Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
Policy Advisor - Security and Online Harms
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Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Darlington, Edinburgh, London, Salford
Job Summary
DSIT
At DSIT we’re all about improving people’s lives by maximising the potential of science & technology.
We accelerate innovation, investment and productivity through world-class science, research and development.
We use technology for good by ensuring new and existing technologies are safely developed and deployed across the UK, with the benefits more widely shared.
We are driving forward a modern digital government which gives citizens a more satisfying experience and their time back.
We do all this to enable the Government’s 5 national missions: kickstarting economic growth, making Britain a clean energy superpower, taking back our streets, breaking down barriers to opportunity and building an NHS fit for the future.
Above all, we focus on improving people’s lives. Whether it’s researching new treatments for disease, developing better batteries, reducing burdens through better public services, keeping children safe online, and much more, outcomes for citizens are at the heart of what we do.
Our Inclusive Environment
We offer flexible working benefits, employee well-being support and a great pension. We are enormously proud to be a Disability Confident Leader employer. We support candidates with adjustments throughout our recruitment process. Information about disability confidence and just some examples of the adjustments that you can request can be found in the reasonable adjustment section below.
Find Out More
We regularly run events where you can find out more about the department and tips for the application and interview process. You can sign up for upcoming events here: https://forms.office.com/e/Jae3B4w7xm
You can also follow our LinkedIn Page: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/dsitcareers/
Job Description
Security and Online Harms Directorate
The Security and Online Harms (SOH) Directorate led on the development and passage of the Online Safety Act which introduces a range of measures to tackle online harms and make the UK the safest place to be online. The directorate is now working on the implementation of the new laws and engaging with countries and institutions around the world to promote a safer online environment.
The directorate is also responsible for leading the domestic response to countering information threats where they relate to public safety or national security. This work is led by our teams through a combination of analytical, operational, stakeholder, policy and legislative work. We also work closely with the tech sector to develop innovative technologies to improve cross government understanding of the information environment and attempts to manipulate it.
We are recruiting for two fixed term roles within the Directorate, across the Implementation Team and the Online Child Safety Team. Please state in your application if you have a preference for any particular role.
A reserve list will be created from this campaign which may be used for recruitment into wider roles within the Security and Online Harms Directorate.
Person Specification
Key Responsibilities
Fixed Term Roles (12 months)
Implementation Team – Online Harms Fees and Funding Policy Advisor
We are looking for a talented Senior Executive Officer (SEO) to fill an impactful policy role focusing on online safety fees and funding. The post holder will ensure successful delivery of the online safety fees regime for 2026/27 and will develop policy for recouping Ofcom’s set up costs, involving a consultation with industry and Ofcom, and delivering secondary legislation. The post holder will also support the delivery of a business case to ensure sufficient resourcing for Ofcom. The role involves fast-paced work and exceptional attention to detail, as well as strong stakeholder management skills.
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Child Online Safety Team Policy Advisor
The child online safety team works on a range of high-profile policy issues relating to children's safety and wellbeing online. This includes supporting delivery of new measures following the recent consultation, monitoring implementation of the Online Safety Act's child safety duties, and helping to develop wider protections for children as technology and online risks evolve.
We are looking for a policy adviser to support the team's broad programme of child online safety work. The role will involve helping to monitor how the Online Safety Act is working in practice, identifying emerging issues affecting children online, contributing to policy development, and supporting engagement with stakeholders across government, industry, civil society and regulators.
This is expected to be a busy and fast-paced role, requiring flexibility to support delivery of ministerial priorities and work collaboratively across the team on a range of child online safety issues.
Essential Criteria
- Proven ability to build and maintain collaborative relationships with partners across government.
- Sound judgement and prioritisation skills, with a proven ability to operate effectively in a fast-moving environment and balance different needs across a wide-ranging portfolio.
- Ability to pick up complex issues rapidly and be able to consider and integrate wider policy sensitivities into your work.
- Strong written and visual communication skills, with the ability to quickly produce clear, compelling materials that present complex and strategic information in an accessible way for senior stakeholders.
Desirable Criteria
- Experience in online safety policy or regulatory policy
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Delivering at Pace
- Making Effective Decisions
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Communicating and Influencing
Benefits
Alongside your salary of £44,620, Department for Science, Innovation & Technology contributes £12,926 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).
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 employer contribution of 28.97%.
- 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.
Office Attendance
The Department operates a discretionary hybrid working policy, which provides for a combination of working hours from your place of work and from your home in the UK. The current expectation for staff is to attend the office or non-home based location for 40-60% of the time over the accounting period.
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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 and Experience.
Applications will be sifted on CV and Personal Statement.
In the event of a large number of applicants, applications will be sifted on the personal statement only.
The interview will consist of behaviour questions.
Sift and interview dates to be confirmed.
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.
Information about the Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) and some examples of adjustments that we offer to disabled candidates and candidates with long-term health conditions during our recruitment process can be found in our DSIT Candidate Guidance. A DSIT Plain Text Version of the guidance is also available.
We encourage candidates to discuss their adjustment needs by emailing the job contact which can be found under the contact point for applicants section.
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.
Candidates who meet the minimum benchmark may be placed on a Reserve List for consideration for similar roles, including those at a lower grade. Candidates who narrowly miss the benchmark and are not placed on the Reserve List may still be considered for an offer in a similar role at a lower grade.
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; for further information visit the Childcare Choices website.
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
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