Introduction
Message to Candidates from Dame Angela McLean
The UK government has set out a clear ambition to accelerate innovation and productivity across the UK through world-class science and research and the safe development and deployment of new technologies. Putting excellent scientific advice at the heart of decision making is key to the delivery of this government’s five missions.
The Council for Science and Technology provides advice directly to the Prime Minister and Cabinet Ministers on national priorities, from how to achieve net zero to the role of science and technology in addressing geographical inequalities across the UK. We are looking for new members who are passionate and willing to share insights from experience working in science, engineering, innovation or technology. This is an opportunity to bring your unique perspective to the Council and work alongside other distinguished members to develop advice that will help government deliver improved outcomes for society.
Dame Angela McLean, Government Chief Scientific Adviser
Role 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 advise the Prime Minister and Cabinet on science, technology and innovation.
The Council members work on a wide breath of issues and will need the ability to work across disciplines.
All members are expected to:
- lead or support the development of advice to the Prime Minister and Cabinet;
- attend quarterly meetings, with work outside these meetings conducted through project subgroups;
- engage with Ministers and senior officials to support implementation of advice;
- suggest future areas for CST advice; and
- work across and draw on their networks to access expertise.
Person Specification
Taking a broad view of the research and innovation landscape, 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 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 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.
Organisation description
CST is the government’s highest-level advisory body on science and technology delivering advice directly to the Prime Minister and Cabinet on science, engineering, technology and innovation policy issues across government. It is jointly chaired by an independent co-chair and the Government Chief Scientific Adviser, Dame Angela McLean.
CST provides impartial advice to the Prime Minister and Cabinet on:
- What the government’s high-level priorities for science and technology should be to support the delivery of the government’s five missions;
- Emerging and long-term scientific and technological developments, including opportunities and risks relating to:
- Science and research capability
- Innovation and economic growth
- Health and quality of life within the UK
- Sustainable development and resilience
- Other matters requested by the Prime Minister, Ministers, or considered important by the Council.
Further information about the Council for Science and Technology can be found
here.
Essential criteria
The Government is seeking applicants with expertise in science, technology, engineering or innovation with experience at a national level (whether academia, business, finance, or the not-for-profit sector). Applicants must have the personal stature and credibility to represent a body which advises the Prime Minister.
To be successful at interview you will need to demonstrate the following essential skills:
1. Lead Criteria: Credibility at national level in their specific fields (whether academia, business, finance, or the not-for-profit sector).
2. Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to command the confidence of the Prime Minister, Cabinet Ministers and those at the highest level within the research community, business and the public services.
3. An ability to operate at the interface between disciplines, bring together different perspectives, evaluate options, and to develop evidence-based solutions.
Please note: If we receive a high number of applications, then the assessment panel will sift against the lead criteria.
Desirable criteria
We are interested in applications from people with one or more of the following areas of expertise:
- Significant experience of delivering major R&D programmes over the long term, particularly outside a university setting.
- Experience as a serial entrepreneur with a track record of building startups and scale up companies, ideally with a focus on commercialising science and technology.
- Senior leadership within the higher education sector and/or leadership of discovery research organisations.
- Expertise in economics, social and behavioural science.
- Experience and deep knowledge in the fields of AI, environment and climate change, health and life sciences, and defence and national security.
- Experience as an investor / venture capitalist / philanthropy fund manager, particularly in science and technology companies.