The Standing Committee for the Social Sciences (SCSS) is chaired by Professor Sir Roderick Floud, Provost of Gresham College, London, UK. 

The Committee is composed of its members, leading scientists nominated by the ESF Member Organisations (research councils or academies) working in social sciences, and observers from other social science institutions.  Along with national experts, several observers from key social science institutions are also participating in two plenary meetings per year helping to shape the SCSS' role in the European Research Area.

The task of the committee is to advance Social Sciences on a European level by supporting innovative research ideas and approaches from the scientific community. Scientific agenda setting is therefore a crucial element of Standing Committee work and a variety of strategic activities are undertaken in order to explore and initiate new projects.