Graduate Opportunity with the Government Office for Science

The Government Office for Science are recruiting for 10 internships to help support a rolling programme of projects across GO-Science. Working with government departments to use science insight to help shape the response to major global issues like climate change and health.

Job description

We are recruiting for 10 internships to help support a rolling programme of projects across GO-Science. Working with government departments to use science insight to help shape the response to major global issues like climate change and health These internships provide an exciting opportunity to support the work of the GCSA and the Government Office for Science, operating at the leading edge of the interface between science and policy. Interns will be able to see the impact of their projects on how government uses science.

Opportunities are available for graduate interns in a number of areas described below. GO-S is an agile department and candidates may be required to work flexibly across teams including provision of short-notice surge. GO-S maintains an internal surge capability of staff who may be called on at short notice to support an activation of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE). You may be asked to support this activity. Training and support will be provided and this is an excellent opportunity to develop crisis management skills.

These internships are full-time, fixed-term appointments for a period of 12 months.

Opportunities will be available across all policy areas in Government Office for Science. These include:

• Reforming the way the government uses and accesses science, strengthening science systems across government and improving departmental science capability (Science Systems & Capability)
• Research and analysis across our projects on Futures and Emerging Technology.
• To provide robust advice to HMG and provide independent advice on national security S&T matters, including response (Security, Resilience & Strategy)
• Supporting GCSA’s role on cross-cutting policy with global impact through and improved use of science and evidence in policy development (Global Issues & Opportunities)
• Managing the pipeline of analysis brought to SAGE as well as the dissemination of SAGE advice to policymakers and operational agencies (Covid Advice & Evidence)
• Strategic stakeholder engagement, ensuring public access to the science behind covid and overseeing the efficient and effective functioning of the GOS covid response (Covid Strategy and Delivery)

Responsibilities:

Graduate interns in the Government Office for Science have the opportunity to work on a range of areas and help support teams in a number of activities including:

• High quality desk research, including taking responsibility for identifying and reviewing novel and cutting edge evidence.
• Communicating with a range of stakeholders including senior civil servants; the GSCA and Chief Scientific Advisers in other government departments; the academic research community; and external stakeholders in think tanks, NGOs and business.
• Collecting and analysing data and information, and presenting this information in highly impactful ways, including using innovative data visualisation techniques.
• Helping to arrange and prepare papers for meetings, ensuring the key conclusions of these are captured and followed up, and general support for colleagues at busy times.
• Intellectual curiosity, imagination, rigour and the ability to work with data and evidence.
• People skills to develop good working relationships with the other teams within GO- Science, other government departments, the private sector and the academic community.
• The ability to be a team player and contribute to the culture and development of GO- Science as a team.
• A passion for science, engineering and innovation; wanting to help GO-Science quickly and effectively find solutions to meet the most pressing needs of our stakeholders
• The ability to assimilate information quickly with an eye for detail but not to the detriment of hitting quick turnaround deadlines.
• Communicate both written and orally in a clear, concise and impactful manner.
• Strong organisational skills, an ability to balance priorities along with good personal judgement and effective decision making.
• Good reflective and creative skills to suggest improvements to current processes/ways of working.
• Proficient IT skills including Microsoft packages such as Outlook, Excel and PowerPoint
• Ability to be robust, influence and negotiate in order to achieve successful flexible outcomes

The deadline for applications is 11:55 pm on Sunday 15th November 2020.

To find out more and apply to this graduate opportunity, see here: https://www.civilservicejobs.service.gov.uk/csr/index.cgi?SID=dXNlcnNlYXJjaGNvbnRleHQ9MTEzMjAxNDU5JnBhZ2VjbGFzcz1Kb2JzJmNzb3VyY2U9Y3Nxc2VhcmNoJmpvYmxpc3Rfdmlld192YWM9MTY5NDAxNiZzZWFyY2hfc2xpY2VfY3VycmVudD0xJm93bmVydHlwZT1mYWlyJm93bmVyPTUwNzAwMDAmcGFnZWFjdGlvbj12aWV3dmFjYnlqb2JsaXN0JnJlcXNpZz0xNjA0OTI1MzkzLTNjYTRlNjgwNmM0MWM3ZWMzMzhlYmUzZDRjMTExMjQzYTMxOWQ5YTg=