Chief Scientific Adviser

The Chief Scientific Adviser (CSA) occupies one of the most senior and influential positions within the department reporting to the Permanent Secretary and sitting on the Defra Executive Team. The role has expanded in recent years to bring Science together with the Analysis and Insight profession, with Defra’s Director of Analysis and Director-level Chief Data Officer now both reporting into the CSA. The role also holds line management for the Deputy CSA and has dotted lines to Lead Scientists in policy directorates across the core department and to Chief Scientists in Defra’s seven Public Sector Research Establishments (e.g. Animal Plant Health Agency, Centre for Environment Fisheries and Aquaculture Science). Direct line management in the DG Group extends to around 220 people with a budget responsibility of circa £200m annually., Saxton Bampfylde Ltd is acting as an employment agency advisor to Defra on this appointment. Candidates should apply for this role through our website at www.saxbam.com/appointments using code OFRM. You will need to complete and/or attach the following information:

• Your CV, with educational and professional qualifications and full employment history, including an explanation of any gaps in your employment history, and details where possible of budgets and numbers of people;
• 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 on page 7;
• A diversity monitoring form. All applicants are invited to complete this information to assist the Civil Service with monitoring its recruitment process. All data is reported in an anonymous and aggregate format and will not be seen by anyone assessing your application;
• A declaration of interest form.
The closing date for applications is 23.55 on Wednesday 1 January 2025. Longlisted candidates will be invited to meet with Saxton Bampfylde for a preliminary interview sometime during w/c 13 - 20 January 2025. • A shortlist of the applications will take place on w/c 27 January. • Between 3 – 20 February, shortlisted candidates will then be invited to: - a meeting with an existing Director General and a staff member of Defra. This is an opportunity for candidates to build their understanding of what it’s like to work in the Civil Service and at the same time an opportunity for the DG and staff member to ask you about your leadership experience - a meeting with a key external stakeholder who you will be expected to build a successful relationship with if successful. This will be an opportunity for you to gain a better understanding of the importance of different stakeholders in making this role a success and at the same time an opportunity for the key stakeholder to ask you about leadership experience - a meeting with a senior Minister of Defra. • Inputs from all of those steps will then form the basis of a panel interview, chaired by Martin Spencer from the Civil Service Commission w/c 17 or 24 February 2025. Other panel members at the interview will include but may not be limited to Tamara Finkelstein CB, Permanent Secretary at Defra, Professor Dame Angela McLean, Government Chief Scientific Adviser and Heather Hancock, Lead Non-Executive Director at Defra. Please note that references and open-source due diligence checks (including into social media accounts) will be undertaken for all shortlisted candidates. Full details will be provided to shortlisted candidates and recognising that there are a number of steps in the process, we will do our best to arrange the sessions in a way that works for you. This process will be conducted in face-to-face sessions, but if you need any adjustments do let us know. 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.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.Diversity and Inclusion The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

£149,000 If you’re an existing Civil Servant, your salary will be agreed in line with the Civil Service pay rules in place on the date of your appointment. A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97% GBP, Alongside your salary of £149,000, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 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 employer contribution of 28.97%