Defence Scientific Experts Committee (DSEC) Chair

DSEC is the Ministry of Defence’s (MOD’s) key source of independent advice on non-nuclear science, technology, engineering, analysis and mathematics issues, and is an Expert Committee reporting to the MOD Chief Scientific Advisor (CSA), supporting the derivation and delivery of the Department’s Science and Technology (S&T) Strategy.

DSEC is comprised of an Independent Chair supported by up to 10 Independent Members drawn from senior academic and industrial communities. All are specialists in a branch of science, engineering, technology, analysis or medicine of relevance to defence and security, and have proven ability in working on Boards or Committees. The Committee also contains senior MOD officials, including CSA, who keep the Committee abreast of developments in MOD and facilitate contacts within MOD and the wider S&T enterprise.

The primary role of DSEC Chair is to provide leadership to the committee and to provide independent, objective, timely advice, based on their own knowledge and experience. They are appointed in a personal capacity, not as representatives of their employer or any other organisation. They are all security cleared before being appointed, allowing them access to sensitive material.

The Ministry of Defence’s Chief Scientific advisor would like to invite you to apply to join our Defence Science Expert Committee as DSEC Chair.  As can be seen in the Integrated Review of Defence, Security and Foreign policy, S&T is at the heart of Defence’s priorities to seize a decisive technological edge over our adversaries.   MOD is looking to build upon it’s excellence in innovation and S&T to become a Great Scientific Department with S&T and evidence at the heart of all the big decisions it will need to make.  The DSEC is a vital contributor to MOD’s success, drawing on world class expertise within the UK from within academia and industry through offering independent advice, challenge and guidance on steering MOD into an increasingly complex and contested technological future.  While primarily drawing on science, technology, engineering, analysis and mathematics expertise, we are keen to expand the diversity of advice we receive including from areas that you may not traditionally feel are core Defence needs.  If you feel that your areas of expertise could offer a refreshing and unusual perspective to Defence we are particularly keen to hear from you.

Dr Christopher Cooper

DST Hd Scientific Advice

DSEC provides a key role in delivering systematic independent peer review of the Science and Technology (S&T) provided by both internal and external providers and provide a key role in supporting good assurance of the health of the scientific and technical capabilities required to support MOD’s investment in research.

DSEC will provide advice and scientific assurance covering, but not limited to, the following:

a. Challenge, and logical analysis of, topics of importance to the Department;

b. Advice on the balance, strength, and appropriateness of the Department’s investment in research, technology, training and innovation;

c. Support to strengthen MOD’s ability to identify and manage scientific risk across its business;

d. Advice and support on MOD business where scientific principles are or should be applied;

e. Advice and support to the Department in identifying:

i. STEAM and scientific risk, emerging threats and opportunities;

ii. Alternative ways of achieving military capability outcomes;

iii. Emerging innovative opportunities;

iv. Critical technologies and capabilities;

f. Access to the broadest possible external STEAM networks including international partners where appropriate;

g. Independent assurance and Peer Review of the S&T Portfolio and underpinning capabilities.

Members of the Defence Science Expert Committee (DSEC) have a collective responsibility for the operation of the Committee. They must:

• Engage fully in collective consideration of the issues, taking account of the full range of relevant factors, including any guidance issued by the sponsor department or the responsible minister;

• Ensure that the code of Practice on Access to Government Information (including prompt responses to public requests for information) is adhered to;

• Agree and produce an Annual Report;

• Respond appropriately to complaints, if necessary, with reference to the sponsor department; and

• Ensure that the committee does not exceed its powers or functions.

Communications between the Committee and MOD CSA will generally be through the Chair, except where the Committee has agreed that an individual member should act on its behalf. Nevertheless, any committee member has the right of access to MOD CSA on any matter which he or she believes raises important issues relating to his or her duties as a committee member. In such cases the agreement of the rest of the committee should normally be sought.

The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate that they are an expert in their field, for example through overseeing an active research portfolio, their record of technical achievements in industry, or their leadership of corporate technology and engineering strategies or functions. The successful candidate will be recognised by their peers for their expertise in their field and have a track record of challenging the status quo and influencing senior decision-making at all levels of an organisation.

The successful candidate will meet one of the following criteria:

• be a Corporate Fellow; or

• hold a technical leadership position e.g. Chief Technical Officer; or

• be a Fellow of a scientific or technical professional body; or

• hold a permanent or honorary academic position; or

• hold a prestigious long term Fellowship.

The successful candidate will have evidence of:

• delivering fundamental research or applied research and development (R&D), and innovative thinking in STEAM (Science Technology Engineering Analysis and Mathematics),  medicine and/or humanities;

• being innovative in the application of research and/or successful pull-through of R&D;

• real science and technology impact via business or social outcomes;

• successful outcomes within a multidisciplinary Board or Committee environment;

• their strong, collegiate interpersonal skills, including their ability to work collaboratively with committee members and senior stakeholders and to actively and constructively contribute to discussions;

• applying their specialist knowledge, authority, knowledge, and breadth to complex and multi-faceted issues of defence relevance;

• their logical and objective thinking to critically analyse, synthesise and evaluate evidence and information from diverse sources, identify key issues and make effective impartial and balanced decisions; and

• their ability to challenge established thinking and provide insight to problems related to the future of Defence.

Security requirements

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is developed vetting.