View Vacancy - UK Science & Innovation Officer (78/19 PTA)

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Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Policy & Political roles)
Science and Innovation

Main purpose of job

The United Kingdom and South Africa have a strong relationship working together on Science and Innovation. This role is critical for developing and maintaining strong connections with a range of stakeholders in the public, private and not-for-profit sectors across South Africa and out in to the Southern Africa region. You will identify how the UK’s capabilities as a world leading science nation can partner South Africa’s vision for developing Science and Innovation as set out in its White Paper as well as recognising opportunities to strengthen commercial links between the two-countries.

The UK’s International Research and Innovation Strategy emphasises the importance of international partnerships in promoting research excellence and to that end the UK’s Global Challenges Research Fund is active in South Africa bringing together research centres in the UK with their counterparts locally to undertake world-leading research. You will be expected to keep track of the highest priority projects ensuring their outputs are considered in policy development.

Roles and responsibilities:

  • Country lead on delivering UK Government science and innovation strategy in specific sectors, briefing and reporting for South Africa.
  • Developing and expanding the UK relationship with South African research, innovation and funding bodies
  • Providing support to senior UK Government staff and the UK research base regarding the South Africa science and innovation environment; supporting VIP visits
  • Developing high quality and sustainable UK/SA science and innovation partnerships that focus on UK and South African priorities
  • Identifying opportunities and developing and managing bilateral projects (these might be regional in nature) in order to increase collaboration opportunities for the UK science base
  • Lead on managing specific projects ensuring targetted and full spend with delivery against objectives set
  • Within sectors that the position leads on, work with UK partners – FCO, Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Department for International Trade, Department for International Development, the British Council and others to deliver wider UK prosperity objectives, including higher education linkages
  • Work with the Department for International Trade to identify and match opportunities to UK firms
  • Developing and maintaining a network of senior level contacts across the UK and South Africa research landscape

Resources managed:

You may be required to manage small projects, these are unlikely to have a budget of more than £50,000 (R550,000)  


  • A degree in a scientific/technological discipline
  • Excellent written and spoken English
  • Good presentation, interpersonal and representational skills
  • The ability to initiate and maintain a wide range of working relationships
  • Strong organisational skills and project management experience
  • The ability to work quickly and reliably with attention to detail and with limited supervision

Language requirements:

Language: English

Level of language required: Excellent

  • Policy development
  • Experience of working with SA scientific research organisations and an understanding of research funding in South Africa
  • An understanding of the UK science and innovation landscape
  • Experience of working with UK research organisations
10 December 2019
Higher Executive Officer (HEO)
Permanent
Africa
South Africa
Pretoria
British High Commission
R45,596.60
6 January 2020

Learning and development:

The successful candidate will get access to a range of learning and development opportunities, including on the job training and workshops. They will also be able to benefit from the wide range of training run by the British High Commission including on management and leadership, cross-cultural communication, and understanding the UK

The British High Commission pays in full for the Key Care Plus option on Discovery Health for staff including spouses/partners and dependants.

  • Once you have successfully completed your probation the British High Commission will contribute 9% of your monthly salary to a Provident Fund.
  • Annual leave entitlement of 25 days
  • Working hours per week of 36.5 

Working patterns:

Subject to operational demands, it may be possible to work one day a week from home. It may be necessary to undertake representational duties including some outside of normal working hours.

Travel around South Africa and to the UK may be required.

  • Please complete the application form in full as the information provided is used during screening.
  • Please check your application carefully before you submit, as no changes can be made once submitted.
  • The British High Commission will never request any payment or fees to apply for a position.
  • Employees recruited locally by the British High Commission in Pretoria are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local employment law in South Africa.
  • All candidates must be legally able to work and reside in the country of the vacancy with the correct visa/work permit status or demonstrate eligibility to obtain the relevant permit. 
  • The responsibility lies on the successful candidate to;
  • Obtain the relevant permit
  • Pay fees for the permit
  • Make arrangements to relocate
  • Meet the costs to relocation 
  • The British High Commission do not sponsor visas/work permits except where it may be local practice to do so. 
  • Employees who are not eligible to pay local income tax: e.g. certain third-country nationals and spouses/partners of UK diplomats will have their salaries abated by an equivalent amount.
  • Information about the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Competency Framework can be found on this link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/civil-service-competency-framework Please note:  AA=A1, AO=A2, EO=B3, HEO=C4, SEO=C5
  • Reference checking and security clearances will be conducted on successful candidates.
  • Please log into your profile on the application system on a regular basis to review the status of your application.
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This opportunity is closed to applications.