Location
Bristol (BS2 0EL), London (SW1P 3BT)
Please note – Bristol currently have site controls in place. Therefore, this location option is only available to existing DfE employees already assigned to this office location.
About The Job
Job summary
The Science Team is working to ensure scientific evidence and thinking are embedded across DfE. This is an exciting opportunity to join the team as we work to support a diverse range of scientific areas within the department. We work to support scientific advice being fed into policy decisions, develop links with external experts, and scope and commission scientific research – all working closely with the Chief Scientific Adviser. You will have the opportunity get involved across all these areas of work.
This role sits in the Central Analysis and Research Division (CARD), in DfE’s Strategy Group. CARD provides a broad range of analytical advice including modelling, data analysis, economic analysis and social research, as well as science. We work very closely with colleagues in Strategy and Delivery Unit, and routinely provide ministerial advice on the highest priority issues.
The Science Team is a small, friendly team within CARD focusing on a diverse range of topics offering scientific support and expertise.
Job Description
You will have opportunities for involvement across all the activities of the team, taking ownership of a portfolio of activity and working collaboratively with others to contribute to workstreams.
Job Responsibilities:
- Engaging with policy colleagues to understand their evidence needs and scoping where scientific research and/or advice may be able to help.
- Providing support to the Chief Scientific Advisor and the DfE Science Advisory Council.
- Supporting and overseeing research projects.
- Keeping the team intranet page up to date.
- Supporting governance and prioritisation processes for the department’s portfolio of scientific research.
- Working with external bodies such as the UKRI Research Councils on projects to drive forward shared priorities.
- Contributing to the drafting of briefings, correspondence and responses to Parliamentary Questions and Freedom of Information requests.
Person specification
Essential Criteria:
- At least a first degree in a scientific subject (can include mathematics, engineering, medicine), or equivalent experience in a science role.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills, with experience of conveying a range of complex scientific concepts clearly and concisely to non-specialist audiences.
- The ability to rapidly assimilate complex and sometimes contradictory evidence from a range of sources, potentially in a subject area outside your own expertise.
- A collaborative approach to working, with experience of building strong working relationships with people from a range of professional backgrounds.
- Good organisational skills, with the ability to prioritise effectively and keep track of multiple strands of work. Knowledge and experience of applying project management techniques would be an advantage.
Desirable Criteria:
- Having a higher degree and/or experience working in scientific research would be an advantage.
Desirable criteria will only be assessed at interview, in the event of a tie break situation, to make an informed decision.
Qualifications
At least a first degree in a scientific subject (can include mathematics, engineering, medicine), or equivalent experience in a science role.
Technical Skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- providing and handling evidence (Government Science and Engineering Career Framework)
- engagement with others (Government Science and Engineering Career Framework)
We only ask for evidence of these technical skills on your application form:
- providing and handling evidence (Government Science and Engineering Career Framework)
Benefits
Alongside your salary of £33,834, Department for Education contributes £9,801 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
Applicants currently holding a permanent post in the Civil Service should note that, if successful, their salary on appointment would be determined by the Department’s transfer / promotion policies.
As a member of the DfE, you will be entitled to join the highly competitive Civil Service Pension Scheme, which many experts agree is one of the most generous in the UK.
You will have 25 days leave, increasing by 1 day every year to a maximum of 30 days after five years’ service. In addition, all staff receive the King’s Birthday privilege holiday and 8 days’ bank and public holidays.
We offer flexible working arrangements, such as job sharing, term-time working, flexi-time and compressed hours.
Most DfE employees will be working a hybrid pattern, spending at least 60% of their time in an office or work setting. Changes to these working arrangements are available in exceptional circumstances but must be agreed with the line manager and in line with the requirements of the role.
Travel to your primary office location will not be paid for by DfE, but costs for travel to an office which is not your main location will be covered.
As an organisation, which exists to support education and lifelong learning, we offer our staff excellent professional development opportunities.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window) , and will assess your Experience and Technical skills.
Application
To apply for this role, you will be required to provide a CV and Statement of Suitability (statement max word count 750 words). We will use your CV and statement to assess your suitability for the role against the essential criteria listed in the person specification section above.
