About the job

Job summary

This is a critical role at the heart of DSIT, a new department with an exciting and far-reaching remit to deliver stronger growth, better jobs and bold discoveries through our investments in science, technology and innovation. This role is a fantastic opportunity to help deliver our exciting mission and achieve real change in economic growth, people's lives and the UK's security and resilience, working collaboratively with Ministers, the Executive Committee and a brilliant SCS team. 

You will ensure that DSIT is delivering on the S&T framework and on our core departmental objectives, working closely and collaboratively with Ministers, across DSIT, Government and with partners in the wider public, private and third sectors to inform our approach and to deliver.  You will champion cross-Whitehall engagement on the Government’s Science and Technology Framework and help DSIT to "see round corners", working closely with partners to scan for risks and opportunities. You will lead an excellent team to deliver high-quality support to the Department through private office, governance, partnerships and strategy coordination functions. As you would expect in a new department that needs to be agile in response to the science, technology and innovation agenda, there is scope to evolve the role over the months ahead.

Applications are welcome from the representative of the broad range of views and backgrounds we have in society. In return, DSIT can offer you the challenge and stretch you need to develop your career and reach your full potential.

Job description

This is a critical role at the heart of the new Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT). The Strategy Director will play a highly-influential role in the new Department, shaping its mission and objectives and helping translate its exciting remit into real impact and groundbreaking changes that improve productivity, growth and people’s lives across the country. DSIT was created by the Prime Minister with an ambitious mission to cement the UK’s place as a Science and Technology Superpower

The Strategy Director works with Ministers, the Executive team and the wider Department on DSIT’s core strategy, balancing short-term policy demands with a long-term perspective to ensure the department adds up to more than the sum of its parts. The Director helps to shape and set direction on a policy brief that is evolving at speed and in ways that are changing lives already. The role is also outward-facing and works across Whitehall, on behalf of the DSIT Secretary of State, to deliver the cross-government Science and Technology Framework and support the Prime Minister-chaired National Science & Technology Council.

This is a high-profile and rewarding role with significant opportunity to shape how DSIT and Whitehall respond to the challenges and opportunities of the increasing geo-political importance and impact of science and technology. It is a networked role and effective collaboration is central to success. The post-holder will build trusted relationships and have the confidence of a wide range of internal (Ministers, ExCo, Non-Executive Directors, the Government Chief Scientific Adviser and new National Technology Adviser) and external (Cabinet Office, Departments, key external industry and academic partners) stakeholders and peers.

The successful candidate will be a highly effective and collaborative leader, setting direction for diverse and high-performing teams and supporting them to deliver on stretching and challenging roles. As a member of DSIT’s SCS team, you will be expected to lead in line with our organisational values: Think Big, Cultivate Curiosity, Value People and Create Connections. 

High-level strategic thinking skills and a proven ability to translate goals into delivery at pace are essential for the role. We are also looking for objectivity, having an ability to ‘see round corners’, good political antenna and a talent for making things happen in fast-changing and resource-constrained environments.

The successful candidate will demonstrate an ability to think big and engage widely – within the Department, across Whitehall, with industry and academia and internationally. We are looking for challenge, collaboration and entrepreneurship combined with a strong focus on delivery and impact to ensure DSIT delivers on its ambitious mission. It is a great opportunity to shape the government’s work to deliver stronger growth, better jobs and bolder discoveries.

Key duties that the candidate will be responsible for:

• Leading a team of c.100 people (Strategy, S&T Framework, Private Office – Secretary of State, Ministers, special advisers and Permanent Secretary – and Partnership teams).
• Supporting the Permanent Secretary, Executive team and Ministers to develop and deliver the Departmental vision, strategy and priorities that make the most of bringing together the R&D ecosystem with general purpose technologies and some of the most innovative UK sectors. 
• Leading cross-Government coordination of HMG’s Science & Technology Framework and supporting the National Science & Technology Council to drive implementation of its priorities. 
• Providing cross-cutting support on priority policy issues for the Department, including working with national security teams in the department, 
• Working in close partnership with strategic finance, analysis and HR to help the department make strategic choices within its financial envelope, including shaping how the Department responds to fiscal events.
• Leading on horizon scanning work for the department, looking to potential medium and long-term challenges in science, technology and innovation, working closely with policy teams and external experts. 
• Leading the ministerial private offices and support teams to ensure the smooth and efficient running of the department; and ensure we are building the right systems for delivery. 
• Oversee the department’s partnership arrangements with its ALBs and leading strategic engagement with ALB boards, working with sponsor teams across the Department. 
• Oversee funding and resourcing arrangements for DSIT’s corporate governance team and Permanent Secretary's office.
• Lead the honours and appointments teams to ensure recognition of our exceptional scientists, technologists, innovators, entrepreneurs and industry partners in the Science, Innovation and Technology community. 

