About the job

Job summary

Our priorities

Optimise public R&D investment to support areas of relative UK strength and increase the level of private R&D to make our economy the most innovative in the world.

Promote a diverse research and innovation system that connects discovery to new companies, growth and jobs – including by delivering world-class physical and digital infrastructure (such as gigabit broadband), making the UK the best place to start and grow a technology business and developing and attracting top talent.

Put public services – including the NHS and schools – at the forefront of innovation, championing new ways of working and the development of in-house STEM capability to improve outcomes for people.

Strengthen international collaboration on science and technology in line with the Integrated Review, and ensure our researchers are able to continue to work with leading scientists in Europe and around the world.

Deliver legislative and regulatory reforms to drive competition and promote innovation, including the Data Protection and Digital Information Bill, the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumer Bill and our pro-innovation approach to regulating AI.

Our Inclusive Environment

We have an inclusive culture which makes the Department a brilliant place to work where our people feel valued and can be their authentic selves. We value difference and diversity, not only because we believe it is the right thing to do, but because it helps us be more innovative.

We offer flexible working benefits, employee well-being support and a great pension. We are fortunate to have a range of staff networks and are proud to be a Disability Confident Leader employer. We support talented people from all backgrounds to build a career and thrive.

We welcome applications from anyone who shares our commitment to inclusion and fully support candidates with a disability or long-term condition who require adjustments in our recruitment process. 

We regularly run events where you can find out more about the department and tips for the application process. You can sign up for upcoming events here: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/departmentforsciencetechnologyandinnovation?

You can also follow our LinkedIn Page: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/dsitcareers/  

Please note that DSIT are currently reviewing our terms and conditions and pay arrangements following Machinery of Government changes and as part of the outstanding August 2023 pay award.  Please be aware that there may be changes to the terms and conditions and pay ranges listed in this advert ahead of you starting in post. Any changes would be implemented in early 2024.

Job description

The Office for Life Sciences (OLS) is a busy strategy and policy implementation unit of c. 100 people, providing direct support and regular advice to Ministers in the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT).

Life Sciences (covering medicines, medical technologies, and diagnostics) is a crucial pillar of the UK economy, supporting over a quarter of a million jobs and generating an annual turnover in excess of £94bn.

OLS is responsible for the delivery of the Life Sciences Vision, published in July 2021, which aims to make the UK a world leading hub for Life Sciences. As a joint unit, we are uniquely placed to work across the private sector, government, and the NHS, to support, grow and maintain Life Sciences businesses for the benefit of the UK’s population and economy. This requires direct working with Ministers and their Private Offices and stakeholders from across the healthcare system to shape and deliver government policy.

OLS is a friendly, welcoming, and inclusive Directorate and accommodates reasonable adjustments to meet the diverse needs of individual staff members. We have a range of engaging staff workstreams including Equity, Diversity and Inclusion; Health, and Well-being; Reward and Recognition; Learning and Development; and Culture and Volunteering; each of which has a senior leadership team champion.

We welcome applicants from all walks of life and believe a range of backgrounds and experiences within a workforce creates a better working environment and produces better policy for the people of the UK.

The UK requires a globally competitive Life Sciences investment ecosystem and a highly-skilled workforce, so that companies can access the funding and talent needed for growth.

The postholder will lead a small team of policy officials and work with industry stakeholders to improve access to finance and skills for the UK’s most innovative high-potential Life Sciences companies by championing and driving forward OLS’ access to finance and skills priorities and supporting relevant DSIT, DHSC and cross-Whitehall initiatives. This is a busy, priority role with considerable visibility across both departments.

The role:

The successful candidate will join the Manufacturing, Access to Finance and Skills (MAFS) team in OLS. MAFS’ goal is to make the UK the leading destination in Europe to start and grow a Life Sciences business.

We do this by:

• Providing a compelling capital grants offer to incentivise investments in UK Life Sciences Manufacturing.
  
• Working with partners at UKRI, the Catapults and across Government to support and anchor manufacturing innovation.
  
• Ensuring the Life Sciences sector has access to the variety of skills it needs to support innovation and company growth.
  
• Supporting cross-Whitehall efforts to unlock institutional and Venture Capital (VC) investment for the benefit of Life Sciences companies.

