HM Treasury
Policy Adviser - Science & Innovation
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This post can be based in London (1 Horse Guards Road) or Darlington (Feethams House).
Job Summary
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.
We are part of the Darlington Economic Campus, a cross-government hub bringing people together to tackle key national issues while working closer to the communities we serve.
Job Description
This role sits in HM Treasury's Science and Innovation branch. The successful candidate will work alongside a Grade 7 and another SEO to support the Chancellor’s growth ambitions through innovation while ensuring that DSIT’s Research & Development (R&D) programming is affordable and provides value for money. As such, this role provides strong exposure to both growth and spending sides of HM Treasury.
The post-holder will lead for Treasury on a range of thematic issues including the space sector, engineering biology, international R&D and R&D talent. The role holder will be expected to cover discrete issues as they arise, for example the outgoing post holder worked on a programme to mitigate against PNT risk, deep tech investment strategy and the spending implications of EU science programme decisions. They will also be responsible for reviewing departmental proposals for major scientific infrastructure projects above DSIT's delegated spending limits and they will play an important role in efforts to coordinate R&D activity across Whitehall. There will be opportunities to lead on ambitious growth-oriented Budget measures and to contribute to decisions on R&D made at Spending Reviews. There is scope to adjust the role in line with the successful candidate’s strengths and interests.
Key Accountabilities For This Role Include:
- Ensuring that Treasury’s objectives, including growth, affordability and value for money are reflected in government action on the space sector, engineering biology and international R&D programmes.
- Providing independent scrutiny of and where appropriate approval for – major spending Proposals and scientific infrastructure.
- Developing and advising ministers on affordable policies to boost growth aligned to Budget and other high-profile events.
- Contributing to advice on R&D spending proposals at Spending Review and leading on other innovation priorities where relevant.
- Delivering high quality responses to innovation queries raised by politicians, the public and the press.
If you would like to speak to the hiring manager informally prior to the closing date, please contact Rory Allan rory.allan@hmtreasury.gov.uk
Visa sponsorship is not available for this role.
Person specification
Application Stage
Application Form
Applications should consist of a CV including your employment history, and a 250-word statement demonstrating evidence of each of the below shortlisting criteria. Your CV and employment history won’t be scored. It’s used to give context to your application and support discussions at interview.
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The panel will review applications and invite those that best demonstrate evidence of the shortlisting criteria below for interview. Please keep this in mind when writing your application.
Please note that only applications submitted through Civil Service Jobs will be accepted.
- The ability to identify pragmatic solutions to difficult problems. (Making Effective Decisions)
- The ability to reliably understand and respond appropriately to the context that your work sits in. (Seeing the Big Picture)
- The ability to develop, maintain, and use strong relationships with a variety of people, especially where their goals differ from yours. (Working Together)
The lead criterion is: Making Effective Decisions.
If we receive a high volume of applications, we’ll first sift using the lead criterion only. Those meeting the minimum score will then be assessed against all remaining criteria.
Interview Stage
If You Are Successful At The Application Stage, You Will Be Invited To Interview Where You Will Be Assessed Against The Following Criteria:
Behaviours:
- Making Effective Decisions
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Working Together
Strengths
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Making Effective Decisions
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Working Together
Alongside your salary of £43,090, HM Treasury contributes £12,483 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).
Benefits:
- Generous Annual Leave - 25 days (rising to 30 after 5 years), plus public holidays and the King’s birthday.
- Outstanding Pension Scheme - Defined Benefit pension with employer contributions of 28.97%
- Parental Leave Packages - Including 6 months’ occupational pay for maternity/adoption, shared parental leave options.
- Flexible & Hybrid Working - Options include part-time, job-share, compressed hours, flexitime, and hybrid working (where business needs allow).
- Advance Schemes & Discounts - Rental deposit, cycle-to-work, SmartTech, season ticket loans, and access to HM Treasury’s benefits portal for a wide range of discount codes.
You can review HM Treasury’s full offer here.
Artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.
The reference to Experience above is system generated. For this role, experience is not assessed at any stage. We will ask for some CV details in your application form, but this is for reference only and will not be scored.
Candidate Guidance
Please review the candidate guidance for an overview of the Success Profiles and STAR approach, along with top tips for applications and interviews.
Recruitment Timeline
Closing date: Sunday 2nd August 2026 Shortlisting: w/c 3rd August 2026 Interviews: w/w 17th August 2026
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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.
Reserve Lists
You will be placed on a reserve list if your application is successful, but we cannot offer you a role immediately. Where more than one location has been advertised, candidates will be posted in merit order by location. You will be asked to provide your location preference on your application form. Please note that a place on the reserve list does not guarantee an offer.
If you are offered a role in your first preferred location and you decline the offer or are unable to take up the post within a reasonable timeframe, you will be removed from the reserve list, other than in exceptional circumstances.
Those on the reserve list may also be approached for similar roles at a lower grade. If you are offered a role at a lower grade and choose to decline, you can remain on the reserve list.
Internal Fraud Database Check
Candidates cannot apply to roles in the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5-year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.
Successful candidates will be subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database. This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This also applies to those who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the database will be refused employment.
National Security Vetting
Everyone working with government assets must complete Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) checks. Additionally, successful candidates will be subject to National Security Vetting. The level of security vetting required for this role is Counter-Terrorist Check.
To allow for meaningful checks to be carried out, applicants will need to have lived in the UK for at least 3 out of the past 5 years. You will be asked to provide residency information within your application form, and eligibility for national security vetting will be checked once the advert closing date has passed. In certain circumstances, for example if you have been working abroad on a government posting, a lack of residency would not be a bar to security clearance however the Department will need to consider eligibility on a case-by-case basis once the advert closing date has passed.
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
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