About the job

Job summary

At DSIT, we’re all about cementing the UK’s position as a Science and Tech superpower. Our mission is driving stronger growth, better jobs and bold discoveries. We’re the Department investing in today to secure future economic growth. 

To help us get there, our Science and Technology Framework lays out the roadmap for everything we do, giving us a clear plan up to 2030.  Together with stakeholders from across government and the SciTech sector we are:   

• Backing UK science, technology and innovation, boosting investment in our most exciting technologies and sectors of the future, to grow the economy and create high paid-jobs.  
• Tackling global challenges through international influence and partnerships to secure our future and security. 
• Improving lives by championing responsible innovation in the digital economy and public services.

We want DSIT to be the best place to work in government and central to this is our set of core values – think big, value people, create connections, cultivate curiosity. We created these together in our first months as a department and they guide how we work: helping us make decisions, informing our behaviour and interactions.    

From delivering the Online Safety Act 2023 and hosting the world’s first inaugural AI Safety Summit to boosting investment in R&D and Life Sciences, we have already achieved so much since we were created. But this is only the beginning and being a department for innovation, we’re excited to see what the future holds.  

Our Inclusive Environment  

We offer flexible working benefits, employee well-being support and a great pension. We are enormously proud to be a Disability Confident Leader employer. We support candidates with adjustments throughout our recruitment process. Information about disability confidence and just some examples of the adjustments that you can request can be found in the reasonable adjustment section below.  

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service D&I Strategy. 

Find Out More 

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

Job description

The Integrated Review Refresh (IR23) describes China’s growing power and international influence as ‘an epoch-defining challenge’. The new government has set out that it will take a consistent, long term and strategic approach to managing the UK’s relations with China. We will co-operate where we can, compete where we have different interests, and challenge where we must. It will also take forward an audit of our relationship with China. This will look at our relationship across a range of our respective interests and will underpin our approach going forwards. 

Science and Technology leadership is also central to China’s agenda, and China S&T is a key lens through which escalating geostrategic competition is taking place: to secure supply chains and access to technologies; to shape the rules and values that will guide the development and use of data and new technologies; and to be at the forefront of game-changing research and technological innovation. ​

The China Team in DSIT is at the intersection of the Government’s China and S&T agendas, responsible for shaping and driving the department’s strategic approach to China, determining where and how we should engage, and coordinating on China S&T issues across HMG. The team sits within DSIT’s International and Economic Security Directorate, which coordinates DSIT’s cross-cutting international engagement and broader economic security strategy. We are a diverse, social directorate where there are plenty of opportunities to learn.

The role gives candidates the opportunity to develop policy in high-profile and important areas, as well as develop or gain national security and international experience, through cross-cutting strategic thinking and bilateral engagement. The work can be fast-paced - you should be resilient in managing a varied workload and changing priorities. You will get to grips with priority policy areas, cooperating effectively with others, and thinking critically and strategically to establish how best to deliver for DSIT. The role will involve significant cross-government working, as well as close collaboration with DSIT policy teams and overseas networks.

Person specification

Key responsibilities:

Our work is varied, with scope for tailoring roles to suit strengths and development needs of the team, however examples of key responsibilities and projects include:

Support the Head of China Team on implementation and governance of the new government’s approach on China, ensuring a coherent approach in DSIT and across government on China S&T. 

Drive China capability (analysis, expertise building and upskilling) within DSIT and across government, including delivery of major projects through programme funding.

Lead briefing and advice for government-to-government engagement with China – navigating a complex political and diplomatic environment, working closely with the overseas network in China.

Develop our approach to engagement with Chinese tech companies, including closer coordination across HMG to bring greater coherence.

Act as a source of expertise on China S&T developments, including within the wider geopolitical context, using this expertise to provide policy advice to teams across DSIT and wider government on a wide range of policy questions.

Skills and experience:

We would love to hear from you if you have strong transferable skills in:

Excellent evidence-based strategic and analytical skills as well as critical thinking, problem-solving and judgement.

Communicating complex ideas clearly and succinctly.

Demonstrable ability to successfully influence, challenge and negotiate, including when under pressure.

Strong prioritisation skills that enable you to make effective decisions when handling time-sensitive work to achieve both short and long-term results, identifying, managing and adapting to competing agendas. Ability to work effectively at pace when necessary and demonstrate a track record of this. 

Ability to focus on “the bigger picture” (e.g. wider policy and political landscape), enabling consistent connections between own work portfolio and wider geopolitical, organisational and team objectives.   

Experience and/or expertise in at least one of China, S&T, geopolitics and/or economic security issues would be advantageous in this role.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £38,860, Department for Science, Innovation & Technology contributes £10,492 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, Strengths and Experience.

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

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

Please use your personal statement (in no more than 750 words) to explain how your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with particular reference to the criteria in the person specification.

Please note - the CV incorporated into the application form is for information purposes only and will not be scored.

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 and strength based questions.  

Interviewees will be asked to deliver a presentation; further details will be provided nearer the time. 

Sift and interview dates

Expected Timeline subject to change

Sift dates: w/c 29/07/24

Interview dates: w/c 12/08/2024

Interview Location: MS Teams.

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

Further Information

For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the following page https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/demystifying-vetting

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 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. 

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. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is developed vetting (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window). 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.