Scientific Advisor

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 ISSUP. 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 ISSUP’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 ISSUP. It will include regular features that ISSUP 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 ISSUP members and stakeholders and providing guidance on how to translate research into practice.

2. ISSUP Scientific Support Team Lead

The Scientific Advisor will lead ISSUP’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 ISSUP 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 ISSUP and its National Chapters (e.g. webinars, Knowledge Share content, reading lists and other resources) maintains the principles of ISSUP’s mission and can be identified as appropriate and scientifically sound and rigorous and meets ISSUP’s quality standards.

3. Oversight of the Scientific Advisory Council

The Scientific Advisor will liaise between ISSUP and the scientific community to ensure ISSUP 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 ISSUP’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 ISSUP’s Management.

4. Development of ISSUP’s Scientific Objectives and Activities

The Scientific Advisor will liaise with the ISSUP Management Team to develop ISSUP’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 ISSUP.

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 ISSUP staff meetings and events, facilitate ISSUP’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 ISSUP Management Team to develop, review and monitor the work of ISSUP 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 ISSUP at relevant meetings, conferences and other events.

Key Deliverables:

• Respond to subject matter queries from ISSUP staff and National Chapters
• Provide scientific contributions to ISSUP’s digital communication channels
• Manage the Scientific Support team
• Manage the development and activity of the Scientific Advisory Council
• Moderate webinars and panels at ISSUP 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

Location: Home based

Salary: Dependent upon location and experience of candidate

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 recruitment [at] issup [dot] net (recruitment[at]issup[dot]net) by 9th February 2024. Please direct any questions via email.

Interviews will be held online the weeks of 4th and 11th March 2024.