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

The Research Talent and European programmes team is a friendly, high-performing team responsible for enhancing the UK’s participation in Horizon Europe – the world’s largest Research & Development programme and the continued delivery of the multi-billion-pound Horizon Europe Guarantee, both key parts of the UK R&D landscape. 

We have exciting Senior Policy Advisor roles to support our work to maximise the benefits of Horizon membership for researchers, businesses and institutions across the country, and continue delivery of the Guarantee. 

You will work at the centre of one of DSIT, and the Government’s, core priorities for UK science and the wider UK-EU relationship. The UK is a global science superpower, and the Government’s ambition is to grow that status. Our participation in Horizon Europe will be central to delivering this in the coming years – providing a platform for international scientific collaboration with partners across Europe and beyond.  

You will either be in the:

Programmes and Governance team - tasked with ensuring the implementation and delivery of the multi-billion-pound Horizon Guarantee through UKRI, as well as work on European research support via Euraxess and COST (Co Operation in Science and Technology), and DSIT’s Horizon Governance. 

Boosting Participation Team – responsible for crafting implementing strategies to maximise the UK’s engagement and continued influence within Horizon Europe. Working closing with key R&D stakeholders, both domestically and internationally. This team is responsible for identifying opportunities for collaboration, funding, and influence. 

These roles will be cross-cutting, with work on complex issues. The successful post holder will have responsibility for a substantial portfolio working on high-profile and interesting policy issues within the Department. We anticipate that these roles will also provide opportunities for international travel.  

If you want to work in a fast-paced area with significant Ministerial, No10 and media attention then we would love to hear from you!  

A reserve list of successful candidates will be kept for 12 months. Should another similar role become available within that period you may be offered this position.    

Person specification

Flexibility and the ability to work at pace within a fast-changing policy context are essential in these roles.  
 
Key responsibilities: 
- Lead the development and oversight of UK policy positions on strategic issues. 
- Hold key relationships with colleagues in DSIT and across Whitehall.
- Support the delivery of new and ongoing governance approaches. 
- Work proactively with DSIT colleagues, other government departments and arms-length bodies to develop our strategic direction, policy detail and reflect DSIT and HMG interests. 
- Produce succinct briefing and advice for seniors and Ministers Cross-Whitehall, clearly articulating complex issues.  
- Be flexible and work collaboratively across teams on other priorities as business needs change. 
- There may be opportunities for line management of one or more colleagues.  
- Lead engagement with R&D partners, and cross Whitehall stakeholders. 

Skills and Experience 

Essential:  

- Clear written and verbal communication skills, with experience of communicating complex matters to different audiences. 
- Ability to grasp both technical detail and political considerations and apply these to a fast-paced moving policy area.  
- Effective relationship-building with partners across government and externally; cultivating strong personal networks and working collaboratively across organisational boundaries.  
- Ability to translate strategic priorities into clear outcome-focused objectives for the team. 
- An effective team player who can flex work priorities to align with the wider work priorities of the team. 
 
Desirable (but not essential):  

- Experience of science and technology, research and development policy, or European engagement.  
- Line management experience.  
- An understanding of Government finance. 

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £38,860, Department for Science, Innovation & Technology contributes £10,492 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.

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

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 set out your interest in this role and the skills and experience you would bring to it.

Please note - the CV incorporated into the application form is for information purposes only and will not be scored.

In the event of a large number of applicants, applications will be sifted on the lead behaviour statement (Seeing the Big Picture).

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 strength based questions.

Sift and interview dates

Expected Timeline subject to change

Sift dates: w/c 18/03/2024

Interview dates: 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 /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. 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.