View Vacancy – Senior Science and Technology Officer – British Consulate General Boston

Main purpose of job

The British Government’s Consulate in Boston has an exciting opportunity for a dynamic and committed individual to join the UK’s global Science and Technology Network (STN) as the Senior Science and Technology Officer for Boston. This is a rewarding role that supports and further develops the special relationship between the UK and the US as well as champions UK science and tech partnership as a force for good. The Senior Science and Technology Officer ensures the UK continues to be the partner of choice on science and technology for US organisations, catalysing research collaborations on areas critical to UK and international prosperity and security, including the responsible development of emerging technologies, biosecurity and global health, and more.

The UK Government is focussed on using its scientific excellence and leading innovative edge to develop and implement the next generation of transformative technologies. Collaboration with the US, our crucial research and trade partner, is critical to achieving that goal. The Boston-based Senior Science and Technology Officer is part of a network of officers throughout the US co-ordinated by the British Embassy in Washington, DC. You would report directly to the network’s East Coast Director (also based in Boston), working closely with Consulate teams (the Consul General, Deputy Consul General, Department for Business and Trade, and Press, Politics & Public Affairs), as well as with the STN and Policy teams across the US, to identify and create opportunities for UK science.

The core objective of this position is to represent the UK’s science and technology interests in the Boston Consulate district, which covers the six states of New England: Connecticut (except Fairfield County), Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont. This region has particular strengths in health and life sciences, clean/tough-tech, quantum technologies and AI. This role will also include a national co-ordination role, offering the opportunity for you to lead network strategy and planning on one of the three priority areas of emerging tech, biosecurity and global health, and climate action.

The objectives of the UK Government’s S&T network are to:

• Enable new and existing strategic science and technology collaborations that drive UK-US prosperity and security.
• Inform UK government policy related to science and technology, based on international experience and emerging opportunities and challenges in the US.
• Promote the UK as the US’ most valuable international partner across science and technology.
  More information on the STN team in the US can be found here.

The ideal candidate will:

• Have proven policy or research experience and will be capable of working across a variety of science and technology topics.
• Demonstrate the ability to broker/catalyse partnerships and collaborations.
• Have excellent written skills and be able to communicate complex issues to non-expert audiences.
• Have strong interpersonal and influencing skills.
• Be committed and enthusiastic about the role of policy and diplomacy in helping the UK’s international science and technology partnerships flourish.

In this role, you would be working in a diverse international environment side-by-side with UK diplomats, and country-based staff operating across the British Government’s network of Consulates and Government Offices in the US. This network provides a platform for approximately 30 Government departments and agencies to conduct their work in the United States and is made up of over 900 staff with a rich and diverse background, skill sets, and experiences.

The US Network offers a unique career enhancing opportunity and is committed to supporting its staff through a variety of benefits including generous leave, insurance packages and a highly competitive 401k programme. It also promotes a culture of flexibility, which enables people to better maintain wellness through an excellent work/life balance approach that encompasses hybrid working, including working from home and flexible hours, where possible.

Roles and responsibilities

• Cultivating a strong understanding of science and technology strengths across the Boston Consular region in order to proactively seek and stimulate opportunities for high-value collaboration to benefit the UK.
• Responsibility for influencing and promoting UK interests as they pertain to a broad range of sectors and topics across the New England region, with particular regard for STN’s priority areas: emerging technologies such as next generation AI, Quantum tech, and synthetic biology; climate science, energy research and cleantech; and biosecurity and global health.
• Providing accurate and detailed information on policy, best practice and horizon-scanning in science, technology and innovation to inform the UK government and other partners.
• Compiling and contributing to reports and briefs for UK stakeholders, including Senior UK scientists, learned societies, UK policy makers, Government Ministers and Parliament.
• Managing projects, visits and events (virtual and physical) relating to science and innovation (including organising meetings and visits for Government ministers, senior Departmental officials, representatives from science/innovation funding agencies, universities).
• Contributing to broader British Consulate-General and STN US initiatives and programmes in support of UK interests, including the management of consular crises.

Resources managed (personnel and expenditure)

• This role does not manage any staff but will regularly have to manage resources adding up to tens of thousands of dollars.

• Strong communication and influencing skills, capable of effectively interacting with members of the public, science community, tech businesses, and senior government officials.
• Excellent (and demonstrable) written and oral communication skills with the ability to produce clear, concise reports, and to present effectively to a range of audiences.
• Working understanding of US science and technology policy, including an appreciation of how government policy is developed at state and Federal level in the US.
• Highly motivated, organised, and resourceful.
• Effective team player with strong management and proven leadership skills.
• Reliable, positive and flexible to new situations and ways of working.
• At least 4-6 years of experience in a science, technology, or related field from an academic, government, or corporate background. Fewer years of experience would be considered for candidates with advanced degrees or exceptional, relevant experience.
• Legal status to live and work in the US in your own right, at time of application. This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship.