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 Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation (CDEI) guides and supports organisations to innovate responsibly, helping the UK maximise the benefits of data-driven technology. The Centre provides support to a wide range of public and private sector organisations around four programmes:


• Responsible Data Access: Facilitate responsible data access, including piloting new technical tools, forms of data stewardship and governance, and promote the development and adoption of novel privacy-enhancing technologies.
• Algorithmic Transparency: Enable greater algorithmic transparency. For example, co-owning the Government’s Algorithmic Transparency Recording Standard to help public sector organisations provide clear information about the algorithmic tools they use. 

• AI Assurance: Enable the development of a strong AI assurance ecosystem in the UK, helping organisations have confidence to innovate responsibly, and fostering an emerging AI assurance industry. For example, developing and delivering a roadmap for a world-class AI assurance ecosystem.

• Strategic Projects: Support and facilitate the responsible use of data and AI across the public sector. For example, working with the Ministry of Defence on the responsible use of AI in defence.

Our goal is to support partners in enabling and delivering responsible innovation in data-driven technology, creating an environment in which the public are confident their values are reflected in the way data-driven technology is developed and deployed; citizens can trust that decisions informed by algorithms are fair; and the risks posed by innovation are identified and addressed.




We are seeking two Senior Technology Advisors to provide expert technical input in support of this mission. These are exciting and varied roles for technologists with an interest in ethics or policy to provide technical expertise and thought leadership to across a range of CDEI's work.

To support our current work programme, and complement our existing team, we are most interested in technical expertise in privacy enhancing technologies and machine learning.

The successful candidates will get involved in a range of CDEI projects, taking a lead on some technically led work (e.g. an ongoing Privacy Enhancing Technology pilot project), but also providing advice and guidance to projects led by others. We are looking for individuals who are able to bring a range of existing technical expertise on data & AI into CDEI, but also have the flexibility and curiosity to apply their skills to new areas.     

Person specification

• Offering expert technical advice and feedback to colleagues and external partners, applying your technical expertise to support delivery of strategic objectives.
• Leading projects - Responsible for the successful delivery of technically focused projects from start to finish, ensuring they are completed on time and to a high standard.
• Engaging with partners - Forming close working relationships with our partners, and fostering valuable connections to industry, government, and civil society.
• Championing the CDEI’s expertise - Communicating the findings of our project work to a wider audience, including through reports, briefings, and speaking engagements.
• Capturing insights - Considering how findings from particular projects can be applied elsewhere to support other organisations to use data and AI responsibly.
• Contributing to CDEI and DSIT’s broader objectives - taking time out of day to day duties to ensure the CDEI, and DSIT more broadly, are inclusive and purposeful place to work, delivering our overall strategic objectives.

The specific project responsibilities will vary over time. Initially, a successful candidate with expertise in privacy technologies is likely to focus primarily on technical leadership for CDEI’s ongoing PETs pilot project (run jointly with the US government and a range of healthcare partners), while a candidate with machine learning focused expertise is likely to focus on supporting CDEI’s AI Assurance and Algorithmic Transparency, as well as advising a range of public sector delivery projects.

Skills and experience

We would love to hear from you if you have:

• Technical experience in at least one of:

(a)         Privacy engineering solutions, using technologies such as federated learning, homomorphic encryption, secure enclaves, secure multi-party computation, differential privacy.

(b)         Machine learning solutions, using modern machine learning techniques in any sector or use case.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, especially the ability to communicate complex technical concepts to non-expert audiences.
• An interest in the broader risks and opportunities posed by data and AI, and an ability to make connections between technical issues and wider policy considerations.
• The capability to work independently under own initiative, guiding the work of others, and collaborate effectively with a range of partners.

We do not have a fixed set of career experience in mind. Your previous role might have been a similar technology advisory role, but could have been as a data scientist, technical/data/security architect, technical product owner or other similar role. You might evidence the technical expertise necessary through a mixture of work experience and/or relevant academic or professional qualifications.

The roles are available on a permanent basis, and we are happy to discuss options for part time or flexible working. For existing civil servants, we are also open to discuss a fixed term loan if that is a better fit for a successful candidate.     

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £50,305, Department for Science, Innovation & Technology contributes £13,582 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, 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 1000 words) to explain how your skills and experience will contribute to the successful delivery of CDEI's mission?

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 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 29/01/2024

Interview dates: w/c 05/02/2024

Interview Location: MS Teams.

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

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.

Further Information

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.

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

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.