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Job description

Thank you for your interest in a Senior Scientific Officer post within the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA). DAERA relies on science to help achieve its strategic outcomes. Science is used to inform policy development, meet statutory obligations, measure outcomes, provide advice and information, manage risks to society and support rural areas. Science evidence will be critically important in informing DAERA’s response to key strategic challenges, including transition from the EU, climate change and sustainable economic growth, and will be essential to finding the right solutions to deliver the net zero requirements, while also protecting and enhancing air and water quality and biodiversity. DAERA’s Key Priorities, in the DAERA 2025 - 2027 Corporate Plan, recognises championing and investing in science, innovation and knowledge transfer, as the means of addressing the climate challenge and unlocking new economic opportunities, as a key enabler to delivering on all of DAERA’s Key Priorities. DAERA invests significantly in science services every year and has developed a Science Strategy Framework (SSF) to guide how this investment can be optimised with a vision for DAERA’s science to be Innovative, Collaborative and Transformative. The aim is to get the best science; at the best value; and make the best use of it to support the achievement of the DAERA purpose. Science funded by DAERA will support the development and implementation of strategies and policies across the DAERA remit and help maintain and build scientific capacity in disciplines vital to achievement of the DAERA purpose. As a Senior Scientific Officer in DAERA you will have the opportunity to be part of delivering DAERA’s science agenda. This booklet provides further information on the key responsibilities of the role and sets out the skills and competencies required. We have also included important information on the selection process. Applications are invited from candidates who meet the eligibility criteria, to apply for this opportunity and challenge. If you believe you have the skills and experience to tackle these posts, I would be delighted if you would take the next step and complete and submit the application form.

Responsibilities

• Senior Scientific Officers will normally report to Principal Scientific Officer Analgous Grade. Typical generic responsibilities and duties at Senior Scientific Officer level are:
• Lead, manage and motivate staff to ensure that agreed objectives are met; Visit establishments and sites throughout Northern Ireland for meetings and site visits;
• Collaborate with internal and external partners to share knowledge and develop technical and scientific expertise; Collate and process data submitted and/or collected for reporting needs and compliance assessments;
• Ensure the provision of appropriate evidence based scientific advice and guidance to colleagues, customers and stakeholders and briefing for external and internal correspondence;
• Prepare scientific reports/surveys/casework which will enable appropriate courses of action or activity to be undertaken to support good environmental outcomes.
• Please see Candidate Information Booklet for further information.

Skills and Qualifications

Essential Skills

• Applicants must, by the closing date for applications, have: 1a) An honours degree in a relevant scientific discipline (please refer to the Candidate Information Booklet - CIB). AND
• 1b) At least 2 years’ relevant post qualification experience demonstrating: Strong analytical and research skills; Strong written and oral communication skills;
• Engaging with and influencing a wide variety of stakeholders or collaborating with delivery partners; Balancing a range of priorities and work areas. (Please refer to the CIB) OR:
• 2(a) An HNC/HND in a relevant scientific discipline (Please refer to the CIB). AND
• 2(b) At least 4 years’ post qualification experience demonstrating: Strong analytical and research skills; Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Engaging with and influencing a wide variety of stakeholders or collaborating with delivery partners; Balancing a range of priorities and work areas. (Please refer to the CIB)

Desirable Skills

• In addition applicants should be aware that after an eligibility sift, should it be necessary to shortlist candidates to go forward to interview, the panel will carry out an objective evaluation of the breadth and depth of information
• provided by candidates in response to eligibility criterion 1b and 2b. Both shortlisting criteria will be completed on a scored basis. Only the highest scoring applicants will proceed to interview.
• It is essential therefore, that applicants provide sufficient details, using examples and dates where appropriate, to demonstrate how and to what extent they meet these requirements.

Further Information

NICS Application form only, Vacancy closing date Friday 23rd January 2026 at 12 noon. Applications from Protestants, young people (people under the age of 35), people with a disability and people from minority ethnic communities are particularly welcomed for this post. The Northern Ireland Civil Service is an Equal Opportunities Employer. All applications for employment are considered strictly on the basis of merit

Application Information

Visit the recruitment service website www.nicsrecruitment.org.uk (Please quote reference number: IRC320461)