As a senior leader in the Department, you will be expected to play an active role in the ongoing corporate management and development of the organisation, including as a member of the Executive Committee and Departmental Board. 

Person specification

What we are looking for - skills, experience and qualifications: 

Essentials:

• An empowering and inspiring senior leader able to work collegiately and collaboratively within and across organisational boundaries with a track record of developing, motivating and successfully leading diverse, high performing teams, and working well with senior stakeholders and peers. 
• Highly developed strategic analysis and negotiation capabilities to maximise delivery opportunities in partnership with multiple stakeholder and customer groups, providing a quality service that supports achievement of priorities.
• Excellent judgement with strong skills in spotting, understanding and managing risk well. 
• Excellent comms skills with a proven track record of influencing effectively at senior levels, both internally and externally, in an environment where there are complex partnerships with competing / conflicting priorities. 
• A successful track record of working across a complex set of senior stakeholder relationships and working collaboratively to achieve tangible outcom

Desirable:

• Enthusiasm and interest in one or more areas of science, technology and innovation 

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £100,000, Department for Science, Innovation & Technology contributes £27,000 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

How to apply

To apply for this post please follow the instructions on the CS Jobs website by no later than 23:55 Sunday 7th January 2024. As part of the application process, you are asked to complete the following:

1.A CV setting out your career history, highlighting specific responsibilities and achievements that are relevant for this role, relevant achievements in recent posts, together with reasons for any gaps within the last two years.

2.A Statement of Suitability (no more than 1000 words) explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with particular reference to the essential criteria in the person specification. You must include in the opening paragraph of your personal statement your reason for applying for this post.

3.Assessments - Staff Engagement Exercise (SEE) and an Individual Leadership Assessment (ILA). The ILA consists of a series of psychometric tests and a follow up interview conducted by an occupational psychologist. The ILA will focus on a defined set of SCS leadership attributes, these will be shared with all shortlisted candidates. These assessments will not result in a pass or fail decision. Rather, they are designed to support the panel’s decision making and highlight areas for the panel to explore further at interview.

4.Informal conversations with the hiring manager, Alexandra Jones 

5.Final Interview

For further information on the application process and an overview on what to expect, please visit the Civil Service Careers website

Overview of the Process

Government Recruitment Service will acknowledge your application and advise you of the outcome of the sift meeting.

Applications will be sifted to select those demonstrating the best fit with the post against the criteria set out in the person specification. Please ensure you keep this in mind when writing your CV and supporting statement.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview.

Arrangements for interview

The final selection panel interview will be held in person at 100 Parliament Street.

Candidates are required to prepare a presentation for their interview, they will be given at least one week’s notice of the subject.

Expenses incurred by candidates during the recruitment process will not be reimbursed by the Department except in exceptional circumstances and only when agreed in advance.

Panel:

Chris Pilgrim – Civil Service Commissioner

Sarah Munby – Permanent Secretary, DSIT

Alexandra Jones – Director General, Science Innovation and Growth, DSIT

Rhys Bowen – Director, International and Economic Security, DSIT

Reserve lists

If we receive applications from more suitable candidates than we have vacancies for at this time, we may hold suitable applicants on a reserve list for 12 months, and future vacancies in the Civil Service requiring the same skills and experience could be offered to candidates on the reserve list without a new competition.

Civil Service Commission

Selection for appointment to the Civil Service is on merit, on

the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles.

In accordance with the Civil Service Commissioners’ Recruitment Principles, our recruitment and selection processes are underpinned by the requirement of appointment on the basis of merit by fair and open competition. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance you should contact; scscandidate.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk.

If you are not satisfied with the response you receive you can contact the Civil Service Commission at:

Civil Service Commission, Room G/8, 1 Horse Guards Road SW1A 2HQ. www.civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk 

Alternative Formats  

If you wish to receive a hard copy of the information, or in an alternative format e.g. Audio, Braille or large font then please contact:

scscandidate.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk.

If you are unable to complete your application online, and need assistance, we may be able to put a reasonable adjustment in place to help.

If this is the case, please contact us at: scscandidate.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk and we will look into this situation for you.

Please note we are unable to accept any applications after the closing date, if you require a reasonable adjustment, please let us know prior to the closing date.

Further Information

If you have any questions about applying for this role or want to discuss the role further with the vacancy holder, please contact:

scscandidate.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk.

Please ensure you quote the job title and reference number in your email.

http://www.civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window). People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.