Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
Senior Policy Adviser - AI Harms
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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.
Please note
Former DSIT recruitment campaigns are continuing as usual, but candidates should be aware that following the Government’s announcement on the changes to some civil service departments, roles will be subject to the machinery of government moves and will ultimately be in one of the new departments. We will provide more information if you are selected for a role. This work remains of high importance to the civil service, and we thank you for your continued interest.
Job Description
The Security and Online Harms directorate is looking to appoint an enthusiastic and proactive Senior Executive Officer as a Senior Policy Adviser in the AI Harms and Regulation team. This team works on updates to the Online Safety Act Regulatory regime to help mitigate AI harms. The team works to ensure that developments in AI technology benefits society and prevents users from experiencing harm through proactive policy development and regulation.
The role will involve working on the Government's commitments to prevent under 18s from accessing sexualised chatbots, and sexual features on general-purpose chatbots as part of the 'Growing up in the online world' progress statement published in June 2026. The successful candidate will work as part of a small team leading policy development for the measures, and guiding them through the legislation process.
The successful candidate will have appropriate autonomy of their work in an exciting policy area with a high level of public interest, reporting to a Grade 7 Policy Lead and a Grade 6 Head of Policy. The team is friendly, highly ambitious and motivated, and will welcome the successful candidate into the team and provide support to get settled with the policy area quickly.
DSIT/DCMS staff may retain their existing location on appointment.
Person specification
Key Responsibilities
- Drive forward the development of policy measures to prevent under 18s from accessing sexual chatbots, and sexualised features on general purpose chatbots
- Ensure our proposals are thoroughly researched and supported by policy evidence
- Work with lawyers, analysts, and other department stakeholders to understand the impacts of our proposed measures and refine the proposals
- Manage key stakeholder relationships, including with Ofcom as the relevant regulator for the work, to ensure a collaborative approach and that the necessary technical considerations are factored into the policy development
- Work with senior civil servants, ministers, and private office to provide briefings and updates on the work as the proposals development
- Guide the proposals through the relevant legislative processes, including drafting policy instructions for legal, producing impact assessments with analysts, and drafting any other required products.
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The priorities and work of the team is likely to evolve. The successful candidate will be expected to work flexibly on other AI harms policy projects that may arise over the coming months and years.
Essential Criteria
- Experience developing policy through the lifespan of the policymaking process, preferably including legislative experience
- Experience working with or an interest in technology policy, including how emerging technologies should be regulated to prevent harm to users
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills across a variety of different audiences including other government departments, regulators, and industry
- Experience working with analysts to understand the impact of the proposals on industry and the justice system
- Ability to adapt to a rapidly-developing policy landscape, and manage changes at a short notice
- Comfort working on sensitive policy issues including sexualised content and policies affecting young people.
Desirable Criteria
- Experience working on policy issues relating to artificial intelligence.
- Experience working on policy issues relating to online safety and/or protection of children online.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Delivering at Pace
- Making Effective Decisions
- Communicating and Influencing
- Seeing the Big Picture
Salary and 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.
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.
Selection Process Details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.
After submission of the first stage of your application you will be invited to complete a Civil Service Verbal Test and Civil Service Judgement Test. If you successfully pass the test, you will be invited to complete the final stage of the application.
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Please complete the online tests as soon as possible (within 24-48 hours is recommended), the closing date for the tests is 23:55 on 15/10/2026. If you fail to complete the online test before the deadline your application will be withdrawn. Guidance for the test will be available when you are invited to take the test. The tests are administered online and accessed via the CS Jobs website.
As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV and behavioural statements.
Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.
Applications will be sifted on behavioural statements and CV.
In the event of a large number of applicants, applications will be sifted on the CV only.
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
Sift and interview dates to be confirmed.
Further Information
Former DSIT recruitment campaigns are continuing as usual, but candidates should be aware that following the Government’s announcement on the changes to some civil service departments, roles will be subject to the machinery of government moves and will ultimately be in one of the new departments. We will provide more information if you are selected for a role. This work remains of high importance to the civil service, and we thank you for your continued interest.
For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the Demystifying Vetting website.
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
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
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