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Science and Research Strategy Team Leader

Employer
Department for Transport
Location
London (Central), London (Greater)
Salary
£54,105
Closing date
18 Jan 2021

Job Details

Location

London

About the job 

We recognise the challenges that people with (multiple) protected characteristics may experience on the job market and in their career progression. We are fully committed to being an inclusive employer and ensuring equal opportunities. We are keen to make our workforce as diverse as possible, and we hope to attract applications from underrepresented groups, including Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) people, people with a disability, and people with gender diverse identities.

Science and Research Strategy Team Leader

Salary: £54,105

Location: London

Are you an experienced team leader, capable of providing a clear direction and delivering efficient, quality outcomes?

Would you interested in an exciting position where you can form and shape the strategic direction of security science and technology matters?

If so, we are looking to recruit within our National Security Science and Research Division and we would love to hear from you!

Job description

Transport Security, Resilience and Response (TSRR) leads on national security matters, ranging from counter terrorism and cyber security to planning for and responding to natural hazards or civil contingencies. We deliver expertise to support security and resilience policy teams whilst also providing the department's 24/7 response for all security or civil contingency incidents. The team works with security and intelligence partners from across government to mitigate risk to the UK’s transport sector.

TSRR is a major player in delivering both the Government's counter-terrorism strategy (CONTEST), and the department’s aim for a transport system that works for everyone and balances the needs of society, the environment and the economy. A key factor in that aim is to deliver a safe, secure and resilient transport network, for people and goods, for today and tomorrow.

The post holder will be responsible for the implementation and delivery of the Transport Security and Resilience S&T Strategy which sets out how we will transform our delivery of key science research, advice and solutions for a range of transport and national security and resilience challenges to meet demands. The post holder will lead for the division in engagement with other departmental and government strategies; to ensure that transport security science and technology (S&T) is effectively aligned and embedded, that DfT is able to influence those strategies and to leverage opportunities across government to better enable delivery of DfT’s national security S&T objectives. They will build relationships with industry and academia to improve communication of transport security challenges and better leverage external investment. They will also lead on engagement with policy colleagues to drive holistic thinking on how S&T can support strategic policy objectives.

We are a passionate, friendly, dedicated and supportive team that is committed to ensuring the security of transport, as well as the prosperity of the UK and transport industry. We are internationally renowned as a technical authority on transport security, and have strong collaborations with many international partners, including the US and Europe; and the SRS team works closely with colleagues across the wider government community to ensure effective co-ordination. As such some travel will be required for this role, under normal circumstances some travel within the UK, with occasional international travel.
 

Responsibilities

• Lead implementation and delivery of the Transport Security and Resilience S&T strategy, embedding new ways of working across the division and ensuring a coherent, long-term approach.
• Establish and deliver through appropriate governance structures for the strategy.
• Deliver a horizon-scanning capability, linking to wider cross-government initiatives that informs transport security and resilience policy development and drives our innovation and research programmes
• Lead DfT engagement in delivery of the cross-government National Security S&T strategy, on behalf of the DfT Chief Scientific Advisor.
• Build a sustainable Resilience Research capability that is driven by prioritised risks and policy needs drawn from across DfT, building a programme of work that addresses priority gaps, and also building a community across the department that brings together all national security and resilience S&T to maximise benefit for DfT and wider government.
• Deliver a comprehensive external engagement strategy which enables DfT to effectively leverage national security and resilience research undertaken by academia, industry and international partners.
• Lead Division and Directorate engagement in relevant cross-departmental S&T projects and governance, for example the Evidence and Research Summary, Futures and more.
• Lead engagement for DfT with the cross-government National Security Technology & Innovation Exchange (NSTIx) and support key deliverables which benefit DfT, as well as the cross-government national security S&T community.
• Coordinate DfTs input into the Integrated Review and Spending Review bids.
• Commissioning and delivering briefings for senior officials and Ministers for relevant National Security S&T meetings.
• Leadership and management of the Science & Research Strategy team (currently two SEOs and a Science & Engineering Fast Streamer).
• Deputising for and supporting the Head of Innovation, Strategy and Resilience and Deputy Director as required.

