Appointment details

Quantum Strategic Advisory Board Member - EOI

Summary

• Organisation: Quantum Strategic Advisory Board
• Sponsor department: Department for Science, Innovation & Technology
• Location: Various
• Sectors: Digital and Technology
• Skills: Business, Commercial, Technology / Digital
• Number of vacancies: 5
• Time commitment: 8 day(s) per annum
• Length of term: Successful candidates will be appointed for an initial period of 2 years which may be extended by mutual agreement.
• Application deadline: 11:55pm on 24 February 2025

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Timeline for this appointment

1. Opening date

   3 February 2025

2. Application deadline

   11:55pm on 24 February 2025

3. Sifting date

   10 March 2025

4. Interviews expected to end on

   31 March 2025

Timeline dates are only an estimate and can change

About the appointment

Appointment description

Over the next decade, quantum technologies promise huge benefits to society and the economy, with expected impacts across sectors from healthcare to financial services.

After ten years of investment through a first-of-its-kind national quantum programme, the UK has strong “first mover” advantage. We have world-leading research strengths across all quantum technologies and the second highest level of private investment globally. The government is now building on this success to drive economic growth and further benefits for UK society and security. Doing so will require support to take the technologies from early commercialisation to widespread adoption and unlock greater levels of private investment in line with the government’s Industrial Strategy.

The National Quantum Strategic Advisory Board (SAB) provides independent and expert technical advice to DSIT and its arm’s-length bodies on quantum technologies. Specifically, the SAB informs the strategic direction of the National Quantum Programme and the work of the DSIT Office for Quantum to enhance UK leadership in quantum technologies, including through the five quantum technology Missions. SAB members are ministerially-appointed, and the Board is Chaired by Sir Peter Knight. 

DSIT is inviting Expressions of Interest (EoIs) to join the Board from experts with experience in developing, applying or investing in quantum technologies or other relevant emerging technologies. We particularly welcome EoIs from those who can advise on driving the commercialisation and scaling of these technologies.  

Organisation description

The SAB captures expertise across the quantum ecosystem and adjacent areas including industry, investors and academic researchers.

The SAB has 9 members and can comprise up a maximum of 15, including:  

• A senior level independent Chair: Sir Peter Knight
• A Deputy Chair: Professor Sheila Rowan CBE

• Senior representatives drawn from business, the investor community, and academia with a spread of expertise across:
• business and investment, skills and R&D, adoption, international engagement, regulation and standards;
• a range of quantum technologies and applications, including computing, networking, position, navigation, and timing systems, and imaging and sensing.

Priority areas the Board is expected to advise on in the coming year include:

• The approach to and implementation of the next phase of the national quantum programme and the quantum technology missions
• Ensuring UK quantum companies have access to the investment they need to grow and develop their technology in the UK
• How the UK collaborates with other countries to advance the development of quantum technologies
• Considering how the UK will regulate these technologies in future and set standards to guide their development
• Addressing the evolving skills needs of the quantum sector in response to findings from the Quantum Skills Taskforce
• [etc]

For more information on general NQTP governance click the following link: https://uknqt.ukri.org/about-us/governance/ 

Person specification

Essential criteria

Your application should demonstrate the below essential criteria, with examples drawn from your career history: 

• Leadership or senior investment experience in quantum technologies or other relevant emerging technology fields.  [Lead criteria] 

• An engaging and collaborative working style with the ability to advise on strategic decision making. 

• Ability to build and maintain successful relationships as well as provide challenge and inspire confidence with a wide range of stakeholders. 

• A clear interest in the effective delivery of the UK’s national strategy for quantum technologies.  

If there is a significant volume of applications, we will sift on the leading criteria as indicated above. 

Desirable criteria

• Expertise in relation to the priority areas of advice listed above.
• Expertise in scaling up operations, particularly within emerging technology sectors. 
• An understanding of the investment landscape and funding routes for emerging technologies.
• Previous experience as a board member or non-executive in the public or private sector. 

Application and selection process

How to apply

In order to apply you will need to create an account or sign in.

Once you are logged into your account, click on 'apply for this role' and follow the on-screen instructions To apply, all candidates are required to provide:

• a Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• a supporting statement (750 words max)
• equality information
• information relating to any outside interests or reputational issue 

We will ask you to check and confirm your personal details to ensure your application is accurate.

You will also have the opportunity to make a reasonable adjustment request or apply under the disability confident scheme before you submit your application.

Advisory Assessment Panel (AAP)

For full details of the assessment panel, please contact NQTP.SAB@dsit.gov.uk 

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

In general, you should have the right to work in the UK to be eligible to apply for a public appointment.

There are a small number of specialist roles that are not open to non-British citizens. Any nationality requirements will be specified in the vacancy details.

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 NQTP.SAB@DSIT.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.

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 essential criteria for the role, set out in the advert, 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 ‘essential 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

We 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 additional 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

The Seven Principles of Public Life (also known as the Nolan Principles) apply to anyone who works as a public office-holder.

1. Selflessness

Holders of public office should act solely in terms of the public interest.

2. Integrity

Holders of public office must avoid placing themselves under any obligation to people or organisations that might try inappropriately to influence them in their work. They should not act or take decisions in order to gain financial or other material benefits for themselves, their family, or their friends. They must declare and resolve any interests and relationships.

3. Objectivity

Holders of public office must act and take decisions impartially, fairly and on merit, using the best evidence and without discrimination or bias.

4. Accountability

Holders of public office are accountable to the public for their decisions and actions and must submit themselves to the scrutiny necessary to ensure this.

5. Openness

Holders of public office should act and take decisions in an open and transparent manner. Information should not be withheld from the public unless there are clear and lawful reasons for so doing.

6. Honesty

Holders of public office should be truthful.

7. Leadership

Holders of public office should exhibit these principles in their own behaviour and treat others with respect. They should actively promote and robustly support the principles and challenge poor behaviour wherever it occurs.

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 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

As this is an office holder 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. There is no automatic presumption of reappointment; each case should be considered on its own merits, taking into account a number of factors including, but not restricted to, the diversity of the current board and its balance of skills and experience. In most cases, the total time served in post will not exceed more than two terms or ten years in any one post. 

Remuneration, allowances and abatement

This is an unpaid position

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 the end of your term of appointment 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 DSIT public appointments team in the first instance if you would like to make a complaint regarding your application at NQTP.SAB@DSIT.GOV.UK. They will acknowledge your complaint upon receipt and respond within 15 working days.

Data protection

DSIT Privacy Notice attached to advert

Contact details

If you have any questions about this role, please contact NQTP.SAB@DSIT.GOV.UK 

Attachments

• NQTP SAB ToR Nov 2024

• DSIT Privacy Notice