The Department for Transport and the Food Standards Agency have both launched recruitment campaigns to find chief scientific advisers.
DfT is offering a salary of around £120,000 a year to the successful applicant; the FSA has pitched its offer at £115,000.
Prof Sarah Sharples is DfT’s current chief scientific adviser; Prof Robin May is the current chief scientific adviser at the FSA – however he will move to the UK Health Security Agency next month to serve as interim chief scientific adviser.
May succeeds Prof Isabel Oliver, who left the UKHSA earlier this year to become chief medical officer for Wales.
DfT’s advertisement for Sharples’ successor says the successful candidate will be “a distinguished scientist or engineer, with a background in academia, industry, or both” and “deep subject-matter expertise”.
In addition to “a strong personal reputation” the advertisement specifies the “ability to convene respected expert groups” and “standing within the national and international scientific community” as essential requirements.
DfT’s chief scientific adviser leads the department’s science, innovation and technology agenda, sits on the department’s executive committee and strategy committee, and plays a central role in shaping departmental strategy.
The FSA advert states the agency is seeking an “exceptional individual” as its next chief scientific adviser, and that the successful candidate should be “a highly credible scientist with a national or international reputation in a field relevant to the FSA’s work”.
It adds: “You will play a vital assurance role, guiding our response to both long-term risks and urgent food safety incidents, and helping us maintain public trust in food. You will act as a key member of the executive management team, reporting to the board with a direct line to the chair.”
Both chief scientific adviser roles can be based in a range of locations, including London. Both are at SCS Pay Band 2.
Applications for the DfT role are open until 5 September; applications for the FSA role are open until 7 September.