View Vacancy - Science and Innovation Network (SIN) Officer B3, Munich (DEU18.175)

The British Government is an inclusive and diversity-friendly employer.  We value difference, promote equality and challenge discrimination, enhancing our organisational capability. We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We do not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, colour, ethnicity, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, age, veteran status or other category protected by law. We promote family-friendly flexible working opportunities, where operational and security needs allow.
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Policy & Political roles)
Science and Innovation

The British Consulate-General in Munich is part of a world-wide network, representing British political, economic and consular interests overseas. An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Science and Innovation Network (SIN) officer.

Science and innovation (S&I) are at the heart of the UK Government’s Industrial Strategy for prosperity and sustainable growth. The UK is already a global leader in S&I and we recognise that international partnership is essential to maintaining our excellence, our reputation and our global competitiveness. S&I are amongst the PM’s priorities for the UK in negotiating its exit from the EU, and supporting international collaboration in these areas is increasingly important. Germany is a major global research power and UK partner in Europe with Munich being important in its own right and as a base for outreach to research and innovation contacts across Bavaria and southern Germany more broadly. As well as being home to excellent universities, Munich hosts the headquarters of several key research and innovation institutions, including the Max Planck and Fraunhofer associations.

The UK Science and Innovation Network (SIN) has more than 90 officers around the world, with 25+ in Europe, tasked with building partnerships and collaborations which deliver policy, research or business outcomes against the SIN Global Strategy, benefiting both the UK and host country. The UK’s developing Industrial Strategy has a strong S&I foundation which will guide and inform SIN’s future work in support of prosperity and economic growth.

Our Munich S&I officer is an important role in the SIN Germany team, with scope for a high degree of autonomy for the right candidate. The job holder reports remotely to the Head of SIN Germany, Austria and Switzerland on policy and project work, proactively scoping and building contact networks in Munich and southern Germany, to help deliver team priorities. As the only S&I officer at the Consulate General (CG) in Munich, the jobholder should also work closely with international trade and investment colleagues, identifying areas of common interest (e.g. engagement with high-tech business in priority sectors for both SIN and DIT) and developing sensible shared goals.  

The jobholder will become part of the British Government’s presence in Germany, supported and fostered by this country network, including access to a wide range of learning and development opportunities. These include excellent formal and informal opportunities such as short secondments, job shadowing or coaching. There is also the chance to get involved in ad hoc projects such as Royal Visits or high profile events.

The role supports UK international S&I priorities and UK high global S&I rankings by:

-       contributing to delivery of the HMG S&I agenda across Germany, focusing on Munich and southern Germany,

-       strengthening the UK-Germany bilateral political relationship through S&I,

-       Enhancing the reputation and reach of UK S&I in Germany.

All staff are expected to contribute to the wider objectives of the British Government’s Germany network and to support the Embassy’s positive working environment. For example, other SIN Germany colleagues have played an active role on the L&D Committee, the “Beacon” staff newsletter, and Book Club.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Bilateral

  • Strengthening the UK-Germany bilateral political relationship through S&I; Enhancing the reputation and reach of UK S&I in Germany
  • Monitor and respond to developments in science and innovation policies and programmes in Germany. Provide timely and concise reports on key developments to UK government departments and other stakeholders.
  • Develop, deliver and contribute to a programme of projects, visits, events and other activities aimed at scoping and facilitating UK-Germany collaboration in science and innovation.
  • Support Ministerial and senior official visits to Germany relating to bilateral science and innovation issues.
  • Self-initiate, organise and follow-up bilateral and international projects in priority science & technology areas.
  • In the context of Brexit, understand and interpret key German stakeholder positions on the future of science collaboration to ensure FCO/BEIS/DExEU and other UK stakeholders have the data to engage and influence negotiations.

Influence

  • Develop a wide range of contacts in government, business, universities and public research organisations in the UK and Germany to support SIN DACH team overarching objectives.
  • Build and develop bilateral relationships between Germany and UK Ministries, academic institutions and organisations with an interest in science and innovation. Provide information and insight into German reactions to UK science related exit objectives.
  • Contribute to ongoing UK economic growth and a strong post-negotiation bilateral relationship by initiating mutually beneficial science and innovation collaboration between the UK and Germany

Corporate Responsibility

  • Support the wider work in the Consulate General including providing surge capacity and engaging in corporate activities.
  • Good knowledge of UK and German research and innovation systems.
  • Proactive approach with ability to organise self and work effectively.
  • Team player, as well as proven ability to work autonomously.
  • Strong interpersonal skills. Proven ability to form professional relationships and build trust with a wide range of contacts.
  • Fluency in English and German (both oral and written).
  • Postgraduate degree in a science, research or innovation-linked discipline, or equivalent working experience.
  • Strong intercultural understanding.
  • Knowledge and contact networks around one or more of SIN Germany’s current thematic priority areas (Future Manufacturing, Clean Energy, Future Cities, Space).
  • Flexibility to travel domestically, mainly around southern Germany, and internationally.
7 May 2018
Executive Officer (EO)
Fixed Term, Full-time
37.5
Europe, Eastern Europe & Central Asia
Germany
Munich
British Consulate General
EUR
€57,000 gross per annum rising to €64,028 gross per annum after a qualifying period in addition to performance related pay. (Salary is not negotiable)
1 June 2018

This is a full-time position of five working days, 37.5 hours per week, for a fixed term contract of 2 years.

The successful candidate will be subject to professional background check and security clearance.

All applicants should have the right to live and work in Germany. The successful candidate must have pre-existing work authorization for Germany in order to apply. The British Consulate-General does not sponsor for work permits.

Staff recruited by the British Consulate-General are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to German employment law.

The British Consulate-General in Munich has a strong ethos of Learning and Development, including our Learning and Development Week. In addition, there will be many opportunities to attend external seminars and events on relevant issues. This is in addition to the induction programme offered to all British Consulate-General staff.

The successful applicant will be encouraged to be actively involved in the corporate life of the British Consulate-General in Munich, contributing to the wider objectives of the British Government’s Germany network and supporting the Embassy’s positive working environment.

Please note that the deadline for applications is 23:55 on the day mentioned in the above field “Application deadline”.

We advise you to allow enough time to complete and submit your full application, since only applications completed and submitted before the deadline will be considered.

Please be aware that the deadline for submitting applications is considered to be the time zone for the country where the vacancy has arisen.

Please be advised that the British Embassy will not be able to meet the travel costs incurred when travelling to the interview (including Security Check), nor the costs connected with relocation if offered a job.

* Please note Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, Teaching, Assessment indicates Level C2 as Mastery or proficiency Level which comprehends that a person can understand with ease virtually everything heard or read; can summarize information from different spoken and written sources, reconstructing arguments and accounts in a coherent presentation; can express themselves spontaneously, very fluently and precisely, differentiating finer shades of meaning even in the most complex situations. For more information please click on the following link CEFR. Please bear in mind in case you are invited for an interview your languages skills are going to be assessed.

Please be aware that you will only be able to apply to vacancies for Country Based Staff roles with the British Government through this official tal.net site (operated by Oleeo). Jobs may be advertised on third party websites, however our adverts will always link back to the official tal.net site. If you complete and send an application through any other site, we will not receive it.

This opportunity is closed to applications.