Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
Senior Policy Advisor (Impact)
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Job Summary
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 Regulatory Innovation Office (RIO) is expanding its impact capability and is recruiting two Senior Policy Advisors to help establish and deliver a new organisation-wide impact function.
Both roles will support the development of theories of change, evaluation frameworks, monitoring approaches and impact evidence. Together they will help ensure RIO can demonstrate the real-world difference made by its funding programmes, policy interventions and wider regulatory activity.
Person Specification
Successful candidates will be appointed into one of two complementary portfolios.
Role A: Funding Programme Evaluation and Benefits
- Lead evaluation activity across RIO funding programmes, including the Regulator’s Pioneer Fund (RPF), the AI Capability Fund (AICF), Priority Projects and future grant programme activity.
- Develop and maintain programme theories of change.
- Design monitoring, evaluation and benefits realisation frameworks.
- Establish baselines, indicators and evidence requirements.
- Coordinate evaluation delivery and manage external evaluation support where required.
- Support programme teams to strengthen data collection and evaluation capability.
- Lead longer-term follow-up and learning activity across funding portfolios.
Role B: Wider RIO Impact and Portfolio Evidence
- Support policy and programme teams to develop theories of change and impact plans for non-funding interventions.
- Conduct evidence reviews and impact stocktakes across RIO activity.
- Develop practical tools, templates and guidance to improve impact practice.
- Produce impact case studies and support development of contribution claims.
- Synthesise evidence across multiple interventions and programmes. Develop portfolio-level impact reporting products.
- Support strategic priority projects through targeted impact deep-dives and evidence gathering.
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Common Responsibilities For Both SEO Posts
- Support implementation of RIO's impact framework.
- Develop monitoring indicators and evidence plans.
- Undertake qualitative and quantitative analysis.
- Produce briefing materials and advice for senior stakeholders.
- Work collaboratively with policy, programme, analytical and regulator-facing teams.
- Contribute to development of RIO's wider impact capability and evidence culture.
As a line manager, you will be responsible for working with your members of staff to define their objectives, as well as managing their development and performance.
Essential Criteria
You will demonstrate:
- Experience of delivering high-quality policy, programme, research, evaluation or analytical work.
- Ability to assess evidence, identify key insights and translate them into clear, practical recommendations.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, including explaining complex information clearly to different audiences.
- Ability to build effective relationships and work collaboratively across teams and functions.
- Strong organisational skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and deliver work at pace.
Desirable Criteria
- Knowledge of theories of change, evaluation methods, monitoring or benefits realisation.
- Experience of grants, funding programmes, innovation or regulatory policy.
- Experience of developing indicators, monitoring frameworks or outcome measures.
- Experience commissioning or managing research or evaluation.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Making Effective Decisions
- Communicating and Influencing
- Delivering at Pace
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.
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.
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Selection Process Details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths, Ability and Experience.
After submission of the first stage of your application you will be invited to complete a Civil Service Numerical Test and Civil Service Judgement Test. If you successfully pass the test, you will be invited to complete the final stage of the application.
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 19th October 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.
You will be directed to the Talogy - True Talent – Scheduled Maintenance Window Webpage for online tests during an outage.
Our online test supplier will be performing scheduled maintenance between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. on 11th October 2026. You will be unable to access tests during this period.
If you are in the middle of a test when the maintenance begins, your progress will be paused. You will be able to resume your test from where you left off via your application centre once the downtime has ended. Please note that you will not be able to launch any new tests while the system is offline.
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 750 words) to explain how your skills and experience meet the essential criteria and why you are interested in the role.
In the event of a large number of applicants, applications will be sifted on the personal statement 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.
Interviewees will be asked to deliver a presentation; further details will be provided nearer the time.
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.
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.
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