Job summary

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.

Job description

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Person specification

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Benefits

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. Learning and development tailored to your roleAn environment with flexible working optionsA culture encouraging inclusion and diversityA with an average employer contribution of 27%