Technical Lead and Deputy Head of Office

**Details**:
**Reference number**:

- 400688

**Salary**:

- £48,720 - £52,130
- Plus allowance of £2,000 per annum.

GBP

**Job grade**:

- Senior Executive Officer

**Contract type**:

- Permanent

**Business area**:

- HO - STARS - Home Office Science - Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD)

**Type of role**:

- Science

**Working pattern**:

- Full-time, Compressed hours

**Number of jobs available**:

- 1

**Contents**:

- Location
- About the job
- Benefits
- Things you need to know

**Location**:

- Croydon, Westminster

**About the job**:
**Job summary**:
The Home Office works to build a safe, fair and prosperous UK. We achieve this through our work on counter-terrorism, policing, fire, crime, drugs policy, immigration and passports.

The Science, Technology, Research and Analysis (STAR) Group sits at the heart of the Home Office. The group ensures the best evidence and analysis are used to address the strategic issues facing the department. We also provide the science, technology, data, and international insights and collaboration capabilities to drive delivery.

The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) is a statutory Non-Departmental Public Body that is sponsored by the Home Office. The ACMD is an independent scientific advisory committee, comprising a minimum of 20 experts with different areas of expertise. The work of the Council is split into sub-committees and working groups and members work with other experts in the field to gather evidence to underpin the Council’s recommendations to government.

The secretariat supports a number of dedicated scientific advisory committees, and the team is moving to a more integrated approach to resource and support allocation. This may require supporting other committees as and when needed.

We currently have an opportunity for a Technical Lead and Deputy Head of Office for the ACMD. This is a new post in an exciting and fast-moving work area with a significant profile.

**Job description**:
The post holder will join the Home Office Science (HOS) Secretariat team within the STAR Directorate that reports to the Home Office Chief Scientific Advisor. It provides professional secretariat functions to our independent Scientific Advisory Committees and niche professional corporate services across HOS.

The post holder will oversee the work of the team’s ACMD Novel Psychoactive Substances and Technical Committees, two of four standing committees of the ACMD, both of which advise on legislative changes on classification and scheduling of drugs, where there is evidence of actual or potential harms.

**Novel Psychoactive Substances Committee**:This Committee was established in response to the emergence of novel drugs which often required stronger legislative controls.

**Technical Committee**:This Committee considers and makes recommendations for drug legislation about the classification and scheduling of any substance of which the misuse is having, or appears to them to be capable of having, harmful effects sufficient to cause a societal problem.

As Deputy Head of Office, they will also have some oversight of the Prevention and Recovery Committees and will provide cover when necessary.

Reporting to the Grade 7 Head of Office to the ACMD, the post holder will be responsible for the provision of high-quality support to the ACMD and wider Secretariat as and when needed.

**Key Responsibilities**
- Supporting the ACMD Head of Office in the provision of science advice to Ministers, leading on harms assessments related to emerging drugs, including classification and scheduling.
- Working closely with policy officials across Government, but particularly with the Home Office’s Drug Misuse Unit and the Office for Heath Improvement and Disparities.
- Line managing the team's two Higher Scientific Officers and acting as Deputy Head of Office(as and when needed) for the ACMD. Leading on ACMD membership and work programme, including all project and administrative functions this requires. Supporting on driving the centralisation of administrative functions within the wider secretariat team.
- Ensuring that the ACMD’s monitoring of harms caused by NPS and medicines being misused is continually under review, ensuring the most relevant and up to date evidence is considered.
- In frequent contact with stakeholders at all levels including the Chair, sub-committee chairs and members of the Committee (who are senior individuals within their specialist fields), senior policy colleagues and external stakeholders from academia, industry, law enforcement, coroners, charities, other government departments and counterparts from other governments.
- Providing competent technical briefings to assist science experts and at senior official/Ministerial level.

**Working Pattern**

Due to the business requirements of this role, it is only available on a full-time basis. However, compressed hours are available**.**

**Travel**

Occasional UK travel with overnight stay (approx 2-