About the job

Job summary

Background: The UK Space Agency: 

The UK Space Agency is an executive agency of the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology (DSIT) and provides technical advice on the government’s space strategy, supporting the UK space sector to deliver the government’s vision. 

Space is a part of everyday life. Satellites underpin our national economy, from agriculture and banking to aviation and shipping, and support our national security. Space science provides critical data to understand and address global challenges such as climate change, while missions to explore our solar system unite nations and advance humanity’s horizons. 

We support a thriving space sector in the UK, which generates an annual income of £16.5 billion and employs 47,000 people across the country. 

Through our portfolio of programmes and projects, we encourage the development of national space capabilities and are an early-stage investor in space research and development.  We also promote the UK space sector’s interests and achievements; make connections to join up industry and academia; and represent the UK in international space programmes. 

We have a powerful global voice, partnering with institutions across the world, including the European Space Agency. 

More information about the Agency is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-space-agency 

To discover more please watch this film https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbZZ-o0IkVU

Our Inclusive Environment

We have an inclusive culture to make UK Space Agency a brilliant place to work where our people feel valued, have a voice 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 will help us be more innovative and make better decisions.

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

We actively welcome applications from anyone who shares our commitment to inclusion.

Job description

The Head of International Relations will provide senior leadership and oversight of all the UK Space Agency programmes, activities and engagements with an international element (outside of ESA), providing strategic advice to DSIT on delivery routes to meet overall HMG strategic space priorities.

The post holder will lead a team of country experts who manage relationships across the globe to deliver on HMG space objectives. They will also be responsible for ensuring the effective delivery of the International Bilateral Fund, the Agency’s flagship programme for international strategic partnerships.

Alongside these wider objectives the post holder will lead the international relations team through a period of change as the Integrated Transformation Programme concludes and ways of working are amended.

Key Responsibilities:

• Working closely with DSIT and DBT, identifying and developing opportunities for bilateral cooperation with space agencies worldwide.
• Overseeing the successful delivery of the International Bilateral Fund.
• Coordinating and, where appropriate, leading the UK Space Agency’s participation in multilateral space organisations such as the International Astronautical Federation (IAF) and international events such as the Space Symposium.
• In support of the UK Space Agency Integrated Transformation Programme, helping to ensure the successful implementation of the design principles and frameworks as they are developed.
• Developing strategic policy advice to support DSIT and informing wider government engagement priorities.
• Managing a diverse and high-performing team which deliver international objectives on behalf of the agency.
• The post holder needs to be available for frequent and prolonged travel to international countries.

Person specification

Skills, Knowledge, Experience and Qualifications:

• Leadership: The job holder must be able to lead and manage a high-profile portfolio and communicate about space in an engaging manner to senior audiences.
• Communicating and Influencing: The job holder must be able to communicate the value of our international partnerships using a variety of communications channels. They must also be able to influence stakeholders to support HMG objectives.
• Making Effective Decisions: Experience of working with evidence, including converting complicated information into simple policy lines for a lay audience.
• Working together: The job holder needs to have considerable experience of dealing with a wide range of high-level stakeholders.
• Experience of leading international meetings and negotiations would be an advantage but not essential as training can be given.
• Job holder must have experience managing a diverse team of subject matter experts.
• An Interest and passion for space is also desirable.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £61,580, UK Space Agency 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.

UK Space Agency is undergoing a transformation programme which may impact your role, line manager and/or location in the future.  We will share more details with you as they become known.

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 500 words) to explain your suitability for the role, with specific reference to the criteria in the person specification.

Please note - the CV incorporated into the application form is for information purposes only and will not be scored.

The Sift will be assessed on behaviours and personal statement

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the lead behaviour - Leadership.

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

The Interview will be assessed on behaviours and a presentation.

Sift and interview dates

Expected Timeline subject to change

Sift date w/c 08/01/2024

Interview date w/c 30/01/2024

Interview Location: Harwell

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

The UK Space Agency will not be able fund any travel or subsistence for candidates.

Further Information

Reasonable Adjustment

If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

• Contact Government Recruitment Service via uksarecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

• Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.

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 maybe carried out.

Any move to UK Space Agency 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/

A reserve list will be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.

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

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

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf. However, we recognise in exceptional circumstance 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-Employment.Checks@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

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 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.