The successful candidate will:

• Lead implementation of the access to finance and skills commitments set out in the Life Sciences Vision, ensuring alignment with other relevant access to finance and skills initiatives across government and coordination of the work of OLS’ sector expert and innovation partners.
  
• Provide strategic oversight and set direction for the OLS Access to Finance and Skills team, working to identify opportunities to collaborate on and influence policy making and identify areas of mutual benefit, such as company scale-up.
  
• Support the Life Sciences Investment Envoy in his role to champion Government’s work to unlock growth capital for the Life Sciences sector and create a community of Life Sciences investors.
  
• Work with the British Business Bank to oversee the delivery of the £200m Life Sciences Investment Programme (LSIP) and ensure programmes such as the Future Fund: Breakthrough are working for Life Sciences.
  
• Support HMT on the implementation of the Mansion House reforms announced by the Chancellor to unlock institutional investment in areas such as Life Sciences, including engaging with relevant VC and institutional investors.
  
• Identify funding opportunities to support skills development in Life Sciences (e.g. DfE’s recent funding announcement for Apprenticeships) and ensure that key policy areas – such as Apprenticeships and Migration – are working effectively for Life Sciences.
  
• Collaborate with our industry skills expert group to shape policy priorities, deliver joint projects and demonstrate.

Person specification

Essential Skills and Experience

We are looking for someone who:

1. Is adept at building and maintaining excellent relationships with partners, often at very senior levels, in this role you will need to build networks and influence across Government, industry and the finance and skills communities, to deliver OLS objectives.
   
2. Can objectively review a range of inputs from multiple stakeholders to reach evidence-based recommendations on sophisticated policy, commercial and relationship issues, and expertly support Ministers and senior officials by providing high quality advice and briefing.
   
3. Has experience in leading cross-Government teams to deliver complex projects, often to short timelines and with wide-ranging senior interest.
   
4. Relishes the opportunity to learn more about the captivating work that Life Sciences companies carry out and seize the economic and health opportunities therein.
   

Previous experience in Life Sciences, sector engagement, or health policy is desirable, but not essential.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £64,660, Department for Science, Innovation & Technology contributes £16,626 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

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV, personal statement and behavioural statements.

Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

Please use your personal statement (in no more than 250 words) to explain why, based on your skills and experience, you are suitable for the role.

Candidates will be sifted on behavioural statements, CV, and personal statement.

In the event of a large number of applicants, applications will be sifted on the lead behaviour statement (Leadership).

Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

The interview will consist of behaviour questions.

Interviewees will be asked to deliver a presentation; further details will be provided nearer the time.

Sift and interview dates

Expected Timeline subject to change

Sift dates: w/c 19/02/2024

Interview dates: w/c 26/02/2024

Interview Location: MS Teams.

Candidates are asked to note the above timetable, exercising flexibility through the recruitment and selection process.

Further Information

Please be aware the levels of national security clearance are changing which may impact on the level needed for this role by the time of appointment. All efforts will be made to keep candidates informed of any changes and what that will mean in terms of vetting criteria. For more information please See our vetting charter.

Reasonable Adjustment

We are proud to be a disability confident leader and we welcome applications from disabled candidates and candidates with long-term conditions.

We fully support adjustments throughout our recruitment process and we encourage candidates to discuss their adjustment needs by emailing the job contact which can be found under the contact point for applicants section.

We do not have an exhaustive list of adjustments that we support but just some examples include additional time to complete your application form, behaviour questions up to 72 hours prior to interview and having extra time at interview.

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

A location based reserve list of successful candidates will be kept for 12 months. Should another role become available within that period you may be offered this position.

Please note terms and conditions are attached. Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you.

Any move to the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk

DSIT does not normally offer full home working (i.e. working at home); but we do offer a variety of flexible working options (including occasionally working from home). 

DSIT cannot offer Visa sponsorship to candidates through this campaign.

DSIT holds a Visa sponsorship licence but this can only be used for certain roles and this campaign does not qualify.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service and Disclosure Scotland on your behalf.

However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading. 

For further information on the Disclosure Scotland confidential checking service telephone: the Disclosure Scotland Helpline on 0870 609 6006 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email Info@disclosurescotland.co.uk 

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment. 

A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.

Feedback

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 counter-terrorist 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.