At DSIT were all about improving peoples 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 Governments 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 peoples lives. Whether its 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/  

The Role and Our Team

The role is in the Technology Strategy and Security Team (TSS), which sits within the DSIT Technology & Innovative Regulation Directorate. TSSs mission is to drive policy that helps translate UK science excellence into economic innovation, helping to grow the future sectors of our economy, from quantum to robotics to engineering biology. It is not just the economic implications of these technological changes that we need to grapple with, but the security and societal implications too.

This is an exciting opportunity to join a high-performing and fast paced team, working at the centre of Government on ground-breaking science and technology policy. The engineering biology team covers the full breadth of policies from growth and international partnerships to national security. It sits alongside others focused on specific deep tech sectors, including advanced materials, quantum and robotics. The team works collaboratively across Government, and together with the UK industry, research partners, and international allies to set the right ecosystem conditions for the engineering biology sector to thrive. 

It is a high performing, dynamic and inclusive team. We champion openness, integrity and inclusivity - working together to make the UK an excellent place for science, innovation and technology and to make DSIT an excellent and supportive place to work.

This role supports leadership on the policies concerned with responsible innovation and biosecurity within engineering biology, which includes themes such as public trust, research culture and specific elements of the Biosecurity Strategy.

The Role

This is a new work stream and were looking for an SEO who is eager to take initiative, drive policy and navigate the interests of HMG. 

We are looking for an experienced policy adviser with passion for driving policy forward across government departments. Candidates must have an ability to pick up complex or detailed policy quickly. Experience in working with teams across HMG is important. The role would be ideal for an SEO looking to find more autonomy and ownership of their work. 

The successful candidate will focus on policy to grow and protect UK strategic advantage in engineering biology and AI convergence. They will work alongside teams in other departments, supporting work to craft HMGs strategic policies on the opportunities and risks concerning the convergence of AI and Engineering Biology.

This is a high-profile and unique opportunity to work at the strategic centre of these developments at the cross-section of AI and biological capabilities.

This will include; engaging across the Government, industry, academia and international partners to understand the technological and geopolitical context; deploying technical knowledge, experience and critical thinking to create innovative solutions to the opportunities and risks; and supporting others to demonstrate cross-Government leadership capacity to champion this work.

Key Responsibilities

As the Senior Policy Advisor for AI-Bio convergence, you will:

Engage across government, industry, academia and international partners to gather, analyse and deploy insight on the cross-section of AI and Engineering Biology.

Work within DSIT and wider government to plan, develop and deploy effective and impactful policies and interventions.

Proactively manage short term tasks and requirements alongside longer-term strategic work.

Support the delivery of a forward work plan for the team that accounts for technological, geopolitical and security developments.

Build HMGs understanding and capabilities of Engineering biology's convergence with AI.  

Build relationships in and out of government, presenting policy and representing the team and DSIT values.

Develop clear policy positions, and drafting advice AI-Bio convergence and positioning for senior officials and Ministers.

Embody and role model DSIT values think big, value people, create connections and cultivate curiosity.

Provide challenge to stakeholders, with an ability to communicate complex technical information clearly and succinctly to non-specialist audiences. 

Respond effectively to urgent requests, managing competing priorities whilst driving forward work autonomously in a considered way. 

Build rapport with a range of internal and external stakeholders, maintaining productive working relationships. 

Skills and Experience

Essential 

• Experience in AI technology policy and / or technologies with applicability in Engineering Biology settings (such as biological design tools). 
• Wider policy development experience, preferably policy making for science / technology and/or growth.
• Experience developing stakeholder relationships which deliver benefit for team objectives.
• Strong communication skills, including an ability to communicate complex technical information clearly and succinctly to non-specialist audiences. 
• A team player, with the resilience and agility to support across a wide portfolio in a fast-paced environment. 

Desirable 

• Prior experience in working on national security issues / national security policy.

Please Note: Although existing DV clearance is not required to be appointed to this role, successful candidates must be willing to obtain SC and then DV. It is the responsibility of the applicant to have completed and returned an SC security questionnaire to United Kingdom Security Vetting as part of the onboarding process, otherwise a start date cannot be provided.

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing

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.

Job contact :

• Name : Hannah Hunter
• Email : [email protected]

Recruitment team

• Email : [email protected]