View Vacancy - Science and Innovation Officer- Maternity Cover (DEU294)
The British Embassy Berlin is part of a world-wide network, representing British political & economic and consular interests overseas and is now looking for a Science and Innovation Officer.
Science and innovation (S&I) are at the heart of the UK Government’s 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 in these areas. S&I are amongst the PM’s named priorities for the UK in negotiating its exit from the EU. Supporting international collaboration in these areas will become more important as UK makes preparations to leave. Germany is a major global research power and vital UK partner in Europe.
The UK Science and Innovation Network (SIN) has approximately 90 officers around the world, 22 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.
This is a key role in the SIN Germany team, working to the Head of SIN Germany, Austria and Switzerland on policy and project work, while proactively scoping and building the local contact networks the team needs to deliver against its priorities. The jobholder also works directly with economic and trade colleagues on prosperity issues, developing a coherent approach to prosperity work across the EU/Economic Section in which SIN Germany sits.
The jobholder will become part of the British Government’s presence in Germany, supported and fostered by this country network. 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;
- Strengthening the UK-Germany bilateral political relationship through S&I;
- Enhancing the reputation and reach of UK S&I in Germany.
Main Duties and Responsibilities:
Policy reporting and analysis:
- Proactive and reactive reporting and analysis to UK government science and innovation leads on local S&I policy developments, including UK-Germany comparative information and insight;
- Drafting and maintaining standard briefing on the German science and innovation landscape;
- S&I policy advice to Embassy seniors and UK government leads, including Ministerial briefing.
Stakeholder engagement:
- Building strong networks across core policy and research organisations (e.g. the BMBF, local science media contacts, MdBs etc…) as well as prosperity and innovation contacts;
- Broader stakeholder outreach in priority thematic areas for SIN Germany (currently Future Manufacturing, Clean Energy, Life Science and Global Health, Future Cities and Oceans);
- Harnessing networks to deliver information gathering, influencing, and high-impact projects;
- Supporting high-impact UK senior visits around S&I or prosperity (e.g. Ministers, GCSA).
Project delivery:
- With guidance from the Head of SIN Germany, design and deliver high-impact science and innovation projects which enhance UK reputation in Germany, strengthen the UK-Germany bilateral relationship, and create other policy, research or commercial outcomes.
- The job holder will manage spending on projects in their lead policy areas, with typical bilateral project size £5-20k.
L&D and Corporate:
- Contribute to wider Germany network objectives and support a positive working environment;
- Undertake FCO and SIN learning and development to further develop skills and competences.
- Fluent English and German (both written and spoken, minimum of C2 level for CEFR framework*) and excellent communication skills;
- Strong team-working and networking skills;
- Basic knowledge of UK and German research and innovation systems;
- Good foreign policy awareness, particularly around Europe.
- Experience of working in an international policy environment;
- Experience of programme and project management;
- Knowledge and contact networks around one or more of SIN Germany’s current thematic priority areas (Future Manufacturing, Clean Energy, Future Cities, Oceans).
This is a part-time, temporary position of 30 hours per week to cover maternity leave. We expect the position to be available for 16 months; however the period could be longer or shorter depending on the current job holder maternity leave dates.
The jobholder will become part of the British Government’s presence in Germany, which aims to support and foster them and their work.
The British Embassy in Berlin 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. Moreover, there are opportunities to access learning and development through both the Germany Network and SIN Europe. SIN officers are encouraged to complete Prosperity / Economic Diplomacy modules of the FCO Diplomatic Academy, with further recommendations available in an Induction Pack for new SIN officers. This is in addition to the induction programme offered to all Embassy staff.
The successful applicant will be encouraged to be actively involved in the corporate life of the Embassy, contributing to the wider objectives of the British Government’s Germany network and supporting the Embassy’s positive working environment.
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 Embassy does not sponsor for work permits.
Staff recruited locally by the British Embassy in Germany are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local German employment law.
* 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 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, nor the costs connected with relocation if offered a job.
This opportunity is closed to applications.
