Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
Senior Policy Advisors - AI for Science and Engineering
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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
AI has moved from analysing experimental results to proposing what to test next. In research, frontier labs are now building systems specifically for discovery. In engineering, machine-learned models are changing how products are designed, tested and manufactured.
If you're excited about this trajectory, and want to work at the intersection of technology, science and economic growth, these roles offer a rare opportunity. You will help design government interventions that accelerate the adoption and impact of frontier AI capabilities across strategically important areas of the UK economy, collaborating with leading researchers, engineers, technology companies, public funders and senior policymakers.
Successful candidates will be allocated to one of two closely related portfolios: AI for Science or AI for Engineering. Both roles share a common mission of accelerating the application of frontier AI to discovery, innovation and economic growth.
Person specification
The AI for Science portfolio is delivering the Government's AI for Science Strategy, a £137m programme designed to harness AI to transform scientific research and strengthen the UK's position as a global leader in AI-enabled discovery. The programme includes investments across data, compute, skills and scientific discovery capabilities, working closely with UKRI and the wider research community.
The AI for Engineering portfolio is focused on defining the opportunities presented by deploying frontier AI systems throughout the UK's physical economy, and shaping strategy in this increasingly important area.
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
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You do not need to be a technical specialist, but we are looking for someone who is excited to engage with people working at the frontier. You will need:
- Ability to rapidly understand complex technical issues and translate them into accessible policy implications.
- Interest in emerging technologies, innovation, scientific research, engineering or industrial transformation.
- Ability to work confidently with technical experts whilst maintaining a focus on practical policy outcomes.
You will also need to build and manage relationships with a wide range of collaborators and delivery partners. That requires:
- Strong stakeholder engagement and influencing skills, including experience working across organisational boundaries to deliver outcomes.
- Ability to build productive relationships with senior stakeholders from government, academia, industry and delivery organisations.
You will also be an excellent communicator, with:
- Experience providing advice to senior decision-makers.
- Ability to lead work independently and contribute positively to a high-performing team environment.
Desirable Criteria
- Knowledge of the UK research and innovation ecosystem, including research funders, universities, research institutes or innovation organisations.
- Experience working with engineering, manufacturing, digital technology or deep technology sectors.
- Experience designing or delivering complex programmes involving multiple stakeholders.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Making Effective Decisions
- Communicating and Influencing
- Seeing the Big Picture
Benefits
Alongside your salary of £56,850, Department for Science, Innovation & Technology contributes £16,469 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.
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.
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.
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Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
Please use your personal statement (in no more than 500 words) to outline your interest in the role and why you would be a good fit for this role.
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.
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.
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 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
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