Space To Learn Lead Swindon, Wiltshire, South West England, England
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Education and Training
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About the job
Job summary
The UK Space Agency (UKSA) is an executive agency of the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and provides technical advice on the government’s space strategy, supporting the UK space sector to deliver the government’s vision.
Space is a part of everyday life. Satellites underpin our national economy, from agriculture and banking to aviation and shipping, and support our national security. Space science provides critical data to understand and address global challenges such as climate change, while missions to explore our solar system unite nations and advance humanity’s horizons.
We support a thriving space sector in the UK, which generates an annual income of £16.5 billion and employs 47,000 people across the country.
Through our portfolio of programmes and projects, we encourage the development of national space capabilities and are an early-stage investor in space research and development. We also promote the UK space sector’s interests and achievements; make connections to join up industry and academia; and represent the UK in international space programmes
We have a powerful global voice, partnering with institutions across the world, including the European Space Agency.
More information about the Agency is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-space-agency
To discover more please watch this film https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbZZ-o0IkVU
Our Inclusive Environment
We have an inclusive culture to make UKSA a brilliant place to work where our people feel valued, have a voice and can be their authentic selves. We value difference and diversity, not only because we believe it is the right thing to do, but because it will help us be more innovative and make better decisions.
We offer first-class flexible working benefits, excellent employee well-being support and a great pension. We are fortunate to have a range of excellent staff networks and are proud to be a Disability Confident Leader employer. We will support talented people from all backgrounds to build a career and thrive.
We actively welcome applications from anyone who shares our commitment to inclusion.
Job description
International Directorate and Inspiration Programme.
The Agency has run a very successful education and skills programme over recent years, with a small team overseeing engagement, education, careers and skills in order to inspire interest in STEM and ensure the workforce of tomorrow.
The Agency’s new Inspiration Priority requires us to deliver a space inspiration programme that inspires people to pursue STEM education and attracts talent to the UK space sector. This will take the programme to a new level, with an increased scale of operation and ambition.
This will require an imaginative and creative person to lead a small team, collaborate with stakeholders across the sector and government and guide delivery partners for the greatest impact across a range of target audiences.
The role holder will be required to lead a small team to develop the Space to Learn element of the Agency’s new Inspiration Programme. Two other G7 posts will cover inspiration and skills respectively. The role holder will also be expected to play an active role across the work of the whole Education and Skills Team and the wider directorate, deputising for the Head of Inspiration when appropriate.
The main aims of this work will be to:
- Inspire UK school pupils and college students into STEM and space.
- Demonstrate the ways in which space improves lives.
- Support teachers to include space contexts and careers messaging in all relevant areas of the UK curricula.
- Level-up opportunity and challenge misconceptions about space and space careers.
The main elements of this programme will be delivered in collaboration with established education partners such as STEM Learning and the National Space Academy, through major initiatives such as the Agency’s One Million Interactions programme and through new and existing support for a range of challenges delivered by different partners across the UK and targeting many age ranges of young people. The careers element is especially challenging given the diverse range of organisations involved and topics covered and the pressing need to create impact.
In addition, it will require development of the existing programme brief, scoping in more detail, gaining support and participation by external stakeholders, writing the business case, negotiating, and implementing grants and contracts, setting up oversight, and delivery with a high level of stakeholder engagement, while managing opportunities and risks, and ensuring appropriate communication.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead stakeholders and the formal education elements of the programme, supporting the group’s wellbeing and development, as well as supporting the work of the directorate’s senior leadership team as required.
- Develop concepts and help set strategic direction for the themes related to education in the new Inspiration Programme. This should support the Agency’s Value Proposition of using space to inspire young people to follow STEM careers and to develop a skilled workforce for the sector.
- Engage across UKSA to ensure appropriate approvals are in place, including writing suitable business cases.
- Undertake significant monitoring and evaluation work to provide evidence and support reporting.
- Coordinate with and support other strands of work within the Team aimed at supporting informal learning and inspiration and building skills in the space workforce.
- Build partnerships with other groups with education and careers interests across UKSA, Other Government Departments (especially DfE) and the wider space sector, and support as necessary the BEIS National Space Strategy workstreams.
