Purpose

To provide relevant and required input with respect to scientific and professional related issues to ensure that [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal] can maintain a credible source of information and support both internally and in what [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal] provides externally to its members and followers. This includes ensuring the demands of the funding body with respect to scientific related issues are undertaken as well as providing relevant and appropriate other contributions that meet with [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal]'s overall objectives as an organisation.

The post involves working with the Communications Team to deliver on the necessary tasks related to the “scientific” input required from [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal] towards the delivery of its grant outcomes. It will support the work of others in [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal] who require input and support in the scientific/professional specialist aspects of their work. This includes collaborating with and supporting the activities of the Communications, Website, National Chapters, and Event areas of [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal]'s operation.

There will be regular communication and meetings with the Communications Team and regular consultation with the Management Team.

Main Responsibilities

The Scientific Advisor will provide scientific and technical guidance, expertise, and oversight. The Scientific Advisor will collaborate with a diverse range of audiences and stakeholders, actively working with international partners, researchers and practitioners.

The Scientific Advisor's time will be spread to cover the following tasks:

• Technical Input Provision
• Scientific Support Team Lead
• Scientific Advisory Council Oversight
• Development of [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal]'s Scientific Objectives and Activities
• Collaboration with Partners
• Attendance at Meetings
• Other Areas of Work

1. Technical Input Provision As a subject matter expert in the drug demand reduction field, the Scientific Advisor will provide content and other “technical” input to the work of [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal]. The Scientific Advisor will review and validate “technical” material or information, provide recommendations and advice for the workforce and assist with establishing processes and standards for [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal]'s members and stakeholders. This will include written contributions for the website, website content review, and input to support the communications and marketing work of [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal]. It will include regular features that [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal] will develop and promote as well as inputs through social media and other relevant avenues such as specific conferences and events. This may also include performing literature searches and evaluation to support development of content for [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal] members and stakeholders and providing guidance on how to translate research into practice.

2. [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal] Scientific Support Team Lead The Scientific Advisor will lead [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal]'s Scientific Support Team and ensure the team's planned activities outlined in the annual workplan are undertaken. This will involve developing objectives and activities, as well as planning, reviewing and monitoring the work of the Scientific Support Team to achieve them. The focus of the Scientific Support Team is to ensure that what [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal] offers to the drug demand reduction community and particularly to its members is evidence-based and of high quality. The Scientific Support Team helps to ensure that the information provided by [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal] and its National Chapters (e.g. webinars, Knowledge Share content, reading lists and other resources) maintains the principles of [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal]'s mission and can be identified as appropriate and scientifically sound and rigorous and meets [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal]'s quality standards.

3. Oversight of the Scientific Advisory Council The Scientific Advisor will liaise between [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal] and the scientific community to ensure [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal] promotes evidence-based, high quality and ethical research and practice. The Scientific Advisor will build and maintain collaborations with drug demand reduction researchers and practitioners worldwide. In this role, the Scientific Advisor will spearhead the development of [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal]'s Scientific Advisory Council, a group of scientists and practitioners who will ensure that the research on evidence-based prevention, harm reduction, treatment and recovery support is accessible and communicated effectively. The Scientific Advisory Council will ensure that the most effective research is communicated into policy and practice. The Scientific Advisor will communicate with the Council's members on a regular basis and coordinate the Council's work in consultation with [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal]'s Management.

4. Development of [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal]'s Scientific Objectives and Activities The Scientific Advisor will liaise with the [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal] Management Team to develop [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal]'s scientific objectives and activities. This will involve reviewing needs of our members, developing a workplan to respond, supporting funding applications where needed and delivering the agreed activities. Developing a feasible monitoring and evaluation plan is a priority for [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal].

5. Collaboration with Partners Develop and maintain relationships with the appropriate contacts at partner organisations to facilitate synergy and non-duplication while driving collaborative service provision and product development.

6. Attendance at Meetings The Scientific Advisor will attend and contribute to [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal] staff meetings and events, facilitate [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal]'s Scientific Support Team meetings and attend relevant other staff group and partner meetings and take on specific follow-up tasks as appropriate.

7. Other Areas of Work The Scientific Advisor will support the [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal] Management Team to develop, review and monitor the work of [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal] in order for it to achieve its workplan and deliverables. The work of the Scientific Advisor may also involve engaging in scientific events, speaking on key issues for the workforce and representing [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal] at relevant meetings, conferences and other events.

Key Deliverables

• Respond to subject matter queries from [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal] staff and National Chapters
• Provide scientific contributions to [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal]'s digital communication channels
• Manage the Scientific Support team
• Manage the development and activity of the Scientific Advisory Council
• Moderate webinars and panels at [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal] events

Person Specification

Required Criteria:

• PhD/MD level of education or equivalent in a subject relevant to DDR OR recognised experience in the development and implementation of evidence-based practice of drug demand reduction
• Experience / education relevant to the continuum of care: substance use prevention, harm reduction, treatment or recovery support
• Ability to offer advice and guidance in relation to scientific issues within the drug demand reduction field
• Competent and confident communicator and speaker/moderator
• Ability to engage in diplomatic relationships with partner and external organisations
• International experience and perspective
• Self-motivated, show initiative and able to work from a home base
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Fluent in professional English

Desirable Criteria:

• Expertise in linking research to practice and policy
• Experience of undertaking and reviewing research
• Well-connected within their part of the DDR field
• Well-connected within their region
• Fluent in a second language

Additional Information

Location: Home based
Salary: Dependent upon location and experience of candidate
Job Type: Consultancy, start date to be discussed
Hours: 4 to 5 days a week (30 – 37.5 hrs) flexible, but some contact is needed within UK working day. Can be negotiated with appropriate candidate.

Application Process

Please send a cover letter outlining how you meet the required criteria and your CV to [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal] by 9th February 2024. Please direct any questions via email. Interviews will be held online the weeks of 4th and 11th March 2024.