The CSA is also responsible for engaging with academia, industry, and international partners to draw on expertise and insights nationally and internationally from relevant fields such as crime science, social and behavioral sciences, biometrics, cybersecurity, and forensic science and technology. The CSA also plays a critical role in emergency preparedness and in representing the department in senior scientific meetings and informing decisions and operations with evidence and data in emergencies as at other times.
Key responsibilities include:
- Scientific Advisory Leadership – Provide expert scientific advice to the Home Secretary, Ministers, senior officials, and, when required, the Prime Minister, ensuring that science, technology, and evidence-based insights inform policy and operational decisions.
- Leadership of Science and Engineering in Government – Oversee the Government Science and Engineering profession within the department, working with science colleagues to oversee, shape, and advise on science and innovation projects.
- Cross-Government Scientific Collaboration – Work closely with the cross-Government Chief Scientific Advisers (CSAs) network, and with CSAs from other government departments, the Social and Behavioral Sciences for Emergencies Steering and funding groups, to share best practice, improve knowledge exchange, shape new projects and address interdepartmental science challenges.
- Long-Term Research & Development Strategy – Shape the Home Office’s research and development agenda, working closely with the departmental science leadership, assuring horizon scanning.
- International Scientific Engagement & Security Partnerships – Represent the UK’s science policy at an international level, fostering partnerships with the US Department of Homeland Security, G20, G7, UN bodies, and other global security science institutions.
- Emergency Preparedness & Response – Offer scientific guidance during national security incidents and emergencies, including participation in the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) and biosecurity advisory bodies, amongst others.
- Public Engagement & Scientific Transparency – Act as a public-facing scientific leader, ensuring effective communication of scientific evidence to policymakers, the media, and the public.
- Scientific Advisory Committees & Research Integrity – Oversee the operation of the Home Office’s Scientific Advisory Committees, ensuring that all science-led policy decisions adhere to high standards of integrity and evidence quality.
Essential Criteria
The successful candidate will need to demonstrate their knowledge, experience, capability and behavioral approach to a high standard against the following key criteria:
- Strategic Leadership in Scientific Research – A recognized track record in a scientific field relevant to the Home Office’s strategic priorities, credibility with academic, industry and policy science and research communities, with a history of leading research programs that impact policy outcomes.
- Science for policy – Extensive experience in applying science and evidence in policymaking and operational decision-making within government or advisory settings.
- Overseeing and assuring science, research and innovation funding – Experience managing substantial R&D budgets, with a strong ability to lead and develop government science programs.
- Global Scientific Engagement – Experience of driving international research collaborations, particularly in areas such as biosecurity, forensic science, cybersecurity, and crime prevention technologies.
- Collaboration – Proven ability to build effective partnerships and collaborate to deliver with colleagues across disciplines, functions, departments and sectors.
- Public Communication & Stakeholder Engagement – Highly developed communication skills, with the ability to present complex scientific evidence clearly to Ministers, the media, and the public.
- Leadership & Team Development – Extensive experience leading, motivating and developing teams, mentoring scientific and research professionals; the ability to motivate and support teams and ensure delivery, including in time of crisis.
Salary: Alongside your salary in a range of £125,000 – £145,000, Home Office contributes £36,212 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.
Application deadline: July 28, 2025
