A chief scientist within a ministry can help improve the use of scientific knowledge in policy evaluation. The role can raise policymakers’ awareness of relevant scientific insights and increase the availability of such knowledge during incidents and crises. However, there are several important considerations. A chief scientist must be equipped with the right resources and authority, and the role should strengthen—rather than replace—the existing system of policy advice. We wrote this exploratory piece in response to growing interest from advisors and politicians in the role of a chief scientist, or its variants: chief scientific adviser and chief scientific officer. With this publication, we aim to inform policymakers and researchers involved in organising science for policy.