View Vacancy - SRR - Science and Innovation Adviser B3(L) (maternity cover)

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 Embassy Riyadh has a vacancy for a Science and Innovation Adviser under the UK Science and Innovation Network (SIN) to cover a period of maternity leave until 31 January 2022.

The UK Science and Innovation Network (SIN) is the British Government’s organisation for international science diplomacy, using the UK’s excellence in science and innovation to develop partnerships and collaborations that support UK prosperity and that help tackle global challenges.  SIN is jointly funded by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and the Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) with more than 100 staff based in over 40 countries and territories worldwide, including the SIN Gulf team, led from Doha.

The Science and Innovation Adviser must work as part of the greater SIN team to ensure they continue to promote the UK as the best place in the world for science and innovation, particularly as we exit the European Union.

The six countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC: Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, and Bahrain) are investing heavily in research capacity as they seek to diversify and build their knowledge based economies. In addition to post and wider FCDO objectives, the SIN Gulf Team also manage programme funding to support the UK Gulf Strategy, and the SIN Adviser will assume responsibility for programme delivery in Saudi Arabia along with supporting activities across the wider Gulf region. SIN Gulf has already identified significant opportunities for the UK research base to engage beneficially with Gulf research institutions in priority research sectors (energy, food/ water security, health, digital economy and social sciences) and is looking to extend its coverage both in the region and with UK institutes and businesses. 

 

Duties and responsibilities:

  • Implement the UK government’s science and innovation strategy for the Gulf with direct responsibility for Saudi Arabia.
  • Support the planning and delivery of programme activities (where applicable) and support regional delivery of activity when required.
  • Manage the UK relationship with Saudi research, innovation and funding bodies.
  • Report on Saudi trends, policy and funding in the areas of research, science and innovation.
  • Provide support to senior UK government staff and the UK research base regarding Saudi Arabia’s science and innovation environment.
  • Act as the first point of contact for UK government lobbying on research, scientific and technology policy issues.
  • Work with Saudi partners on the development of common science and innovation policies.
  • Help develop high quality and sustainable science and innovation partnerships that focus on UK and Gulf priorities.
  • Work with UK partners - UK Department for International Trade (DIT), Prosperity, British Council, and others to deliver wider UK prosperity objectives.
  • Develop and maintain a network of senior level contacts across the UK and Gulf research landscape.
  • Help UK entities to leverage Gulf research funds to tackle pressing global challenges.
  • Support VIP visits.

The above list is not exhaustive and the jobholder will be required to be flexible and take on other ad hoc tasks as required, including participating in the Embassy’s emergency planning and any response to a crisis. 

 

Key competencies required:

  • Collaborating and Partnering - Creating and maintaining positive, professional and trusting working relationships with a wide range of people within and outside the organisation to help get business done. Working collaboratively, sharing information, and building supportive, responsive relationships with colleagues and stakeholders whilst having the confidence to challenge assumptions. Encouraging collaboration and building effective partnerships including relationships with Ministers.
  • Delivering at Pace - Focusing on delivering timely performance with energy and taking responsibility and accountability for quality outcomes. Working to agreed goals and activities and dealing with challenges in a responsive and constructive way. Providing the focus and energy to drive activities forward through others and encourage staff to perform effectively during challenging and changing times.
  • Managing a Quality Service - Valuing and modelling professional excellence and expertise to deliver service objectives and striving to improve the quality of service, taking account of diverse customer needs and requirements. Effectively planning, organising, and managing time and activities to deliver a high quality, secure, reliable, and efficient service, applying programme and project and risk management approaches to support service delivery.
  • Engaging Internationally - Leading internationally, engaging our staff, contacts and international partners to help deliver UK Government objectives while living the Civil Service values and serving the UK public. Understanding UK Government aims in the wider UK and international context and developing productive relationships with those external contacts and partners to help deliver UK objectives. Being aware of cultural sensitivities in your area of responsibility and adapting your approach while still promoting UK values.
  • BSc, BA, or BEng in a relevant field
  • Ability to plan strategically, assimilate information from a range of sources, and to see the bigger picture to spot opportunities.
  • Flexible, resilient under pressure, and decisive, with a proven track record of working quickly and reliably with attention to detail and with limited supervision. Strong organisational skills.
  • Ability to work independently and to take the initiative as well as being able to work well as part of a larger team to deliver results.
  • Collaborative approach to colleagues and stakeholder partnerships. Ability to initiate and maintain a wide range of working relationships.
  • A confident communicator with excellent interpersonal skills and good presentation and representational skills. Proven ability to engage at all levels internally and with external stakeholders.
  • Excellent communication skills in English, both verbal and written. Able to tailor approach to express ideas and messages clearly and concisely to different audiences.
  • Very good level of IT skills and proficiency in using Microsoft Office applications (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams).
  • A scientific background: experience working with the research, academic, or commercial scientific community of the Gulf region, and an understanding of the UK science and innovation landscape is highly desirable.
  • Project management experience.
  • Good spoken/ written Arabic language skills.
27 January 2021
Executive Officer (EO)
Fixed Term, Full-time
35
10 months
Middle East & North Africa
Saudi Arabia
Riyadh
British Embassy
1
SAR
11,097.26
1 March 2021
31 January 2022

Eligibility:

The position is available to Saudi nationals and to current holders of valid Saudi residence permits or transferable iqamas. Successful candidates will be required to transfer their sponsorship to the British Embassy. 

 

Working hours and remuneration:

The Embassy aims to offer an attractive working environment and remuneration package for this role.

Salary details:

  • Base Salary including Eid bonus - SAR 8,557.81
  • Housing Allowance - SAR 2,139.45 (subject to eligibility)*
  • Travel Allowance - SAR 400 (subject to eligibility)*

*Allowances are not payable to staff who receive official provision for such expenditure in some other form.

No accommodation and relocation expenses are payable in connection with this position.

 

Normal working hours for the Embassy are 08.00 to 15.00 Sunday to Thursday. This position is full-time, based on 35 hours per week.

The jobholder should also be flexible in their approach to hours worked as these will also be dictated by operational needs and may involve working out of hours (evening and weekend) for representational duties (networking activities, receptions, and seminars). The jobholder must also be available for occasional travel within the Gulf region and to the UK for official/ business purposes.

 

The successful candidate will be subject to a 90-day probationary period.

How to apply:

Interested candidates must attach 1) an updated Curriculum Vitae (CV) and 2) a covering letter to their online application form. Your application must also include examples of when you have demonstrated the required competencies in the Competence-Based Questions section of the online application form.

Applications that do not include these information will not be considered.

Closing date for applications is at 23:55 (KSA local time) on 27 January 2021.

Applications received after the stated deadline will not be considered. 

 

Due to the large number of applications we receive, only those shortlisted for the next step of the recruitment process will be contacted.

The start date mentioned in the advert is an assumed 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, medical clearance and reference checks. 

 

The British Embassy Riyadh is an equal opportunities employer, dedicated to inclusivity, a diverse workforce and valuing difference. Staff recruited locally by the British Embassy is subject to Terms and Conditions of service according to local Saudi Arabia employment law.

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.