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

AI is bringing about huge changes to society, and it is our job as a team to work out how Government should respond. It’s a once-in-a-generation moment, and an incredibly fast-paced and exciting environment.

Building on the platform created by the AI Safety Summit hosted by the UK last November, the AI Policy directorate will continue to play a leading role in providing strategic direction across Government and industry to establish the most trusted and pro-innovation system for AI governance in the world, ensure UK institutions and infrastructure have the necessary capabilities to maintain our strategic advantage, and drive forward our ambitious objectives home and abroad.

It’s also a crucial time for DSIT, which is bringing together the five technologies of tomorrow – AI, Quantum, Engineering Biology, Semiconductors, Future Telecoms under one department for the first time. Our aim is to drive innovation that delivers improved public services, create new better-paid jobs and grow the economy.

We are a fun, vibrant Directorate committed to supporting our staff’s development and well-being, as well as delivering excellent work. We are especially keen to bring in new team members who will contribute to our friendly and inclusive Directorate culture.

We welcome applications from individuals of all personal and professional backgrounds to play a key role in one of societies greatest changes.

We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced leader to head up the AI Regulation Strategy & Implementation team.

You will be part of the senior leadership of the AI Regulation Deputy Directorate. This team is responsible for one of the most exciting and dynamic policy areas in government – designing and delivering the rules that govern AI.

In February 2024, we published our response to the AI regulation white paper setting out how we are delivering effectively on our pro-innovation approach through our existing expert regulators as well as iterating our approach so we can respond effectively to the risks and opportunities that AI presents. But there is still more to do. Alongside an ambitious delivery programme, we also need to ensure our framework keeps pace with this fast moving technology and our regulatory regime continues to promote both innovation and safety.

The AI Regulation Strategy & Implementation team will be central to these efforts. As team leader, you will line manage and develop three Band A/Grade 7 team leaders, each of whom manage a number of H/SEOs.

Person specification

As team leader, you will be responsible for:

• Driving and delivering our overall strategy for regulating AI ensuring it keeps pace with this fast evolving technology and we champion our vision externally and across Whitehall.
• Leading work to ensure the AI institutional landscape is fully effective and coherent with an initial focus on next steps in establishing the central function as set out in the AI Regulation White Paper. This will involve working closely with the teams responsible for monitoring AI risks, reviewing regulator capabilities and regulator powers.
• Driving our work with regulators to ensure effective coordination, including the set-up of a steering committee with HMG representatives and regulators on AI governance to support join-up and effective action on priority risks and other cross-cutting themes.
• Leading high priority cross-cutting policy projects or deep dives on AI regulation.
• Overseeing the stakeholder engagement, governance and briefing functions for the AI Regulation Division, providing a high-quality service to senior officials and Ministers and ensuring we are engaging with a diverse range of voices on our regulatory approach.
• Tracking the implementation of the regulatory framework, ensuring we are meeting our public commitments on AI regulation and holding the division (and others) to account against an ambitious programme of work.

Skills and experience

Essential:

• Comfortable leading high-performing teams and delivering a large portfolio of impactful work through others in fast-paced and ambiguous environments.
• Confident in communicating complex concepts concisely and clearly in both written and verbal form for diverse audiences, often a short notice.
• Track record of quickly building strong, highly collaborative relationships and influencing senior stakeholders internally and externally.
• Sound decision-making and judgement, and ability to develop evidence-based policy or strategy recommendations to drive decision-making.
• Committed to supporting the team’s well-being, morale and professional development.
  

Desirable:

• Understanding of AI policy environment.
• Experience of designing and developing regulatory policy.
• Experience developing and delivering a strategy.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £64,660, Department for Science, Innovation & Technology contributes £17,458 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 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 1000 words) to provide evidence of your professional skills and experience, which meet the Essential skills and experience criteria in the person specification set out in the job advertisement.

Applications will be sifted on 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 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 26/02/2024

Interview dates: w/c 11/03/2024

Interview Location: MS Teams.

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

Further Information

Please be aware the levels of national security clearance are changing which may impact on the level needed for this role by the time of appointment. All efforts will be made to keep candidates informed of any changes and what that will mean in terms of vetting criteria. For more information please See our vetting charter

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 counter-terrorist 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.