Nuclear Waste Services has an internal vacancy for a Senior Scientific Adviser to provide technical assurance and advice to NWS projects and functions.
In the role of Senior Scientific Adviser, you will ensure that NWS scientific and technical work is appropriate in direction, content and timing, and is aligned with international best practice. The Senior Scientific Adviser reports directly to the Chief Scientific Adviser and has no direct reports.
- Provide evidence-based advice to NWS projects and senior delivery leads on scientific and technical matters.
- Assure the relevance, value, quality, integrity, timeliness and risk of scientific and technical work, to enable the NWS programmes to achieve their objectives.
- Critical review of technical reports and products and provision of clear, concise and actionable feedback.
- Support the Chief Scientific Adviser in delivery of projects, products and activities, pertaining to the provision of technical advice and assurance.
- Support engagement with external stakeholders and networks to communicate our scientific knowledge and understanding, to develop awareness, confidence, and trust in our work.
- Maintain and manage a schedule required for the function to discharge effective technical assurance.
Support the DDA’s in delivery of their respective roles guiding the development of design solutions. - Deputise for the Chief Scientific Adviser in technical committees, activities.
- Peer review of publication in academic journals, conferences, and similar outlets.
- Support recruitment of technical staff, as required.
- Other activities as may reasonably be required by the role.
Additional Responsibilities
- Deputise for the Chief Scientific Adviser in technical committees, activities.
- Peer review of publication in academic journals, conferences, and similar outlets.
- Support recruitment of technical staff, as required.
The Senior Scientific Adviser is generally a senior scientist or engineer and may be recruited externally. They are generally an established subject matter expert, or equivalent, with scientific and/or engineering knowledge relevant to the NWS mission. They are comfortable and able to work across a range of disciplines in which they are not necessarily expert, with support from the Chief Scientific Adviser. The Senior Scientific Adviser has the experience and capability to adapt their approach in delivery of assurance and advice, to the circumstances and nature of the engagement. They are capable of developing and maintaining internal and external networks to deliver their role through influence and consensus.
Essential
- Demonstrable experience, practice, and recognition, as a subject matter expert, in a scientific or engineering discipline relevant to the NWS mission.
- Capability and confidence to operate authoritatively outside of subject matter expertise, with appropriate support and guidance.
- Understanding and awareness of the scientific and technical issues relevant to success of the NWS mission.
- Ability, confidence, and experience to critically assess and test established thinking, processes and boundaries.
- Ability to communicate complex scientific issues and technical risk in an understandable way, appropriate to the consumer.
- Ability to influence others, at appropriate levels, by building strong relationships and gaining the trust and confidence.
- Ability to efficiently review technical reports and provide clear, concise and actionable feedback.
Effective communicator with the critical listening skills and emotional intelligence to engage effectively when delivering critical advice and feedback.
Desirable
- Knowledge, understanding and experience of counterpart international programmes and the wider research landscape.
We value the unique differences that each of our colleagues bring to work every day and are committed to creating an environment where everyone feels respected, included and able to perform at their best. We are committed to creating a workplace that is diverse and inclusive. We value the diversity of our people and actively seek to have a workforce that represents the rich diversity of the communities we support. Currently we are underrepresented in some areas, and would particularly welcome applicants from Women, Black, Asian and Ethnic Minorities, LGBTQ+ and candidates who have a disability.
In promoting equal opportunities, we welcomes applications from all sections of the community. We select people according to their abilities and our needs. As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet all of the essential criteria for the vacancy. In cases where we have a high volume of disabled candidates who meet all of the essential criteria, we will interview the best candidates from within that group.