About the job

Job summary

The responsibilities for the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology for 2023 are as follows:

• Positioning the UK at the forefront of global scientific and technological advancement
• Driving innovations that change lives and sustain economic growth
• Delivering talent programmes, physical and digital infrastructure and regulation to support our economy, security and public services
• R&D funding

For 2023, our priorities are:

• 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 our 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 key 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.
• Pass the remaining stages of the reformed Online Safety Bill to keep British people, especially children, safe online.

Our Inclusive Environment

We are building an inclusive culture to make the Department a brilliant place to work where our people feel valued, have a voice 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 will help us be more innovative and make better decisions.

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

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

Find Out More

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 Careers Page: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/dsitcareers/

Job description

This role sits within the Digital Infrastructure Analysis team. The Digital Infrastructure (DI) directorate leads on policies that promote telecoms infrastructure investment and protect national security, whilst running innovative pilot programmes for the next generation of technology. Having a world-leading sustainable telecoms infrastructure is a priority for the Government and underpins DSIT's objective to make the UK the best digital economy in the world and drive digital transformation.

You will be reporting to the Head of Economics & Analysis for Future Telecoms Technology Policy (FTTP) and Future Networks Programmes (FNT), and work alongside other analysts, project delivery, and policy colleagues, to help provide direction and leadership to ensure programmes have robust evaluations in place.

The role will primarily focus on evaluating our research and innovation programmes designed to promote the development and adoption of 5G, OpenRAN and Future Telecoms programmes.

Our £200m 5G Testbed and Trials (5GTT) Programme was established in 2017 to stimulate market development and deployment of 5G technology and infrastructure in the UK. Testbeds were used to help industry understand the challenges of deploying new technologies and also provide evidence of different use cases, bringing ideas closer to commercialisation. A Process and Early Impact Evaluation was conducted in 2020, and an Interim Evaluation is close to being finalised. A Final Evaluation is planned for 2025.

Our £250m Open Networks Programme was launched in 2021 to build a more competitive and diverse telecoms equipment supply chain following recent and ongoing changes in the market. A Baseline Evaluation was conducted in 2022, and an Initial Evaluation is currently taking place. An Interim Evaluation is planned for 2026/27, with a Final Evaluation in 2029/30.

Following these successful R&D programmes, we have secured funding for multiple others, including:

* 5G Innovation Regions: A £40m fund that aims to accelerate 5G adoption in regions by bridging the gap between the technical trials undertaken in the 5GTT Programme and using 5G in the real world.

* Smart Infrastructure Pilots: A £3m allocation to Local Authorities for Local Authorities and Private Sector Companies to work together to implement Smart Lampposts (lampposts that deliver a range of smart services, e.g. public wi-fi, environmental monitoring, public safety, digital signage, geo-fencing, intelligent transport, electric-vehicles charging)

* Rural Connectivity Fund: A £7m project to improve connectivity in rural areas by testing new ways of deploying wireless, fixed and satellite technologies to reduce barriers.

You will lead and manage the evaluations for these programmes, as part of our evaluation team alongside another Senior Evaluation Analyst with support from our Economists and Operational Researchers. We are also developing a Monitoring and Evaluation Strategy for Digital Infrastructure and running social-research and evaluation teach-ins, which you will support with. This is a fantastic opportunity to apply established and innovative methods to high-profile programmes, as well as build social research and evaluation expertise among colleagues.

Due to the nature of our work, you will also get the opportunity to work on evaluations of other schemes, such as the rollout of gigabit broadband. And you will get the opportunity to travel to events and meet with project organisations and industry situated across the UK.

Key Responsibilities

This is a high profile analytical role, involving close collaboration with senior policy makers within DSIT and across the civil service. Some of the responsibilities will include:

Overseeing evaluation work on individual projects and the programme as a whole - developing robust monitoring and evaluation plans for the programmes.

Commissioning and project managing external contractors who are delivering evaluations for us. This involves writing research specifications, procuring research, managing delivery, and communicating findings to inform policy.

Acting as subject matter expert on evaluation and benefit realisation - identifying what information needs to be gathered and analysis required to ensure that we have successful monitoring and sufficient evidence for future planned evaluations.

Provide technical support and advice to policy colleagues on research methods, including advising on the relative robustness of competing sources of evidence and the interpretation of findings.

Leading regular assessments of the Programmes against our key success measures - communicating and promoting evaluation across Digital Infrastructure.

Provide quality assurance on research projects and ensure they are focused on delivering insights for research questions most relevant to achieving the department’s objectives.

Ensure regular reporting of market monitoring and performance of the Programme to the Digital Infrastructure Portfolio Boards and Delivery Management Boards.

Mentoring junior analysts and contributing to analysis across DI, and wider DSIT Evaluation and GSR Community, particularly providing peer review and sharing knowledge and best practice - with the possibility of line managing one or two junior analysts.

Person specification

Essential requirements:

Evaluation: Experience of evaluating projects or policy interventions according to best practice (Magenta Book).

Delivering at pace: Ability to deliver high impact analysis to tight deadlines focusing on what matters most to inform decisions - using forward planning and good judgement to identify risks and issues and where to make trade-offs to address them.

Analysis of data: Strong analytical experience in analysing costs and benefits of complex policy projects or government interventions, and presenting a range of information and evidence from diverse sources to inform decision making.

Communicating and influencing: Experience of effectively communicating complex issues to senior colleagues or stakeholders. Experience of establishing relationships and influencing a range of people to build support for a common goal.

Benefits

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology offers a competitive mix of benefits including:

• A culture of flexible working, such as job sharing, homeworking and compressed hours.
• Automatic enrolment into the Civil Service Pension Scheme, with an average employer contribution of 27%.
• A minimum of 25 days of paid annual leave, increasing by 1 day per year up to a maximum of 30.
• An extensive range of learning & professional development opportunities, which all staff are actively encouraged to pursue.
• Access to a range of retail, travel and lifestyle employee discounts.
• A hybrid office/home based working model where staff will spend a norm of 40-60% of their time in the office (minimum of 40%) over a month with flex dependent on balancing business and individual need.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

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

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 500 words) to explain why you are the suitable candidate for this senior evaluation role - indicating your key skills and relevant experience in analysis of data and evaluation.

Applications will be sifted on CV and Personal Statement.

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

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 technical 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 18/12/2023

Interview dates: w/c 08/01/2024

Interview Location: MS Teams.

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

Further Information

Existing Civil Servants and applicants from accredited NDPBs are eligible to apply, but will only be considered on loan basis (Civil Servants) or secondment (accredited NDPBs). Prior agreement to be released on a loan basis must be obtained before commencing the application process. In the case of Civil Servants, the terms of the loan will be agreed between the home and host department and the Civil Servant. This includes grade on return.

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 or 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.