On Monday the State Services Commission opened applications for the new CE for the new Ministry of Science and Innovation. It’s the new ministry formed by amalgamating the Ministry of Research Science and Technology (that provided policy and advice to Wayne Mapp) and the Foundation Research Science and Technology which funded science.
The ministry’s new name is a really good one, I admit – and it reflects the importance science plays both for its own sake and driving innovation and our economy.
The question is can the new ministry live up to it?
As I’ve said in an earlier blog, this should be our opportunity to really launch a new vision for science that can drive innovation in NZ like they’ve done in Finland, Denmark, Singapore, Israel and other like-sized countries. They have really impressive science and innovation programmes, their economy depends on them.
The key point will be the person selected to head the Ministry to set that vision. So it makes sense that we cast our recruitment net wide for a new CE to attract the best international expertise and best practice.
That might not be what’s happening, however. Vacancies for the CE opened last Friday 25 June and will close 14 July. That’s a bit over two weeks. Tell me how you troll the world for the best in the business in that time?
The answer is you don’t. It’s looking more like pat, pat, wink, wink.
In the meantime, I’ve sent in a few written questions to Mr Ryall (Min of State Services) to ask what procedures were followed.
It might well be that the best applicant is here in NZ, but will we really know? And, wouldn’t it be good if we did select a Kiwi from a top class talent pool?
Good one Dr Mapp – tell me, what directions did you give? Here’s your aspirational, step change new Ministry.
Yeah right.
Yes select Kiwis!
Am I to understand that you are criticising the Minister of Science for a job ad placed by the State Services Commission?
Poor form David. Go learn something about the state sector in New Zealand. The SSC manages the recruitment process for state sector chief executives. You should know that Mapp would never give directions. You must be struggling for air time to come up with such a stupid post.
Interesting Janny June.
I am aware that some Crown Entities are very much driven by their Minister…even when not supposed to be.
2 weeks seems short, even for finding the best kiwi.
So, the “do” government is setting up a newish bureaucracy?
Speaking of science, science brought us television – enjoyed watching you on Neighbours at War!
@Jammy June, This is actually an excellent post by David Shearer. I think you have missed the point of the post, which is that: the incredibly short time frame (just over two weeks) to headhunt the CEO for this important Ministry raises questions as to whether some NACT hack had already been pre-chosen for the position, and that the advertisement is merely a window dressing to pretend that a proper selection process is being followed and procedures are not being abused.
@ Jammy June:
As a former state servant, I can confirm that ads for senior positions in the State sector are often no more than window dressing to comply with Public Service regulations. It is you that needs to “Go learn something about the state sector in New Zealand”
Nact are worried that David Shearer is clearly on top of his shadow portfolios and his doing his homework – aye Jammy?
CEO hunt for a multi-million dollar organisation with a couple of dozen staff members would commonly take 3-6 months. If someone needs to steer the ship in the mean time, appointing a temporary acting-CEO is common practice.
2 weeks indicates that their pre-selected shortlist has already sent in their applications.
They should give the job to Steven Carden…
This Government has reached new lows in appointing mates to positions-David Shearer has hit the nail on the head.
The thing is sim. m. that they don’t even bother to try and make it look like they are doing anything but appointing mates.
They have a huge lead in the polls I guess that gives them the confidence to push on.
There are some real opportunities for change in this area.
I don’t want to drive people away from Red Alert David, but it’s worth checking out Cushla McKinney’s excellent piece on funding for science in NZ in the latest edition of Werewolf:
http://werewolf.co.nz/2010/06/from-begging-bowl-to-petri-dish/
With my partner struggling through a PhD in science at the moment (with a constant lack of resourcing and constant roadblocks) the thrust of the article is all too familiar. The methods they have to apply are laughed at in international conferences (if they can even attend them), but are necessitated due to the level of funding the research (anti-cancer drug research)is allowed – at one of NZ’s biggest universitys. Gearing funding to that with short-term economic benefits (primarily agriculture) is all well and good, but it comes at the expense of long-term research that may have significantly greater benefits for us.
And for my two cents, two weeks does seem suspiciously short for appointing someone to such a critical role.
Sounds like this National Government has (un?)intentionally baptised the new head as the ‘two-week shoulder-tapped CE’ of the Ministry of Science and Innovation?
I hope this is not a Government whose modus operandi is fait accompli, i.e. the Government of ‘done deals’.
Gary Jones: more like the Government of ‘done backroom deals’