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

We are looking for an experienced technical specialists on internet and issues to be part of a DSIT team that brings together policy issues and expertise on digital technical standards. You would represent DSIT as a technical standards specialist, engaging with relevant technical standards organisations at their meetings to achieve government needs. For government colleagues you would be advising on the impacts of standards on policy initiatives and how best to achieve relevant government needs through standards.

The role would expose you to senior stakeholders across UK government, industry, regulators, foreign governments and international organisations. You would have flexibility in how they work and how to engage in appropriate standards work.

You will have technical experience with the ability to quickly familiarise with new concepts. With a good understanding of the standards organisations in this space such as ITU, ETSI, 3GPP, IETF, W3C, IEEE SA and OASIS and likely direct experience of working with one or more of them. You should have a good understanding of the digital standards environment around such organisations as ISO, CEN and BSI. 

We’re also looking at other upcoming areas in standards, such as AI and quantum. Therefore background here would be useful too.

Working with the head of technical standards, who is an experienced standards engineer, you would:

• Contribute to the development of DSIT’s digital standards strategic approach, taking responsibility for internet and telecoms related technical areas as appropriate.
  
• Confidently represent the UK Government at digital standards developing organisations’ meetings and conferences, such as the IETF, IEEE SA, ITU, ETSI, 3GPP, ISO, W3C and others; with a particular focus on ETSI, 3GPP, IETF and IEEE SA.
  
• Be part of the leadership and governance of standards organisations.
  
• Provide advice and expertise to digital policy teams in DSIT and the wider Cross-Government community on internet and telecoms standards.
  
• Get involved in AI and quantum standards work and helping to shape the ecosystem to benefit of all.
  
• Manage external resources such as contractors.

Person specification

Skills and experience

It is essential that you can offer us the following:

• Experience to match Government science and engineering: career framework version 2 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/government-science-and-engineering-career-framework, meeting the foundation, experienced or leader levels. You would meet the knowledge/experience and demonstration characteristics described on pages 19 and 20 in relation to:
     ○  Global digital standards work in internet related issues.
     ○  Working with standards developing organisations such as ETSI, 3GPP, ITU, IETF, IEEE SA and W3C and possibly others such as ISO, BSI etc.
     ○  Internet and broadband technologies.
     ○  Telecoms and mobile technologies.
  
• Ability to understand, plan, prioritise and deliver outcomes in a complex environment.
  
• Excellent analytical skills and ability to assimilate complex documents and deliver effective arguments.
  
• Strong communication and influencing skills to successfully challenge and negotiate with key stakeholders and gain their confidence, including non-technical audiences.
  
• Be able to travel overseas for technical meetings typically once a month for up to a working week.
  
• Security Cleared (SC) (either hold, or willing to obtain).

We'd love it if you can offer us any of these:

• A degree or advanced professional qualification in one of the following: Electronic engineering, Communications engineering, Internet engineering, Mathematics, Physics, Cyber Security, Computer Science or a related field.
  
• Chartered Engineer (CEng) or Incorporated Engineer (IEng) status in an appropriate discipline, equivalents such EurIng and Professional Engineer status - or a substantial completion of such requirements.
  
• Experience in explaining and writing about technical standards for a generalist, non-technical audience - showing an appreciation of providing detail in a comprehensible way.

The specialist nature of the role may attract further pay allowances for appropriate candidates.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £52,320, Department for Science, Innovation & Technology contributes £14,126 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 Strengths, Experience and Technical skills.

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

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

Please use your personal statement (in no more than 250 words) to outline what you would bring to technical standards work in DSIT that shows your ability to work with technical issues and wider audiences.

Applications will be sifted on CV, personal statement, and any technical skills required.

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 technical and strength-based questions.

Sift and interview dates

Expected Timeline subject to change

Sift dates: w/c 04/03/2024

Interview dates: w/c 25/03/2024

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 and 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. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (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.