In Australia, Scarce rose to the rank of rear admiral and Head of Maritime Systems at the Defence Materiel Organisation.

As governor, Scarce stressed the importance of science and maths education, and continued to champion economic opportunities in South Australia's defense sector.

In 2010 he told Defense Business SA magazine: My major role as Governor is helping to sell the opportunities of investing in South Australia.

He was appointed Chairman of the Cancer Council of South Australia in November 2014[12] and has since met many beneficiaries of the organisation's fundraising, research, education and services.

He told The Advertiser that he took the role last November after being impressed by the council's work during his time as governor, and also because his grandmother Leah died from cancer.

[14] Kevin Scarce and Raymond Spencer are ambassadors for Impact 100, a sub fund of the Australian Communities Foundation, which awards grants to not-for-profit organisations in South Australia.

[16] Scarce was appointed the 16th Chancellor of the University of Adelaide with effect from 1 December 2014[17] in succession to the Hon Robert Hill AC, who retired in July 2014.

Scarce retired from this role on 4 May 2020, with his resignation followed the next day by the Vice-Chancellor, Peter Rathjen, taking an indefinite leave of absence.

[21] In December 2014, Scarce broke seven years of 'political silence' by suggesting that South Australia consider developing nuclear industries to compensate for a downturn in the manufacturing sector.

He told the media that he wanted a debate on the opportunities and risks the development of nuclear industries in South Australia represented, stating: "I come to this with no preconceived views.

[28] In addition to promoting the opportunities that his Commission identified in the nuclear industry, Scarce has also restated his interest in Australia considering becoming a republic.