Location:

Taiwan
Salary:

$32,886 - $40,195 / YEAR
Job type:

TEMPORARY
Posted:

4 months ago
Category:

Research and Data
Deadline:

10/09/2025

JOB DESCRIPTION

View Vacancy – TW – Head of Science and Technology, HEO

The British Government is an inclusive and diversity-friendly employer. We value difference, promote equality and challenge discrimination, enhancing our organisational capability. We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We do not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, colour, ethnicity, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, age, veteran status or other category protected by law. We promote family-friendly flexible working opportunities, where operational and security needs allow. The FCDO operates an agile workforce and to facilitate this, you may be required to undertake other duties from time to time, as we may reasonably require.

Job Category

Knowledge and Technology Department (KTD)

Job Subcategory

Technology, Information and Digital Transformation

Job Description (Roles and Responsibilities)

Main purpose of job:

The British Office Taipei is recruiting a Head of Science and Technology to be the UK Science and Technology Network’s (STN) most senior representative in Taiwan. Taiwan and the UK are both major global players in science, innovation and technology, and this is an exciting time to join the team. Building closer links with Taiwan is critical to delivering the UK’s economic growth mission and our Industrial Strategy, and aligns well with Taiwan’s own priorities to build international relationships. The STN team works closely with contacts in Taiwan and across the UK to build the critical relationships and partnerships that underpin these shared goals.

This is an excellent opportunity for an outgoing, proactive and organised individual with a keen interest in science and technology who is able to work independently to pursue UK science diplomacy and commercial objectives in Taiwan.

The UK Science and Technology Network (STN) covers over 65 countries and territories globally and exists to connect UK universities, R&D institutes and innovation-focused companies with commercial and technological opportunities abroad.

There are three core objectives that should be reflected across all of STN’s global activity. These are:

Projecting UK scientific and technological excellence and leadership globally;
Actively building and facilitating S&T collaborations of value to the UK; and
Providing insights and intelligence.

Priority sectors in Taiwan currently include: net zero technologies (e.g. renewables and hydrogen); semiconductors and AI (e.g. compound semiconductors and IC design); health and life sciences (e.g. medical devices); space and communications (e.g. 5G/6G, satellites).

Roles and responsibilities / what will the jobholder be expected to achieve:

The Head of Science and Technology will be responsible for: (1) Working across teams to set direction for, and drive forward the strategic UK-Taiwan science, innovation and technology relationship including by leading on regular reporting and advice to the UK government (2) identifying opportunities for UK- Taiwan collaboration in key sectors; (3) facilitating delegations to Taiwan / to the UK to pursue those opportunities; (4) supporting joint research and R&D programmes such as the Innovative Industries Programme and Collaborative R&D Programme and; (5) managing a team of two staff whilst working collaboratively across teams in Taipei and in the UK.

Strategy & policy (35%)

Use market analysis, internally and externally sourced, to form a strategic understanding of UK and Taiwanese technological strengths and needs, and how connections can be made between them.
Prioritise opportunities according to their commercial, technological and political value, in line with HMG policy including the Industrial Strategy and the overarching objective of contributing to UK economic growth.
Seek ways to support the long-term strategic relationship between the UK and Taiwan, building on existing bilateral S&T programmes.
Report on technological and policy developments in Taiwan when appropriate, including in response to global STN commissions to inform UK international priorities.

Team Management (15%)

Provide leadership and management for team of 2 STN officers, providing direction and clear goals, objectives and structures.
Ensure that team has clear and stretching goals, including for personal development.
Take responsibility for ensuring that your team works collaboratively across the office, region and UK teams.

Project management (30%)

Build a pipeline of activities (bilateral missions, workshops, seminars) to pursue the identified sectoral opportunities (e.g. Global Business Innovation Programme – GBIP)
Manage and monitor project implementation, reporting and follow up
Ensure effective budget management and value for money, and seek funding from relevant channels to sustain the UK-Taiwan science and technology relationship
Ensure suitable monitoring and reporting frameworks are in place to track delivery and ensure that STN Taiwan activities are suitably assed (?) and reported to UK leads.

Networking & stakeholder management (20%)

Identify and maintain strong working relationships with key Taiwanese and UK stakeholders in the public (ministries, universities, key RTOs) and private sector.
Proactively recommend and support high-level UK and Taiwan engagements, provide high-quality written briefing and take forward any follow-up actions.
Work collaboratively across teams in the British Office Taipei responsible for policy and commercial outcomes, spotting opportunities to deliver joint objectives – for example at the annual SEMICON Taiwan expo.
Actively participate in HMG STN leadership and networking, including via the STN network in Asia-Pacific and in whole-of STN events hosted in the UK.

Support wider corporate goals across the British Office Taipei, working closely with other teams and senior managers. Support high profile activities, including ministerial visits, on an ad hoc basis.

Resources managed (staff and expenditure):

Line management for 2x STN officers
Management of STN annual budget
Use of programme funding to deliver projects in related topics

Essential qualifications, skills and experience

Experience in managing and leading a team;
A degree level qualification or higher in any discipline;
Strong interest in science, technology and innovation;
Good organisational skills and a track record of successful project management;
Strong teamwork and collaboration skills, including confidence in suggesting new ideas and ways of working;
Strong interpersonal and networking skills;
Working knowledge of Microsoft Office;
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to draft high quality written material to short deadlines and to present with confidence to senior stakeholders;
Ability to work independently and to prioritise competing demands.