- Deliver robust appraisal of existing activities, based on their impact, strategic relevance, deliverability, and cost-effectiveness.
- Occasional hands-on delivery of educational activity with young people will be required to obtain practical experience of the Agency’s programmes.
Person specification
Essential Skills, Knowledge, Experience and Qualifications
- Ability to develop strategy, bring meaning to programme activity, and communicate this effectively.
- Ability to coordinate multiple workstreams, prioritising your work and that of others.
- Ability to commission and oversee work with partner organisations, with challenging technical characteristics and ambitious timescales.
- Leadership skills to support, develop and motivate a team, ensuring effective delivery and a positive working culture.
- Ability to network with a wide variety of stakeholders including industry, government, and academics.
- Excellent communication skills including accurate drafting (often at pace) and ability to present complex matters to a lay audience.
- Ability to engage and influence at all levels including children, senior civil servants, influencing partners and Ministers.
- Degree in a Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) area
Desirable Skills, Knowledge and Experience
- Experience working on STEM education projects with schools and/or other education organisations
- A strong understanding of the UK space sector
- Knowledge of the international space sector
- Good knowledge of UK education system
- Experience of procurement
- Grant and/or project management experience
Qualifications
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Managing a Quality Service
- Delivering at Pace
- Working Together
Benefits
UKSA offers a competitive mix of benefits including:
A culture of flexible working, such as job sharing, homeworking and compressed hours.
Automatic enrolment into the Civil Service Pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
A minimum of 25 days of paid annual leave, increasing by 1 day per year up to a maximum of 30.
An extensive range of learning & professional development opportunities, which all staff are actively encouraged to pursue.
Access to a range of retail, travel, and lifestyle employee discounts.
A generous maternity/paternity and adoption leave package.
This job role may be suitable for hybrid working, which is an informal, non-contractual and voluntary arrangement, blending a balance of attendance in the workplace (your permanent duty station which is based on business assessment of where the work is best done) and working from home, or elsewhere, as a personal choice (if the role is suitable for this). If you are successful, any opportunities for hybrid working will be discussed with you prior to you taking up your post.
The internal roles rules apply to existing Civil Servants, i.e., level transfers move on current salary or the pay range minimum, transfers on promotion move to new pay range minimum or receive 10% increase. Either case is determined by whichever is the highest.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
UK Space Agency is undergoing a transformation programme which may impact your role, line manager and/or location in the future. We will share more details with you as they become known.
As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV and personal statement. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.
Please use your personal statement (in no more than 500 words) to describe how you would lead the delivery of the space education agenda for UKSA and what you think the key challenges and opportunities are.
Please note - the CV is for information purposes only and will not be scored.
The Sift will be assessed on Behaviours and Personal Statement.
Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the lead behaviour Seeing the Big Picture. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to assessment/interview.
The Interview will be assessed on Behaviours and Presentation. Details of the presentation will be advised on invite to interview.
Sift and Interview dates
Sift dates: w/c 27th February 2023
Interview dates: w/c 20th March 2023
Interview location: Online
Candidates are asked to note the above timetable, exercising flexibility through the recruitment and selection process.
Further Information
Reasonable Adjustment
If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.
If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:
- Contact Government Recruitment Service via [email protected] as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
- Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.
If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.
If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check maybe carried out.
Any move to UK Space Agency from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk
A reserve list will be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.
Please note terms and conditions are attached. Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you.
New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.
In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf. However, we recognise in exceptional circumstance some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing [email protected] stating the job reference number in the subject heading.
Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment.
A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.
Feedback
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Nationality requirements
This job is broadly open to the following groups:
- UK nationals
- nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
- nationals of the Republic of Ireland
- nationals from the EU, EEA or Switzerland with settled or pre-settled status or who apply for either status by the deadline of the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
- relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals working in the Civil Service
- relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals who have built up the right to work in the Civil Service
- certain family members of the relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals
Working for the Civil Service
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
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Recruitment team :
Further information
receive, then you can contact the Civil Service Commission. For further information on bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission please visit their web pages: Click here to visit Civil Service Commission/Complaints
