View Vacancy - Head of Science and Innovation

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

The British Embassy, Israel is seeking an individual for the role of Head of Science and Innovation, job grade, Higher Executive Officer (HEO).

Main purpose of the job:

UK Science & Innovation (SIN) is a global network that increases collaboration and strengthens bilateral relationships across UK Government priority areas. SIN promotes the UK’s excellence in science and innovation in Israel and positions the UK and Israel as partners of choice. Science & Innovation are pivotal focuses of the bilateral relationship between the UK and Israel, which has been reinforced with the COVID pandemic.

It is a fascinating time to be involved in science diplomacy; as the world seeks to respond to global challenges like climate change and health issues such as COVID, and as the geopolitical context becomes increasingly complex, there has never been a more important or interesting time to be working in this field. 

The UK Science and Innovation Network (SIN) has approximately 100 officers in over 40 countries/territories around the world, engaging with the local science and innovation community in support of UK policy overseas and creating strategic relationships to build partnerships and collaborations on science and innovation.

SIN attracts strong interest from UK senior officials and Ministers, who visit from time to time to advance the agenda.

More information on the UK Science & Innovation Network is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/world/organisations/uk-science-and-innovation-network.

The Head of SIN  in Israel will lead on delivery of the UK Government’s Science & Innovation interests in Israel as part of a SIN Europe team. They will report to the SIN Israel and Turkey Regional Manager based in Tel Aviv and will work closely with teams across the Embassy, including colleagues from the UK Israel Tech Hub, the Department of International Trade (DIT), and British Council Israel. 
Head of SIN directly line manages one team member and leads on the SIN Network and Embassy’s key science and innovation objectives for Israel including:

  • supporting a strong bilateral science and innovation relationship between the UK and Israel;
  • identifying and taking forward opportunities for building research and innovation collaborations and partnerships in sectors such as Global Health, Climate Change and Emerging Technologies;
  • Monitoring and informing science, research and innovation policy development.

Main Responsibilities:

The main roles and responsibilities include:

  • Understand and monitor Israeli science and innovation policy, programmes and investments, to inform UK engagement with Israel.
  • Reactively respond to requests from UK ministries for insights into Israel’s approach to specific areas of science and innovation policy to inform UK approach.
  • Proactively monitor and report on major science and innovation related policy announcements, and research, development and innovation initiatives.
  • Providing strategic input to UK-Israel science programmes and researcher mobility.
  • Secretariat for the UK-Israel Science Council.
  • Manage a network of contacts in government, research organisations and universities in the UK and Israel to support SIN and Embassy objectives.
  • Contribute to a programme of projects, visits, events and other activities aimed at facilitating scientific and innovation collaboration between the UK and Israel and enhancing visibility of UK’s science excellence and innovation capability.
  • Support the British Ambassador to Israel’s engagement on science and innovation with key high-level stakeholders.  
  • Identifying, devising and implementing campaigns to drive forward the Science and Innovation Israel strategy, focussing on promoting UK innovation and science excellence in Israel.
  • Manage project delivery, including project finances, for science and innovation focussed projects.

Resources managed:

  • Line management of 1 staff.
  • SIN annual budget.

Key Behaviours:

  • Leadership - Effectiveness in this area is about showing a pride and passion for public service: valuing difference, diversity and inclusion, ensuring fairness and opportunity for all. It’s about creating and engaging others in delivering a shared vision.
  • Seeing the Big Picture – is about having an in-depth understanding and knowledge of how your role fits with and supports organisational objectives. It’s about recognising wider Civil Service priorities and ensuring work is in the national interest.
  • Communicating and Influencing – Effectiveness in this area is about communicating purpose and direction with clarity, integrity and enthusiasm. It’s about respecting the needs, responses and opinions of others.
  • Making Effective Decisions - Effectiveness in this area is about being objective; using sound judgment, evidence and knowledge to provide accurate, expert and professional advice. It means showing clarity of thought, setting priorities, analysing and using evidence to evaluate options before arriving at well-reasoned justifiable decisions.
  • Excellent communication skills in English and Hebrew both verbal and written. Able to tailor approach to express ideas and messages clearly and concisely to different audiences;
  • A keen interest in scientific and technology issues across a range of sectors;
  • An ability to develop and then implement an ambitious strategy;
  • Proven project management experience and delivery;
  • Credibility in the innovation and science communities in Israel;
  • Experience of working internationally;
  • Experience of working with and managing teams;
  • Strong interpersonal and communication (oral and written) skills;
  • Flexibility, self-starter, strong self-management, and time management skills;
  • Ability to produce concise, timely and thorough reporting upon request;
  • Proficiency in MS Office applications (Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint).
  • Science Background.
  • A demonstrated interest or experience in international science and innovation policy and collaboration.
  • Experience of working in government, Embassies or other international or multilateral organisations; and/or experience in working in research institutes and innovation agencies.
Seeing the Big Picture, Making Effective Decisions, Leadership, Communicating and Influencing
30 June 2022
Higher Executive Officer (HEO)
Full-time, Permanent
37.5
Middle East & North Africa
Israel
Tel Aviv
British Embassy
1
NIS
16,000
1 August 2022

Eligibility:

If you are selected for this position, we will be able to employ you as long as you:

  • Receive the appropriate level of security clearance;
  • Candidates must be able to work legally in Israel.

Working Hours and Remuneration:

The Embassy aims to offer an attractive working environment and remuneration package for this role, including a non-negotiable salary of NIS 16,000 per month plus transport allowance and social benefits: pension employer contribution 7.5%, and Keren Hishtalmut employer contribution 7.5%.

This position is for a full-time employment, on a permanent contract basis. The successful candidate will be on a six-month probationary period. 

Parking facilities are not provided nor paid for by the Embassy. No accommodation or relocation expenses are payable in connection with this position.

Working hours is 37.5 per week. Normal working hours are Monday to Thursday 8:00-16:00 and Friday 8:00-13:30.

The Embassy invests in staff’s development with a variety of learning and development opportunities.

 

To Apply:

Interested candidates must attach the following documents along with the completed online application form:

  • An updated Curriculum Vita (CV)
  • A covering letter

**(Applications that do not include the above stated information will be rejected).

All applications must be submitted before 23:55 (Local Time) on 30 June 2022.

Applications received after the stated deadline will not be considered.

The selection process will/might include a written exercise and an interview, with a possibility of an additional screening process.

The start date mentioned in the advert is a tentative start date and the successful candidate will be required to undergo security-vetting procedures.  Any offer of employment will be subject to the candidate achieving suitable clearances and reference checks.

Staff recruited locally by the British Embassy are subject to terms and conditions of service according to local labour law.

 

The British Embassy Tel Aviv is an equal opportunities employer, dedicated to inclusivity, a diverse workforce and valuing difference.

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.