Chief Scientific Adviser for Health - Health, Social Care and Early Years Group

Purpose of post  

The Chief Scientific Adviser for Health (CSAH) will have extensive experience at a senior level within the higher education sector in a life science (human health) related scientific discipline, the research and development industry or as a clinician scientist with a track record that will enable them to command the respect of all professionals.

Their deep science knowledge should enable them to work across, or have an appreciation of, a range of science disciplines; developing productive links to other deep specialists to formulate their advice and understanding.

The post holder will need to quickly gain the confidence of the Ministers, senior NHS colleagues and wider partners.  Given the breadth of the portfolio, the ability to deliver will be critical to success. 

Above all, the CSAH must have the ability to build partnerships and networks and build respected authoritative groups. They should be excellent communicators and collaborators.This is a key post within the Welsh Government’s Health Social Care and Early Years Group (HSCEYG) for the provision of scientific advice in relation to health and care, and the promotion of the health and care research sector in Wales.

The post holder plays a key role in ensuring health and care research, science advice and evidence is harnessed to best effect to support the delivery of health and care services, improvements in health equity and outcomes, and drive the health and care sectors contribution to the broader ambitions of Welsh Government.

Key to the role is ensuring that science evidence and advice is robust, relevant and high quality and that science and evidence appropriately underpins policy development, advice and evaluation.

The post holder will co-lead, with the Deputy Director for Science, Evidence and Research, Health and Care Research Wales - a multi-faceted virtual organisation providing the infrastructure to support and increase capacity in health and care R&D, runs a range of responsive funding schemes and manages resources to promote, support and deliver research.

The post holder will work with colleagues within Welsh Government and across the health and social care sectors to strengthen coordination and links between research, development, and innovation.

Key tasks  

The CSAH will be responsible for:

1. Provision of pro-active and demand led independent scientific advice and analysis across a range of health topics to the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care and policymakers.
2. Ensure research & development, scientific evidence, analysis and advice are relevant, robust and of high quality.
3. Providing an independent challenge function to the group and ensuring mechanisms are in place to inform policy and decision-making including in an emergency response. This includes the oversight of the Technical Advisory Group (TAG) and any other relevant scientific advisory committees (SACs).
4. Co-lead, with the Deputy Director for SRE (Science, Research and Evidence), Health and Care Research Wales (HCRW), and be a source of advice to that Deputy Director on overall research policy and priorities, bringing in a deep understanding of research and development systems, with a particular focus on supporting it’s influence at a UK level.
5. Working closely with the key leads across Welsh Government to maximise the impact of science in health on life sciences, innovation, emerging technologies and AI, ensuring effective prioritisation of focus and ongoing coordinated development of collaborations with academia, industry, and healthcare providers.
6. Develop and maintain a strong working relationship with the Chief Scientific Adviser for Welsh Government (CSAW), Head of Analysis, Head of Policy Profession, the Chief Economist and wider leads across Government to ensure a co-ordinated and strategic approach to science and research.
7. Represent Welsh Government in relevant four nations advisory committees and panels and supporting the CSA Wales through their link into the UK CSA Network to ensure Wales interests in health, care and life sciences perspective are safeguarded appropriately and that the outputs of such committees appropriately inform advice to senior officials and Ministers in Welsh Government.
8. Developing and maintaining key relationships with Welsh and UK partners, including NHS Wales, UK Health Departments, UKHSA, National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), UKRI Research Councils, research charities and industry.
9. Actively participate as a member of the Chief Medical Officer’s Senior Leadership Team, and deputising for the Chief Medical Officer when appropriate.

For further information and to apply please visit the Welsh Government website.