Opportunities for scientific experts to join the government and put science advice at the heart of decision making.
The UK government is currently advertising several high-profile roles for scientific experts. These positions offer a unique chance to inform policy and decision making at the highest levels and an opportunity to make a significant impact on national policy.
Professor Dame Angela McLean said:
Looking to use your expertise to put excellent science advice at the heart of decision making? Then consider joining the ranks of science advisers to government. These roles are exciting, challenging and rewarding, so I encourage you to consider applying.
Chief Scientific Adviser roles
Chief Scientific Advisers (CSAs) provide independent science advice to ministers and departments, lead their department’s science systems, and contribute to evidence-based decision making. These are positions directly employed by a government department or arm’s-length body, usually for a minimum of 4 days a week and for a period of at least 3 years.
Who should apply
We encourage applications from individuals with:
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Strong scientific and/or engineering backgrounds and expertise
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A passion for applying scientific knowledge to real-world challenges
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A desire to move into a government role at the intersection of science and government
Current CSA vacancies
- Current vacancies will be advertised here
Scientific Advisory Committees and Councils (SACs) positions
SACs help government departments (and their arm’s-length bodies) to access, interpret and understand the full range of relevant scientific information, and to make judgements about its relevance, potential and application. SAC member positions are part-time roles, which vary in terms of minimum time and length requirements. They are conducted at the same time as your existing work activities.
Who should apply
We encourage applications from individuals with:
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Strong scientific and/or engineering backgrounds and subject-matter expertise
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A passion for applying scientific knowledge to real-world challenges
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A desire to work in government and closely influence policymaking but without moving away from academia
Current SAC vacancies
- Current vacancies will be advertised here
Other
Diversity and inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more, please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).
To find out more about science advisory systems, see our how-to guide for academic engagement with government.
Updates to this page
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19 August 2026
Link to the advert for the Mid Career Scientists and Engineers Secondment Scheme has been added.
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15 July 2026
The link to the advert for Chief Scientific Adviser for Food Standards Scotland has been removed due to its expiry.
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29 June 2026
The links to the adverts for College of Experts, Department for Business and Trade, and Council for Science and Technology (CST) Co-chair have been removed due to their expiry.
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17 June 2026
Link to an advert for Chief Scientific Adviser for Food Standards Scotland has been added.
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9 June 2026
Links to adverts for Director of Science, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and Science Director, Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) have been removed due to their expiry.
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4 June 2026
Link to registration of interest for Department for Business and Trade College of Experts added.
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12 May 2026
Link added to the advert for the Director of Science role at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
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7 May 2026
Link to the advert for the Science Director Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has been added.
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6 May 2026
Link added to the Council for Science and Technology (CST) - Co-chair advert.
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21 April 2026
The link to the recruitment advertisement for Science & Technology Ethics Advisory Committee Members has been removed due to its expiry.
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14 April 2026
Link to the advert for Chief Construction and Scientific Adviser, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has been removed due to its expiry.
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30 March 2026
Link added to an advert for Science & Technology Ethics Advisory Committee Members.
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12 March 2026
Link added to the Chief Construction and Scientific Adviser advert.
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19 January 2026
Link to the Council for Science and Technology Member advert removed due to its expiry
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5 January 2026
Link to the advert for Deputy Chief Scientific Adviser at the Department of Health and Social Care has been removed due to its expiry.
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19 December 2025
Link added to the advert for Council for Science and Technology Member.
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21 November 2025
The advert for Co-Chair of the Home Office Science Advisory Council has been removed due to its expiration and the advert for Deputy Chief Scientific Adviser (CSA) at the Department of Health and Social Care has been added.
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23 October 2025
Link to the advert for Co-Chairs of the Home Office Science Advisory Council added.
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8 September 2025
Llinks to the adverts for CSAs at the Food Standards Agency and the Department for Education have been removed due to expiration of the adverts.
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21 August 2025
The link to the advert for the Animals in Science Regulation Unit Governance Board has been removed due to its expiration.
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1 August 2025
A link to an advert for the Department for Transport Chief Scientific Adviser has been added.
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30 July 2025
Link to the advert for the Food Standards Agency Chief Scientific Adviser has been added.
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28 July 2025
The reference to the Home Office CSA advert has been removed due to the advert's expiration.
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11 July 2025
Advert for membership of the Animals in Science Regulation Unit Governance Board in the Home Office has been added under a new heading of 'Other'.
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30 June 2025
The link to the advert for the Home Office CSA has been added, while the link to the advert for the DESNZ CSA has been removed due to the advert's expiration.
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29 May 2025
The advert for members of DWP Methods Advisory Group has been removed due to its expiration.
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13 May 2025
Removed old vacancy link.
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7 May 2025
Advert for Members of the Animal Welfare Committee has been removed due to its expiration.
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7 May 2025
New Chief Scientific Adviser vacancy
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14 April 2025
The advert for members of the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition has been removed due to its expiration.
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11 April 2025
Advert for members of the Animal Welfare Committee has been added.
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11 April 2025
Advert for the Department for Education Chief Scientific Adviser has been added.
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25 March 2025
Advert for members of the DWP Methods Advisory Group has been added.
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19 March 2025
Link to the advert for members of the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition has been added.
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13 March 2025
The advert for the Scottish Government CSA has been removed due to its expiry.
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20 February 2025
The advert for the Chief Scientific Adviser for Scotland has been added.
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13 January 2025
The advert for members of the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero's Science and Technology Advisory Council (STAC) has been removed due to its expiration.
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2 January 2025
The DEFRA CSA job advertisement has been removed due to its expiration.
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2 December 2024
The advert for the Chief Scientific Adviser at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has been added.
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27 November 2024
The advertisement for Department for Energy Security and Net Zero - Science and Technology Advisory Council (STAC) Members has been added.
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25 November 2024
The Home Office Science Advisory Council (HOSAC) advert has been removed due to its expiration.
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6 November 2024
Information about the ongoing recruitment for the Home Office Science Advisory Council (HOSAC) has been added.
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5 November 2024
FCDO CSA advert removed due to its expiration.
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22 October 2024
The advert for the Chief Scientific Adviser in the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office has been reinstated due to the extension of the deadline for applications for the role.
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21 October 2024
The link to the FCDO CSA advert has been removed due to its expiration.
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18 October 2024
The advert for the Chief Scientific Adviser at GCHQ has been removed due to its expiration.
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17 October 2024
The advert for the Chief Scientific Adviser at the Ministry of Defence has been removed due to its expiration.
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1 October 2024
The advert for the SCS2 Chief Scientific Adviser in the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office has been added.
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18 September 2024
Added in new CSA job advert.
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11 September 2024
First published.