with you during that interview, including any proposals you may have to mitigate them and record that in their advice to ministers. Alongside your own declaration, we will conduct appropriate checks, as part of which we will consider anything in the public domain related to your conduct or professional capacity. This may include searches of previous public statements and social media, blogs or any other publicly available information. The successful candidate(s) may be required to give up any conflicting interests and their other business and financial interests may be published in line with organisational policies. 

Details of declared political activity will be published when the appointment is announced, as required by the Governance Code (political activity is not a bar to appointment, but must be declared).

Status of appointment

You will not become a member of the Civil Service. You will not be subject to the provisions of employment law.

Appointment and tenure of office

Appointments are for the term set out in this advert, with the possibility of re-appointment for a further term, at the discretion of Ministers.  Any re-appointment is subject to satisfactory annual appraisals of performance during the first term in the post. If re-appointed, the total time served in post will not exceed more than two terms or serve in any one post for more than ten years

Remuneration, allowances and abatement

You can claim reimbursement for reasonable travel and subsistence costs necessarily incurred on official business.

Pension and redundancy

This is an office holder appointment and does not attract any benefits under any Civil Service Pension Scheme. You will not be eligible for redundancy pay as you are not an employee. No other arrangements have been made for compensation upon termination because an office holder who is appointed for a limited duration would have no expectation of serving beyond that period.

Application feedback

We will notify you of the status of your application. We regret that we are only able to offer detailed feedback to candidates who have been unsuccessful at the interview stage.

How to complain

We aim to process all applications as quickly as possible and to treat all applicants with courtesy.

Please contact the BEIS public appointments team in the first instance if you would like to make a complaint regarding your application at publicappointments@beis.gov.uk. They will acknowledge your complaint upon receipt and respond within 15 working days.

Data protection

The Cabinet Office will use your data in line with our privacy policy.

BEIS Privacy Notice is attached as a separate document

Contact details

Please contact the BEIS public appointments team at publicappointments@beis.gov.uk.