Applications are invited for the Chair of the Chief Scientist Office External Strategic Advisory Board

Role description and person specification

The Chief Scientist Office (CSO) is establishing an External Strategic Advisory Board to support the Chief Scientist (Health) and the CSO with the development of our clinical research strategy and to provide an external and international perspective on health research in Scotland. The Board is expected to comprise approximately 6 members, 3 of whom would be international, with others representing industry and the research community, to be appointed in consultation with the Chair. There will also be a further 6 ex-officio members including the Chief Scientist (Health), the Head of the CSO and representatives of the NHS in Scotland and academia. The Board will meet twice a year.

We are looking to appoint a senior figure in the world of health research, with proven experience of leading and chairing strategic discussions, as Chair of the External Strategic Advisory Board. The successful applicant would be well known in Scotland and the UK, and have well established connections with health research systems in a number of other countries. They would be very familiar with the NHS in Scotland and elsewhere in the UK and have a strong grasp of the relationships between the NHS and wider academic and commercial research communities in each of the 4 Devolved Nations. They would also be familiar with both the Scottish and UK life sciences strategies and with the Scottish Government’s wider National Performance Framework and its underpinning Purpose, Values and National Outcomes.

The Chair would lead 2 meetings of the Board each year, of between 2 and 3 hours duration, and would be prepared to offer ad hoc advice to the Chief Scientist (Health) and the CSO between meetings on specific issues. The post is un-paid but reasonable travel expenses would be reimbursed. The appointment would be for 3 years with the possibility to extend by up to a further 2 years.

Application process

Expressions of interest by way of letter covering the post criteria outlined above, accompanied by a full CV, should be sent to Rosemarie Pelosi by Monday 15 October. A selection panel, chaired by the Chief Scientist (Health) is expected to be convened in late October to interview short-listed applicants.

 About the CSO

CSO is part of the Scottish Government Health Directorates. Our mission is to support and increase the level of high-quality health research conducted in the NHS in Scotland for the health and financial benefits for our population. CSO aims to make the NHS in Scotland a globally recognised place for health research and innovation and act as a ‘come to place’ for health science. CSO directly supports the research community through various funding streams and we invest significantly in the research and innovation infrastructure in NHSScotland. We work closely with the UK Government and its agencies including the National Institute for Health Research and the Health Research Authority. CSO is represented on the board of the Office for Strategic Coordination of Health Research (OSCHR) and on the UK Clinical Research Collaboration (UKCRC). Our current research strategy is available on the Scottish Government website.

Further Information

 If you would like to discuss the role or request any further information please contact the Chief Scientist in the first instance.