Chief Scientific Adviser

The Chief Scientific Adviser (CSA) in the Ministry of Defence (MOD) is the principal adviser to MOD Ministers and senior officials on all aspects of science and technology (S&T) in the MOD. They exercise pivotal influence over the future trajectory of Defence, including through the CSA holding delegated authority for S&T in MOD, supporting decisions on military operations, future equipment acquisition, and assisting the delivery of future battle-winning technologies.
All of this involves ensuring objective analysis of the Department’s investment programme and of defence-related risks across a broad scope of science, engineering, analytical and technology subjects. The CSA brings together specialised defence areas of chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and missile defence and promotes technology-led modernisation across a range of areas including autonomous systems, cyber deterrence, artificial intelligence, big data, space technology and synthetic environments.
The MOD CSA works closely with the Government Chief Scientific Adviser (GCSA) and the network of CSAs across government, routinely attending the National Science and Technology Council, and other cross government fora. The MOD CSA ensures that key strategic decisions made by Ministers and senior officials are informed by high quality, expert scientific advice and analysis. There is also vital engagement with our international partners and allies in broad areas of research and the CSA personally leads bilateral international relationships on the development of strategic collaboration with potential new partnership countries. The CSA also works closely with industry and academia across the full range of science and technology.
The MOD CSA has executive responsibility for Defence Science and Technology (DST), a Head Office (HO) directorate of science and technology experts in Whitehall, which calls on the further 8,600 scientists and engineers across MOD. Collaborating with military customers, DST works out the balance of investment across the MOD core research programme with a budget of circa £460 million per annum and commissions the programme primarily through the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl).
The post holder is directly accountable to Ministers and to the Permanent Under Secretaries (PUS), with the Second Permanent Under Secretary (2PUS) as line manager., • A short covering statement of no more than two A4 sized pages (1000 words) explaining why this appointment interests you and how you can evidence your suitability for the role, with particular reference to the criteria in the ‘relevant experience’ section.
• You will also be asked to complete a diversity monitoring form. Please note that references and open-source due diligence checks (including into social media accounts) may be undertaken for all short-listed candidates.
This vacancy is part of the A Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative. For further information on whether you are eligible to apply under this scheme please follow the link.
The Ministry of Defence is an accredited ‘Disability Confident Employer’ under the government' Disability Confident Scheme, which denotes organisations that have a positive commitment towards disabled people. We guarantee to interview anyone with a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the role, as outlined on page 5 of this pack. If you wish to claim a guaranteed interview you should declare so at the point you submit your application.
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 developed vetting (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.

Alongside your salary of £149,000, Ministry of Defence contributes £43,165 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
+ Learning and development tailored to your role
+ An environment with flexible working options
+ A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
+ A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%