About the job

Job summary

Our priorities

Optimise public R&D investment to support areas of relative UK strength and increase the level of private R&D to make our economy the most innovative in the world.

Promote a diverse research and innovation system that connects discovery to new companies, growth and jobs – including by delivering world-class physical and digital infrastructure (such as gigabit broadband), making the UK the best place to start and grow a technology business and developing and attracting top talent.

Put public services – including the NHS and schools – at the forefront of innovation, championing new ways of working and the development of in-house STEM capability to improve outcomes for people.

Strengthen international collaboration on science and technology in line with the Integrated Review, and ensure our researchers are able to continue to work with leading scientists in Europe and around the world.

Deliver legislative and regulatory reforms to drive competition and promote innovation, including the Data Protection and Digital Information Bill, the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumer Bill and our pro-innovation approach to regulating AI.

Our Inclusive Environment

We have an inclusive culture which makes the Department a brilliant place to work where our people feel valued and can be their authentic selves. We value difference and diversity, not only because we believe it is the right thing to do, but because it helps us be more innovative.

We offer flexible working benefits, employee well-being support and a great pension. We are fortunate to have a range of staff networks and are proud to be a Disability Confident Leader employer. We support talented people from all backgrounds to build a career and thrive.

We welcome applications from anyone who shares our commitment to inclusion and fully support candidates with a disability or long-term condition who require adjustments in our recruitment process.

We regularly run events where you can find out more about the department and tips for the application process. You can sign up for upcoming events here: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/departmentforsciencetechnologyandinnovation?

You can also follow our LinkedIn Page: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/dsitcareers/  

Please note that DSIT are currently reviewing our terms and conditions and pay arrangements following Machinery of Government changes and as part of the outstanding August 2023 pay award.  Please be aware that there may be changes to the terms and conditions and pay ranges listed in this advert ahead of you starting in post. Any changes would be implemented in early 2024.

Job description

The Government has a clear mission to make the UK a Science and Technology Superpower by 2030. At the heart of this is leveraging our tech sector and wider digital economy to ensure that the UK becomes the most innovative economy in the world. This will drive us toward stronger economic growth, better and more high-skilled jobs, and bold discoveries which will transform the health and happiness of the public. These roles will be instrumental in helping us to achieve this ambition.

The UK already has the largest tech sector in Europe and the third largest in the world behind the US and China. The UK’s tech industry is one of the engines for economic growth and critical to the future economic prosperity of the UK, now employing over 1.5 million people.

This area is a high priority for Senior Ministers and you will be at the heart of the government's ambition to grow a world-leading digital tech economy that works for everyone. Many of the technology companies we engage with are at the cutting edge of innovation and are working to tackle some of the most complex societal and economic challenges we face. This is an exciting opportunity to influence and engage with some of the most important policies across government.

The Tech Sector Team’s work supports the delivery of high-profile Government priorities ensuring that our policy development is aligned, with the aim of identifying future opportunities to support and contribute to the growth of the UK tech sector and the positive wider impacts on people’s lives which this will help to generate.

We are looking to fill three roles: two Briefing and Policy Advisors, one Skills Policy Advisor. These roles will work closely with Ministers, other government departments, and senior sector stakeholders to help shape interventions that will further support the future growth of the sector.

Person specification

Briefing & Policy Advisor

Developing and improving the way we provide key information for ministers and senior officials ahead of priority meetings and speeches;

Write briefings and speeches for Senior Civil Servants and Ministers for high profile tech engagements and events on a diverse range of tech and digital policy issues.

Leading on other briefing hub related tasks such as Ministerial correspondence, Parliamentary Questions, Write Rounds, Core Briefs, FOIs, intel gathering for Supply Chain and Covid inquiry commissions.

Engaging in policy work that supports the Tech Sector Team on policy deliverables;

Managing key stakeholder relations with the offices of ministers and senior officials, and with other briefing and policy leads across DCMS and in other government departments;

We are looking for a high-performing Policy Advisor to provide the Digital Skills and Innovation branch of the team with a wide range of policy, briefing, research and engagement support. The individual in this role would be expected to:

Work closely with the Briefing Hub to provide seniors and Ministers with briefings on digital skills;

Share knowledge with the wider Tech Sector team, including through owning and updating core documents on digital skills policy;

Support on policy development and research to address the UK's digital skills shortage, including on bids for the next Spending Review;

Lead on research projects into relevant areas;

Work closely with teams across DSIT and other government departments (Department for Education, Department for Work and Pensions, the Treasury, Home office) to ensure alignment on digital skills policy across Government;

Flexibly work across the Tech Sector Team, and providing support on special projects where needed, for instance on high profile events such as London Tech Week.  

Skills and experience

Essential requirements

• Good interpersonal, team-working skills;
• A positive, can-do attitude
• Accurate and effective communication skills (oral and written);
• Takes initiative and is highly organised and able to prioritise workload to meet changing and conflicting priorities to tight deadlines;
• Good analytical skills to process complex information, identify and problem-solve risks/issues, and present workable solutions;
• Attention to detail and commitment to delivering a quality service. 

Desirable skills

• Stakeholder management experience
• Experience of working across government or a large organisation.
• An interest or experience in Technology.  

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £25,310, Department for Science, Innovation & Technology contributes £6,833 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV, personal statement and a behavioural statement.

Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

Please use your personal statement (in no more than 500 words) to explain how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role in reference to the Essential requirements highlighted. You may also choose to reference the desirable skills listed.

Candidates will be sifted on the behavioural statement, CV, and personal statement.

In the event of a large number of applicants, applications will be sifted on the personal statement.

Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

The interview will consist of behaviour-based questions and a written exercise, further information will be given closer to the time.

Sift and interview dates

Expected Timeline subject to change

Sift dates: w/c 05/02/2024

Interview dates: w/c 12/02/2024

Interview Location: MS Teams.

Candidates are asked to note the above timetable, exercising flexibility through the recruitment and selection process.

Further Information

Reasonable Adjustment

We are proud to be a disability confident leader and we welcome applications from disabled candidates and candidates with long-term conditions.

We fully support adjustments throughout our recruitment process and we encourage candidates to discuss their adjustment needs by emailing the job contact which can be found under the contact point for applicants section.

We do not have an exhaustive list of adjustments that we support but just some examples include additional time to complete your application form, behaviour questions up to 72 hours prior to interview and having extra time at interview.

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

A location-based reserve list of successful candidates will be kept for 12 months. Should another role become available within that period you may be offered this position.

Please note terms and conditions are attached. Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you.

Any move to the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk

DSIT does not normally offer full home working (i.e. working at home); but we do offer a variety of flexible working options (including occasionally working from home). 

DSIT cannot offer Visa sponsorship to candidates through this campaign.

DSIT holds a Visa sponsorship licence but this can only be used for certain roles and this campaign does not qualify.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service /Disclosure Scotland on your behalf.

However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading. 

For further information on the Disclosure Scotland confidential checking service telephone: the Disclosure Scotland Helpline on 0870 609 6006 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email Info@disclosurescotland.co.uk 

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment. 

A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5-year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.

Feedback

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.