Innovation Policy Advisor
Department for Science, Innovation & Technology
Apply before 11:55 pm on Sunday 17th November 2024
Details
Reference number
Salary
Job grade
Contract type
Business area
Type of role
Working pattern
Number of jobs available
Contents
Location
About the job
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.
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service D&I Strategy.
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
As part of the Innovation Ecosystems Team, you will be a driving force for the government’s innovation agenda by helping to address innovation ecosystem challenges. You will work closely with colleagues across government, in UKRI, the public sector and beyond to shape evidence-based policies that help businesses and places across the UK turn great ideas into innovation-led growth.
The team works on many ministerial priority areas including on the development of programmes to support local innovation clusters and on the newly announced R&D Missions Programme.
We are a friendly team, with a collaborative culture. We want to achieve high performance and ensure team members feel empowered, and we do this by promoting individuals’ wellbeing and supporting flexible working practices. The team is currently based across the London and Salford office sites and hybrid working is at the core of what we do.
We are dedicated to providing equal opportunity and will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the interview process.
Person specification
Key Responsibilities
We are looking for four SEO Policy Advisors to join the Innovation Ecosystems Team.
Each role will give the successful candidate an opportunity to lead on an area of work that will help deliver against a ministerial priority. The roles may vary depending on unfolding priorities but will likely cover innovation clusters engagement, Catapults programme management, R&D Missions Programme management, and private sector investment policy.
Key responsibilities across the roles will likely include:
• Developing and designing evidence-based policy to enable innovation-led growth across the UK
• Working with other government departments and UKRI, the UK’s research and innovation funding agency, to influence policy and programme design.
• Engaging and building relationships with external stakeholders to support the delivery of existing programmes e.g., Freeports, Investment Zones, Innovation Accelerators.
• Supporting with budget planning for the spending review in Spring 2025 and developing options for the future innovation portfolio.
• Leading responses and input into briefing requests.
The successful candidates may be asked to take on additional or different responsibilities in the team as plans and priorities change. We will work with you to shape your role to your development needs and interests where possible.
Skills and Experience
We are looking for individuals who have experience working with colleagues, and external stakeholders, to develop, design and influence policy or programme design.
The successful candidates will be able to think strategically and build consensus with partners, weighing up different options, evidence, and sources of information to make clear, well-reasoned recommendations. You will also have good prioritisation and time-management skills to deliver at pace in what is an area of significant ministerial interest. You will be organised and able to manage multiple strands of activity, showing initiative to ensure delivery by yourself and others.
Essential criteria
• Experience of using evidence to design new strategies, policies, programmes or services.
• Experience of collaborative working and building and supporting effective relationships with a broad range of stakeholders.
• Clear and effective communication skills, shown in experience writing briefings and influencing decisions.
• Experience of managing multiple strands of activity and competing demands.
• An ability to understand how your work fits into the bigger picture, with demonstrable skills in strategic thinking.
• Interest in the UK R&D ecosystem and how it can be used and supported to drive innovation-led growth.
Desirable criteria
• Experience in science, technology or innovation policy.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Making Effective Decisions
- Working Together
- Seeing the Big Picture
Benefits
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.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
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 500 words) to explain how your skills and experience make you an ideal candidate for this role. Please consider the Essential criteria for the role.
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.
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
Expected Timeline subject to change
Sift dates: w/c 18/11/2024
Interview dates: w/c 02/12/2024
Interview Location: MS Teams.
Candidates are asked to note the above timetable, exercising flexibility through the recruitment and selection process.
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.
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. Determine your eligibility https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk
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 heading.
For further information on the Disclosure Scotland confidential checking service telephone: the Disclosure Scotland Helpline on 0870 609 6006 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email Info@disclosurescotland.co.uk
Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment.
A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5-year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.
Feedback
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Nationality requirements
Working for the Civil Service
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
Diversity and Inclusion
Apply and further information
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : Robin Polding
- Email : robin.polding@dsit.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : dsitresourcing.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Further information
