Job Description

Main purpose of job:

To promote effective science, technology and innovation (ST&I) collaboration between the UK and Singapore, which drives UK prosperity, supports the UK's science strengths, and opens up future potential leading to science investment in the UK and opportunities for our businesses. To deliver strong Government-Government collaboration on science, technology and innovation, drawing in research funders, policymakers, and innovation agencies on both sides of the relationship. To promote the UK's science policy objectives and lead the UK's science and technology diplomacy with Singapore. Outcomes will build on the existing strong partnership between the two countries and may include joint research programmes, new academic partnerships, and/or new commercial opportunities for the UK.

Roles and responsibilities/what will the jobholder be expected to achieve:

This position is part of the UK's global Science and Innovation Network, jointly owned by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS). The three priority themes for the Science and Innovation Network's work are critical and emerging technologies; global health; and climate and environment.

You will play a vital role in delivering an ambitious agenda of science and innovation cooperation between the UK and Singapore, designing, planning and delivering activities that will strengthen the UK science base and support growth and jobs in the UK. The successful candidate will support the team across the various thematic priorities mentioned above, and may be assigned responsibility for particular policy area(s) as appropriate.

You will need to engage influential stakeholders in both Singapore and the UK, mapping areas of common priority and building support for joint workstreams. You will need to deploy programme funding, support visits, provide policy analysis, co-ordinate media engagement, and engagement of research funders and performers to meet strategic objectives under priority themes. You will also be one of the key contact points in the BHC for ST&I-related enquiries and information requests from government departments/agencies, IHLs, and research funders/organisations.

As part of the wider British High Commission team, you will also contribute to ad-hoc work at times of pressure such as visits by UK ministers and senior officials or crises. You will have opportunities to initiate and deliver projects in support of UK government policy priorities and provide ST&I input to support the wider work of the BHC.

Core responsibilities will include: * Budget management: Manage and report the S&I programme budget, post budgets, contacts, and events

• Stakeholder management: Establishing strong relationships with key stakeholders in government, academia and industry, and maintaining a network of close working contacts
• Programme/Project management and delivery: Co-ordinating and supporting programmes and projects that deliver UK science and innovation objectives.
• Public Diplomacy/communications: Plan and and deliver campaigns and activities which help to highlight UK science, technology and innovation strengths, capabilities and priorities. These may involve preparation of media and social media messages and articles, public lectures, and panel discussions.
• Policy Analysis/Briefing: Providing insights and reporting to the UK government on emerging issues, opportunities and developments to inform and shape UK policy, and responding in a timely manner to requests for information, introductions and briefing for meetings and visits from UK government departments and their agencies.
• Co-ordination of visits/events: Support the organisation of visits and events by senior UK government and non-government representatives, deploying them strategically to deliver HMG objectives in Singapore.

Resources managed (staff and expenditure):

The job-holder will have the opportunity to bid for different programme funds to deliver projects in each financial year.

Essential qualifications, skills and experience

Essential on Arrival:

• A degree, and/or evidenced relevant professional experience
• Proven understanding and interest in science and innovation
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills (the job requires writing high quality briefing, as well as the ability to provide oral briefing to senior stakeholders)
• Strong stakeholder management skills/experience
• Project/ programme/ financial management experience

VISA/Passport Requirements:

We welcome applications from candidates in countries from which travel to Singapore is feasible under the prevailing Covid-related border restrictions. Singapore will only allow entry for those fully vaccinated with a vaccine approved under the WHO EUL. Successful overseas applicants are responsible for all costs associated with relocating to Singapore.

