About the job

Job summary

About HM Treasury

If you’re interested in making a difference to people’s lives, the Treasury can offer you an exciting opportunity to influence decision making that affects the whole of the UK. Working at the heart of government, we collaborate across government to promote responsible public spending and drive strong and sustainable economic growth.  

Our work ranges from protecting customers through the regulation of the financial sector, helping to reduce carbon emissions and creating a greener economy, to promoting British trade around the world and supporting people across the country on jobs, growth and more.  

HM Treasury is proud of a diverse and inclusive work environment, committed to fairness and the promotion of equality of opportunity for all. We know that having a range of experiences, ways of working and thinking makes us stronger and better at developing policy that reflects the needs of every community. We embrace different views and experiences and value the new perspective that people from a variety of circumstances bring to the work we do. We welcome applications from candidates who have not previously worked for the Civil Service, mid- and late-career changers with transferrable skills, people from all backgrounds and circumstances regardless of disability, gender, age ethnicity, LGBT+ identity and socio-economic status.  

We are part of the Darlington Economic Campus, a pioneering new cross-government hub which brings people together to play an active role in the most important issues of the day whilst working closer to the communities we serve. The campus provides the opportunity for people from all over the UK to help shape the future of the country, and our flexible working practices ensure you can collaborate effectively with our partners. It’s central government, made more accessible to you! 

Job description

About the Group

The Enterprise and Growth Unit (EGU) promotes sustainable economic growth and higher productivity for the UK. We provide analysis and advice on enterprise, innovation, private sector investment and a cost-effective transition to a low-carbon economy. The Enterprise and Growth Unit has a varied and exciting agenda and we work closely with a wide variety of other teams across the Treasury.   

We also work alongside other departments and government organisations to ensure that we are thinking creatively, spending wisely, and acting boldly to deliver these goals. These organisations are:

• the Department for Business and Trade,
• the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero,
• the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs,
• the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology,
• the Department for Transport,
• the Department for Culture, Media & Sport,
• the Competition and Markets Authority,
• HM Land Registry, and
• UK Export Finance

About the Team

Science, innovation and digital technology transform how we live and work. This brings new opportunities to unlock economic growth, improve productivity and create high skilled jobs.

The Science, Technology & Access to Finance (STAF) team advises on how the UK can make the most of this opportunity. We oversee spending by, and lead the Treasury’s relationship with, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT). We lead on the allocation and monitoring of R&D spending across government. We are responsible for Treasury policy on the government’s 5 priority technologies - AI, quantum, telecoms, semiconductors and engineering biology. We set the Treasury’s strategy for the digital technology sector, one of the Chancellor’s five growth sectors. 

We also lead on access to finance, including managing the Treasury’s relationship with the British Business Bank and delivering key policies announced by the Chancellor last summer at Mansion House to unlock more investment into the UK’s most innovative companies.

About the Job

Digital technology is a priority sector for the Chancellor and is central to the government’s plans for long-term economic growth. In particular, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is one of the government’s five critical technologies and holds exciting potential for scientific breakthroughs, business innovation and public sector productivity which are likely to transform society over the coming years. AI systems also pose risks, and the government is focused on ensuring AI is developed and deployed safely and responsibly. 

This role leads a branch of 6 people developing policy and overseeing government spending to grow the UK tech sector and promote the successful and safe use of digital tech and data across the economy. The branch covers a wide range of technology policy issues, including leading Treasury policy on AI, on the development of the UK tech sector, and on online safety, and working with STAF team colleagues on semiconductors policy (another of the government’s five critical technologies). This is a top priority for the Chancellor and Prime Minister, and the branch works closely with teams across government, particularly in the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), Cabinet Office and No.10. 