Language requirements:

Language: English and Mandarin (Full professional fluency in English, written and spoken, conversational level Mandarin)

Level of language required: Expert

Desirable qualifications, skills and experience

Mandarin, conversational level;
Experience of analysing tech trends and developments, gained for example in media, government, academia or the private sector;
An existing network of relevant contacts in Taiwan, such as government, the private sector and and academia.

Required behaviours

Communicating and Influencing, Seeing the Big Picture, Working Together

Application deadline

10 September 2025

Grade

Higher Executive Officer (HEO)

Type of Position

Full-time, Temporary, Fixed Term

Working hours per week

Duration of Post

12 months

Region

Asia Pacific

Country/Territory

Taiwan

Location (City)

Taipei

Type of Post

British Office

Number of vacancies

Salary Currency

TWD

Salary

95,159

Type of Salary

monthly

Start Date

3 November 2025

Other benefits and conditions of employment

We offer:

Pro-rated 13.5 month bonus
Access to a global network of experts
Opportunities to travel including to the UK
Annual leave starting at 18 days (Pro-rated) with one additional day added each year up to maximum of 30 days (in addition to UK and Taiwanese national holidays)
Centrally located office, with a modern, spacious and well-lit working space.
Options for flexible working where necessary – e.g. working from home.
Reasonable working hours and respect for your work/life balance.

Learning and development opportunities:

The British Office has a strong commitment to developing staff and supports staff who wish to pro-actively develop their talents and abilities. We encourage individuals to take advantage of the many different learning opportunities open to team members. These include bespoke in-house online training as well as courses provided by the FCDO both in Taiwan and overseas. Setting a development goal will be a key part of your appraisal process, and you will have the opportunity to drive your own developmental needs with the support of your line manager.

Working patterns:

British Office Taipei is strongly committed to supporting a work life balance. Standard working hours are 09:00-17:30, with flexi hours possible within office opening hours (08:30-18:30). We have official phones and laptops, which enable flexible working, with remote working of up to one day a week possible, in agreement with line managers.

Employment offers are subject to successful clearance of pre-employment checks. Staff recruited locally by the British Office are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local Taiwan employment law. Candidates must have the correct permit to work in Taiwan in order to apply.

No accommodation or relocation expenses are payable in connection with this position. You must have or be able to obtain correct permit to work or work authorisation in Taiwan in order to apply. Any costs related to obtaining or renewing permits and visas are the responsibility of the successful applicant.

Employees who are not liable to pay local income tax on their Mission salary may have their salaries reduced by the equivalent local income tax amount.

The FCDO also operates an agile workforce. To facilitate this, you may be required to undertake other duties from time to time as we may reasonably require.

Additional information

Please note that the deadline for applications is 23:55 on the day mentioned in the above field “Application deadline”.

Please be aware that the deadline for submitting applications is considered to be the time zone for the country where the vacancy has arisen.

We advise you to allow enough time to complete and submit your full application since only applications completed and submitted before the deadline will be considered.

Note: All applicants are required to mandatorily fill the online application form completely including the employment and educational details, experience, professional skills and behaviour-based questions. We will be thoroughly reviewing the applications and incomplete form in any respect may not be considered while shortlisting for the next stage.

Please ensure that your application is authentically written based on your own experiences. If AI tools are used, their usage must only be limited to specific tasks such as ensuring formatting consistency and keyword relevance. The core content, personal narratives, and responses to behaviour and skill-based questions must genuinely reflect your professional journey, experiences, and achievements. We place great importance on originality and individual effort throughout the application process. Any form of plagiarism will result in immediate disqualification

Only shortlisted candidates for interview will be contacted. Interviewees will be assessed on the core behaviours/qualifications listed above. Unsuccessful candidates will be notified via the system in due time. Appointable candidates who were unsuccessful may be placed on a ‘reserve list’. If during the reserve period of 6 months the same or a largely similar role becomes available, that role may be offered to the second or subsequent candidate.

To ensure a successful application it is important that you explain how you demonstrate these behaviours, including through your experience. You are strongly advised to read the Success Profiles: Civil Service behaviours which provides detailed guidance on how the behaviours are defined.

Applicants are encouraged to use the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) format to prepare specific examples of when they have demonstrated these behaviours in their application. Using the STAR format to provide evidence of your skills and experience in your application and at interview helps to give a structure. You briefly describe the situation in which you showed the behaviour, and then explain your task in addressing the situation, what action you took and the result of this.

For inclusivity and diversity, please remove the following personal information when uploading your CV: name, address, email address, age, date of birth, gender and nationality.

The start date mentioned in the job advert is a tentative start date and the successful candidate will be required to undergo security vetting procedures. Any offer of employment will be subject to the candidate achieving suitable clearance.

Please be aware that you will only be able to apply to vacancies for Country Based Staff roles with the British Government through this official tal.net site (operated by Oleeo). Jobs may be advertised on third party websites, however our adverts will always link back to the official tal.net site. If you complete and send an application through any other site, we will not receive it.