Desirable qualifications, skills and experience

Desirable:

• Knowledge and understanding of Singapore's and the UK's research and innovation ecosystem
• Experience with work on government policy, academic research programmes, and/or innovation development

Required behaviours

Delivering at Pace, Communicating and Influencing, Working Together

Application deadline Application deadline - day Application deadline - month Application deadline - year

8 November 2022

Grade

Executive Officer (EO)

Type of Position

Full-time, Permanent

Working hours per week

37.5

Region

Asia Pacific

Country/Territory

Singapore

Location (City)

Singapore

Type of Post

British High Commission

Number of vacancies

1

Salary Currency

SGD

Salary

4,738

Start Date Start Date - day Start Date - month Start Date - year

2 January 2022

Other benefits and conditions of employment

We offer a competitive package, which includes basic salary of SGD 4,738 per month and a generous annual wage supplement (as part of total guaranteed remuneration) of an additional 2 months' salary paid out in December each year, Central Provident Fund (CPF) payment in lieu for non-Permanent Resident foreign nationals, 23-days annual leave entitlement and a health insurance plan. The basic salary is non-negotiable.

We have a generous leave offer including: 23 days annual leave, increasing to 25 after 5 years' service, with the option to carry over up to 10 days into the subsequent leave year; 13 public holidays; generous maternity and paternity leave; and childcare leave. We encourage volunteerism and offer up to 3 days paid volunteer leave.

We offer medical insurance to support staff with the high costs of healthcare in Singapore and periodic reimbursement for the cost of eye tests and replacement eye wear.

Learning and development opportunities:

We offer time and financial support for the successful candidate to take advantage of professional learning and development opportunities inside and outside of the organisation.

The BHC has an active Learning & Development Committee which works hard to provide a comprehensive L&D offer. There is a wide range of options available for personal development including training courses, coaching and mentoring, job-shadowing, presentations and learning sets. Staff have access to a wide variety of online resources through the International Academy and Civil Service Learning. Staff are strongly encouraged to take advantage of all available opportunities.

All new hires undertake a workplace induction and there are a number of mandatory e-learning courses that must be completed in order to pass probation.

Working Patterns:

Normal working hours are 37.5 per week: 8.30am to 5.00pm from Monday to Friday.

BHC Singapore supports and promotes flexible working as a crucial part of our inclusive offering. The BHC currently allows staff to work flexibly at home for up to 40% of their time.

Other Information:

In addition to the duties which this job normally entails, you may from time to time be required to undertake additional or other duties as necessary to meet the needs of the High Commission, including playing a part in the corporate life of the mission and supporting any crisis response.

No accommodation or relocation expenses are payable in connection with this position. You must have or be able to obtain a local work permit which we will sponsor.

Staff recruited locally by the British High Commission are subject to terms and conditions of service according to local Singapore employment law.

Employment offers are subject to successful clearance of pre-employment checks. Only short-listed applications will be called for personal interviews.

The British High Commission is an equal opportunities employer and does not discriminate on grounds of ethnic origin, race, religious beliefs, age, disability, gender or sexual orientation. Our values of Collaboration, Opportunity, Respect and Excellence (CORE) are our guiding principles. We aspire to live our values consistently in order to make the British High Commission a great place to work where staff feel valued, supported and inspired to be their best.

Staff recruited locally by the British High Commission are subject to terms and conditions of service according to local Singapore employment law. Applicants should be aware that Singapore government has mandated that from 1 January 2022 only employees who are fully vaccinated can return to the workplace and from 14 February 2022, workers will need to have taken a booster dose to maintain their fully vaccinated status beyond 270 days from the last dose in their primary vaccination series.

Please note that all successful candidates will be expected to serve a minimum of 6 months in their new role before being eligible to apply for further positions within the British High Commission.

Additional information

Please note that the deadline for applications is 23:55 on the day mentioned in the above field "Application deadline."

Please be aware that the deadline for submitting applications is considered to be the time zone for the country where the vacancy has arisen.

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.

All applicants are required to mandatorily fill the online application form completely including the employment and educational details, experience, professional skills and behaviour based questions. We will be thoroughly reviewing the applications and incomplete form in any respect may not be considered while shortlisting for the next stage.

For inclusivity and diversity, please remove the following personal information when uploading your CV: name, address, email address, age, date of birth, gender, and nationality.

The start date mentioned in the job 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.

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.