View Vacancy - AUS (Canberra) - Science and Innovation Officer, C4 (L)
Support economic growth by strengthening cooperation between the UK and Australia in the fields of science and innovation and promoting UK science policy objective.
Roles and responsibilities / what will the jobholder be expected to achieve?:
The successful candidate will lead the High Commission’s Science and Innovation work in Australia. You will be responsible for identifying and facilitating opportunities for greater collaboration between the UK and Australian Science and Innovation sectors. You will be the key contact point in the High Commission for UK Science Policy officials in BEIS. This will require the successful candidate to build their knowledge of the UK’s particular strengths and to be able to identify key trends and opportunities in Australia that the UK can benefit from. A key part of your work will be to help contacts and colleagues to maximise the benefits of UK-Australian cooperation. You will work with colleagues in the UK Department of International Trade to identify commercial opportunities and will be expected to make a contribution to the UK’s wider policy goals, for example by using your expertise in science and technology to contribute to our ambitious Climate Change agenda or by working with the High Commission’s Communications team to promote our Science and Innovation collaboration publicly, including reporting highlights back to interested parties in London, such as the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS). The job holder will also lend support to visits by UK ministers and senior officials in both directions, and will have opportunities to develop and run innovative projects in support of UK objectives and to contribute to the wider work of the High Commission’s Political Teams. This opportunity comes at an exciting time. The UK has just launched its International Research and Innovation Strategy, part of our Industrial Strategy. The successful candidate will play a central role in determining how this Strategy will be implemented in Australia, including by creating synergies between the various UK government departments that contribute to it.
The position is part of the UK’s global Science and Innovation Network, jointly owned by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and BEIS, and reports to the head of the Global Issues and Communications Team at the British High Commission in Canberra.
- A proven ability to deliver results with strong strategic awareness
- Excellent written and oral communication skills
- Ability to develop productive relationships
- Experience in Australian and/or international science policy, cooperation or R&D projects and understanding of the drivers of innovation and the science/policy interface. This experience might have been developed in an industry, academic or government context
- Understanding of and interest in other areas of government policy or Australian politics and the ability to turn your hand to new areas
- The ability to develop productive relationships and to think creatively about how to achieve science and innovation objectives
- Familiarity with the Microsoft suite of office applications
Salary is at AU$98,663 per annum (paid out monthly), plus 11% superannuation.
Appointment is subject to an AFP records check and UK security clearance.
Open to Australian citizens, permanent residents, and partners/ dependents of UK-based diplomatic staff currently posted in Australia.
Staff recruited locally by the British High Commission and its Consulates is subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local Australian employment law.
The British Government supports flexible working practices. Interstate applicants will be required to meet their own travel and relocation expenses.
Your application must be submitted before 23:55 AEST-Australian Eastern Standard Time (UTC/ GMT +10) on the day mentioned in the above field “Application deadline”
Incomplete application forms will not be taken into consideration, so please ensure you provide the information requested. We regret to advise that we will only be contacting short-listed candidates. Applicants called for an interview will be assessed on the core competencies listed above.
Advertised start date is provisional and subject to completion of reference and security checks.
Kindly check your application centre or email regularly for any update on the status of your application.
This opportunity is closed to applications.