To confirm, the maximum word count for the Statement of Suitability is 750. Please adhere to this limit as anything over 750 words will not be taken into account.
You will be required to provide an example of how you meet the technical skill
"Providing and Handling Evidence" from the GSE career framework Government Science and Engineering (GSE) Career Framework, November 2021 (Version 2).
In the event of a large number of applications we will do an initial sift on the technical skillonly.
Interview
At interview you will be asked questions to assess your experience in line with the essential criteria listed above.
You may be asked to perform a short exercise, no prior preparation will be necessary for an exercise. This will be assessed against the essential criteria.
We will also assess the technical skills
“Engagement with Others” and
"Providing and Handling Evidence" from the GSE career framework Government Science and Engineering (GSE) Career Framework, November 2021 (Version 2) .
Interviews are likely to be held in the week commencing 24th February. Please note these dates are subject to change.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview.
Other Information
In your application, please don’t include personal information that identifies you.
This means we can recruit based on your knowledge and skills, and not background, gender or ethnicity - it's called name blind recruitment (opens in a new window).
Please ensure that you remove from your application, all references to your:
- name/title
- educational institutions
- age
- gender
- email address
- postal address
- phone number
- nationality/immigration status
We understand that you might use AI and other resources for your application; however, please ensure all information you provide is factually accurate, truthful, and original and doesn’t include ideas or work that isn’t your own. This is so that your application is authentically and credibly your own.
We reserve the right to raise the minimum pass mark in the event of a high volume or strong field of candidates.
Please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK from the location options provided and not from overseas.
The government is committed to supporting apprenticeships, enabling people to learn and progress in a role whilst earning. We want to monitor the number of people who have completed apprenticeships who are now applying to progress further in their career and are asking this question to all candidates, on all vacancies. You will be asked a question as part of the application process about any previous apprenticeships you have completed. Your response to this question will not affect your application and it is not a requirement of the role to have completed a previous apprenticeship.
If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check maybe carried out.
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 Department of Education of your intention by emailing Pre-Employment.Checks.DFE@education.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.
Department for Education do not cover the cost of travel to your interview/assessment unless otherwise stated.
A reserve list may be held for a period of 6 months from which further appointments can be made.
Candidates will be posted in merit order based upon location preference. Where more than one location is advertised you will be asked to state your preferred location.
New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.
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.
Terms and conditions of candidates transferring from ALBs and NDPBs
Bodies that are not accredited by the Civil Service Commission and are not able to advertise at Across Government on Civil Service jobs will be treated as external new starters and will come into DfE on modernised terms and conditions with a salary at the band minimum.
Bodies that are accredited by the Civil Service Commission but do not have civil service status will be offered modernised terms and will not have continuous service recognised for leave or sickness benefits. Salaries should be offered at band minimum, but there is some flexibility where this would cause a detriment to the individual.
Bodies that are accredited by the Civil Service Commission and do have Civil Service status will be treated as OGD transfers. Staff appointed on lateral transfer will move on to pre-modernised DfE terms (unless they were on modernised terms in their previous organisation). Staff appointed on promotion will move on to modernised DfE terms. Staff will transfer over on their existing salary (on lateral transfer) and any pay above the DfE pay band maximum will be paid as a mark time allowance. Staff moving on promotion will have their salaries calculated using the principles set out in the attached OGD transfer supplementary 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 Department of Education via centralrecruitment.operations@education.gov.uk 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.
Please refer to the attached ‘Reasonable Adjustments Guide 2024 – accessible version’ at the bottom of the advert, for further information.
Childcare Vouchers
Any move to Department for Education (DfE) will mean you will no longer be able to carry on claiming childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
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) .
Apply and further information
This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.
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 : Verity Cook - Head of Science advice and Chief of Staff to CSA
- Email : verity.cook@education.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : Centralrecruitment.operations@education.gov.uk
Further information
The Department for Education’s recruitment processes are underpinned by the Civil Service Commissioners Recruitment Principles, which outlines that selection for appointment is made on merit based on fair and open competition. You have the right to complain if you feel a department has breached the requirement of the Recruitment Principles. In the first instance, you should raise the matter directly with the department concerned via CentralRecruitment.Operations@education.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response, you may bring your complaint to the Commission. For further information on bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission please visit their web pages
