About the job

Job summary

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

Enterprise and Growth Unit

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

The UK’s prowess in science and digital technology has transformed how we live and work. This brings new opportunities to unlock economic growth, improve productivity and create high skilled jobs. The UK is already a global leader, and with the right policy can go even further to unleash the benefits of frontier science and technology.

The Science, Technology and Access to Finance (STAF) team advises on how to make the most of this opportunity. We develop policy and oversee government spending on wider science Research & Development (R&D) and innovation policy, technology and access to finance and digital infrastructure. We also deliver wider spending control for the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. These are top priorities for the Chancellor and Prime Minister, and require close work with teams across government, particularly in DSIT, Cabinet Office and No.10.

The STAF team leads on all five of the government’s critical technologies and one of the Chancellor’s five priority growth sectors, and is therefore central to the government’s plans for long-term economic growth. These technologies hold exciting potential for scientific breakthroughs, business innovation and public sector productivity which are likely to transform society over the next couple of years.

About the job

You will lead the Treasury’s work on overseeing the government’s programmes to roll out gigabit capable broadband and 4 & 5G across the country as quickly as possible. This will involve working closely with experts within and beyond Whitehall to advise the Chancellor and other ministers on crucial policy development, as well as major public spending programmes, such as Project Gigabit (a £5 billion government infrastructure project) and the Shared Rural Network (a £500m programme to provide mobile connectivity to the ‘hardest to reach’ areas in the UK).

You will also lead work to support the semiconductor sector (in collaboration with the economic resilience team), taking a strategic view of how government should engage with the sectors to drive growth. This will involve working with DSIT, its ALBs and colleagues across HMT to identify and respond to investment needs, in order to support the government’s growth and technology ambitions, and leading on company specific investment opportunities as they arise.

Depending on the successful candidate’s interests, capability and capacity, you may also contribute to wider science and technology policy development including at fiscal events, funded from an R&D budget set to reach £20bn next year. This will include advising ministers on the value for money of R&D and other investment propositions, delivery against budgets and strategic alignment with government priorities.

No two weeks in these jobs are the same and the successful applicants can expect to work on high profile policy projects throughout the year, particularly in the run up to the next Spending Review.

Key accountabilities for this role include:

1. Lead specific areas of HM Treasury’s strategy for science and technology, developing new policies to bolster UK leadership in digital infrastructure manufacturing, and ensure cross-cutting policies (on areas such as skills) respond to the needs of these sectors.
2. Lead HM Treasury’s work on scrutinising specific aspects of science and technology spending, including at Spending Reviews and other fiscal events, ensuring investment is well-targeted and value for money.
3. Represent HM Treasury in senior-level Whitehall discussions on digital infrastructure and manufacturing policy.
4. Build and maintain strong relationships across HM Treasury, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, Cabinet Office and No.10.
5. Lead HM Treasury’s relationship with relevant science and tech sectors, engaging with a wide range of stakeholders.

If you would like to speak to the hiring manager informally prior to the closing date for applications to find out more, please contact Katy Hennessey  katy.hennessey@hmtreasury.gov.uk

Person specification

Required Skills, Experience and Behaviours: 

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.

You will be assessed on the following criteria:

1. Ability to get to grips quickly with technical or detailed issues, and to draw on a wide range of evidence and analysis in reaching a decision (Making Effective Decisions)
2. Ability to operate in a complex environment, taking economic, political or wider financial considerations into account in your work (Seeing the Big Picture)
3. Strong communication skills and a successful track record of influencing stakeholders and seniors (Communicating and Influencing).

The lead criteria is: Making Effective Decisions

If we receive large volumes of applications, we will conduct an initial sift on the lead criteria 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 26th January at 12:00hrs Click here to join the meeting

Tuesday 6th February at 17:00hrs Click here to join the meeting

Your Interview

At interview stage, you will be assessed on the below criteria:

• Strengths

Behaviours:

• Making Effective Decisions
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace

Interview Task/Presentation

Prior to your interview, we will contact you about a task/presentation that the interview panel would like you to complete as part of the assessment. The exact details will be communicated to you nearer the time. 

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £52,960, HM Treasury contributes £14,299 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:  4th February 2024

Shortlisting:  w/c 5th February 2024

Interviews:  12th / 19th February 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 Security Check (SC) 

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 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.