Responsibilities: 

1. Set Treasury strategy for the digital economy, developing new policies to bolster UK tech leadership while managing risks, and ensuring cross-cutting policies (on areas such as skills, R&D, and access to finance) respond to the needs of the digital economy.
2. Lead the six-person branch to deliver across a fast-paced and constantly evolving brief, ensuring priorities are clearly defined and promoting a supportive and inclusive culture.
3. Lead Treasury work on scrutinising digital and data-related spending, including at Spending Reviews and other fiscal events, ensuring investment is well-targeted and value for money.
4. Represent HM Treasury in senior-level Whitehall discussions on digital and tech policy.
5. Build and maintain strong relationships in government, including across the Treasury, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, Cabinet Office and No.10 Policy Unit.
6. Lead HM Treasury’s relationship with the tech sector, engaging with a wide range of stakeholders.

No two weeks in the job are the same and the successful applicant can expect to work on high profile policy projects. For instance, over the past months the branch has led HMT’s work on a £500m government investment in compute for AI, the establishment of the government’s new AI Safety Institute, and the government’s approach to online safety. 

In the coming months, priorities will include working on the government’s strategy on AI; developing growth-supporting policy on data and semiconductors; and preparing for forthcoming fiscal events, including the next Spending Review. 

Candidate Drop-In Session 
 
We will be running a candidate drop-in session for this role to give you greater insight about the role as well as the chance to learn more about HM Treasury and the recruitment process. If you would like to join us, then use the link below to join the call at the right time.  

Thursday 11th January at 15:00:  Click here to join the meeting

If you would like to speak to the hiring manager informally prior to the closing date for applications to find out more about the job, please contact Joshua Fleming (flemingtaylorjobshare@hmtreasury.gov.uk).

Person specification

We are looking for the below skills, experience and behaviours and we will ask you to demonstrate these in your application form. Please review the Candidate FAQ document that is attached to the advert for guidance on how to complete your application form.  

1. Making effective decisions: ability to work on complex issues, using strong analytical, numerical and qualitative reasoning skills, and collaboration with others, to assess a range of different factors, and applying sound judgment to reach a conclusion.
2. Seeing the big picture: ability to provide thought leadership, develop a big-picture long-term term vision, and think creatively; and the ability to consider the wider politics / sensitivities affecting a policy area.
3. Leadership: Experience of developing and empowering others through strong leadership and management; excellent stakeholder management skills and the ability to build effective relationships to deliver policy objectives.

The lead criterion is: Making effective decisions

If we receive large volumes of applications, we will conduct an initial sift on the lead criterion only.

Candidate Guidance Support Session 
 
We will be running an overview of Success Profiles and the STAR approach; top tips for the application and interview process and an opportunity to ask general questions around our recruitment practices. If you would like to join us, then use the link below to join the call at the right time.  

Friday 5th January at 12:30: Click here to join the meeting

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £64,160, HM Treasury contributes £17,323 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.

Recruitment Timeline 

Closing date: 14 January 2024

Shortlisting: w/c 15 January 2024

Interviews:  w/c 22 January 2024

This timeline is indicative and may be subject to change. We will inform you if there is a substantial change to the recruitment timeline. 

If your contact details change at any time during the selection process, please ensure you update your Civil Service Jobs Profile.  

Eligibility Statement

A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role in the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government. Checks will be performed as part of pre-employment checks in line with this. Please refer to the Candidate FAQ document attached to the advert for more information.

Individuals appointed to the Treasury Group will be subject to National Security Vetting. To allow for meaningful checks to be carried out applicants will normally need to have lived in the UK for at least 3 out of the past 5 years. A lack of UK residency in itself is not always a bar to security clearance but the Department will need to consider eligibility on a case by case basis using all information that can be obtained following a successful application.

Everyone working with government assets must complete Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) checks. 

For many roles, security clearance is also required. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements of the role before they can be appointed. The level of security clearance required for this role is Counter Terrorist Check (CTC) 

Please read the Vetting Charter for information on what to expect during the vetting process and what will be expected from you.  

Many areas of your life may be explored during your vetting journey, and it is important that every individual, regardless of their background and experiences, should feel comfortable going through this personal process, whilst having confidence that it is fair, proportionate, and inclusive.  

These short videos address common concerns and preconceptions which applicants may have about national security vetting.  

If you have questions relating to security clearances, please contact HMTSecurityVetting@hmtreasury.gov.uk

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

Security

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.