About You

You will be a strong team leader and have confidence in your ability to come in and make a real impact within our team where you will lead from the front and drive those around you to achieve the same shared objective. You will strategically plan work priorities by communicating effectively and setting a clear direction.

We will look to you to use your own initiative and be able to translate and convey scientific information to a non-technical audience, expressing information clearly and concisely.
You are someone who gains rapport quickly with others as you build effective working relationships with both colleagues and stakeholders.

You will have confidence in your own expertise and knowledge of scientific topics using your judgement to draw out detail by asking informed questions. You will be proactive by always looking ahead at future activities, projects and events and anticipating needs, problems and possible outcomes.

Qualifications

Formal qualification in a Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) subject to at least degree or equivalent level

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

  • Leadership
  • Communicating and Influencing
  • Seeing the Big Picture
  • Delivering at Pace

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

  • Government Science and Engineering Career framework

Benefits

Being part of our brilliant Civil Service means you will have access to a wide range of fantastic benefits. We offer generous annual leave, attractive pension options, flexible working, inclusive working environments and much more to support a healthy work/life balance.

Find out more about what it's like working at the Department for Transport.

Things you need to know Security

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check.

People working with government assets must complete basic personnel security standard checks.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths, Experience and Technical skills.

The Civil Service Nationality Rules has been updated following the United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union. The new rules will come into effect on 1st January 2021. We urge people from the EU, European Economic Area and Switzerland to be familiar with the updated Nationality rules prior to applying for this role.

We are closely monitoring the situation regarding the coronavirus, and will be following central Government advice as it is issued. There is therefore a risk that recruitment to this post may be subject to change at short notice. In addition, where appropriate, you may be invited to attend a video interview.

Please continue to follow the application process as normal and ensure that you check your emails regularly as all updates from us will be sent to you this way.

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV and personal statement. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

The sift is due to take place from 22nd January 2021.

Interviews/assessments are likely to be held w/c 8th February 2021.

How to apply

For your Personal Statement, in no more than 750 words, please explain why you are suitable for this role, focussing on your ability to lead technical teams, communicate complex scientific information in an accessible manner and align your activities to wider strategic priorities.

Candidates will also be expected to demonstrate their technical experience and skills against the Government Science and Engineering Career Framework; in particular, Applying Scientific and Technical Knowledge.

This interview could be conducted via a video interview, details of which will be provided to you should you be selected for interview.

We will try to meet the dates set out in the advert. There may be occasions when these dates will change. You will be provided with sufficient notice of the confirmed dates.

The selection process will be designed specifically for the role. As a result, your assessment could include:
• an interview and presentation

You’re encouraged to become familiar with the role profile, as you may be assessed against any of the criteria recorded within.

The Department for Transport alongside other Government Departments recruit using Success Profiles. This means for each role we consider what you will need to demonstrate in order to be successful. This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job, drives up performance and improves diversity and inclusivity.

For further information on Success Profiles visit our Careers website.

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

Further Information

To learn more about applying for a role within the Department for Transport, visit the Application Process page of our Careers website.

Before submitting your application, we encourage you to visit our Things You Need to Know page for further information about applying for a role within the Department for Transport and the Civil Service.

Throughout this job advert there are links to the DfT Careers website, which provides you further information to support your application. Should you be unable to access the information on our website, please email [email protected] for assistance.

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

Nationality requirements

Open to UK nationals only.

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code 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.

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.

Apply and further information

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants Job contact : Name :   Jessica Sorrell Email :   [email protected]   Recruitment team : Email :   [email protected] Further information

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 Government Recruitment Services via email: [email protected] If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Visit the Civil Service Commission website at https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk

Company

Transport matters – what we do matters.

Transport touches the lives of everyone in the country. Across road, rail, air, sea and space, our transport networks affect homes, businesses, schools, hospitals and more. It’s how we deliver goods to our shops, get people to work and reunite with our loved ones. Our staff know how important their work is and how they fit in.

 

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