The Homeland Security Group (HSG) unites capabilities and expertise to deliver better outcomes from the UK’s response to the most serious domestic threats – Terrorism, Cyber, State Threats and Economic Crime.
The group will strengthen coordination and collective focus across a range of growing and overlapping threats, whilst remaining consistent with existing strategies. Working with partners, HSG will foster more transparent and sustainable collaboration between national security, law enforcement and other relevant communities to enhance capabilities and leverage our response to threats.
As a part of the Home Office, the role of the HSG is to:
- Support the Home Secretary to develop and implement strategies to keep our people and interests safe and secure
- Build His Majesty's Government (HMG) capabilities to reduce national security risk
- Reduce volume of, and harm from, economic crime, particularly for the most vulnerable
- Work in partnership with public and private sectors in the UK and overseas to deliver better outcomes
- Ensure legitimate economic growth and prosperity
The Chemical and Biological Science Adviser is a specialist science role responsible for providing deep expert, and often sensitive, technical, and scientific advice to Home Office (HO) Ministers, and seniors across the HSG, both on long-term strategic challenges and in the event of a chemical or biological attack on the UK by state or non-state actors.
As the lead scientist responsible for chemical and biological threats, the post holder will work with policymakers and others across the department and government to translate policy requirements into research programmes to provide the evidence base for policies. They will also help secure funding and investment from both inside and outside government.
Whenever possible, the post holder will be expected to bolster their research by drawing on their networks spanning government, operations, academia, industry, and the intelligence agencies. Their scientific work will directly support the delivery of chemical and biological related strategic ambitions under the CONTEST strategy, the Biological Security Strategy, and internal national security related strategies.
The postholder will represent the UK’s homeland national security Chemical & Biological (CB) interests internationally in various bilateral and multilateral fora. They will lead CB science and technology engagement with our closest international allies covering chemical and biological technical advice, science exchanges and intelligence driven science boards. Engagement ranges from individual working relationships with counterparts, through to boards focused on specific issues, and representing the UK at science and technology conferences and bilaterals.
This role sits at the heart of HSG’s efforts to keep the UK safe from chemical and biological weapons and materials. The postholder will help to reduce the risk to the public and first responders from chemical and biological threats, by playing a crucial role in helping to design and assure and capabilities that are designed to keep the UK safe from an attack, including those of catastrophic proportions.
Due to the nature of this role it is only suitable for full time or compressed hours working.