Digital Skills and Inclusion Leads

Digital inclusion and skills are high-priority areas for this government, with a strong emphasis on ensuring everyone in the UK has the opportunity to thrive in our increasingly digital world. Digital inclusion is a top delivery priority for the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), and there is a clear mandate to be ambitious in developing and implementing digital skills policy across all sectors.
You'll be joining the newly created Digital Inclusion and Skills Unit, a dynamic team playing a central role in shaping the national digital inclusion action plan and the department's wider skills agenda. This is an exciting time to join the team, as we work at pace to deliver on the government's ambitious vision for a digitally inclusive society and a thriving tech-driven economy.
The Unit is focused on a wide range of initiatives, from equipping individuals with essential digital skills for life to supporting the growth of the digital and tech workforce across the entire economy. We are a collaborative and supportive team with a strong focus on continuous learning and development, essential for navigating this rapidly evolving policy area.
We are looking to hire for three HEO roles across the Unit., The Digital Skills Council Lead will play an important role in supporting the newly refreshed Digital Skills Council, a high-profile body comprising senior leaders from major tech companies. You will be key in ensuring the Council effectively addresses the UK's current and future digital skills needs., + Support the initiation of the refreshed Digital Skills Council, working closely with industry leaders and government stakeholders to ensure its smooth operation and impactful outcomes.
+ Act as a key liaison between DSIT and other government departments (e.g., Department for Work & Pensions, Department for Education) on advanced digital skills policy. This involves building strong relationships with relevant teams, representing DSIT's position, and influencing policy development across Whitehall.
+ Develop and maintain in-depth expertise on digital skills policy, encompassing both essential digital skills for all citizens and advanced skills for the tech workforce. This will involve staying informed of research, analysing policy developments, and providing expert advice to senior officials.
+ Commission and oversee research projects to deepen understanding of the digital skills landscape, including supply and demand dynamics, skills gaps, and emerging technologies. This will involve developing research specifications, managing contracts, and analysing findings to inform policy and program development.
+ Contribute to the development of funding bids (e.g., Spending Reviews) for new digital skills initiatives, ensuring proposals are aligned with evidence and support the Unit's strategic objectives.
Job role 2
The Skills Policy Coordination Lead will play an important part in driving forward a strategic approach to the department’s skills and talent interests across key Science and Tech sectors., + Manage a substantial skills network across the department, connecting with over 50 sector and tech skills leads (e.g., AI skills team, Cyber skills team, Digital skills team). This involves:
o Ensuring leads feel updated on important information and understand how their work fits within activity happening across HMG.
o Facilitating fortnightly cross-DSIT skills meetings.
o Coordinating input from teams into briefings and submissions.
+ Play a central coordinating role in the department’s approach to key funding opportunities (e.g., Spending Reviews), ensuring clear communication with policy teams. This includes:
o Maintaining a firm grasp of milestones and timelines.
o Coordinating DSIT's input into Spending Reviews, ensuring alignment with departmental priorities and maximising funding for key skills initiatives.
+ Act as a key liaison between DSIT and other government departments (e.g., Department for Education, Home Office, and Department for Work & Pensions) on skills policy. This involves building strong relationships with relevant teams, representing DSIT's position, and influencing policy development across Whitehall.
+ Develop a firm understanding of DSIT’s skills interests and role within the wider HMG skills landscape, including key policy intersections and trade-offs. Recognise when new information and evidence should be shared with leads across the department to improve knowledge and awareness of key issues.
Job role 3
The Digital Inclusion Engagement Lead will work within the Digital Inclusion Programme team to take ownership of and shape our strategic engagement strategy. This role is critical to delivering an ambitious approach to digital inclusion, working with ministers and senior officials to work in partnership with a range of stakeholders., + Develop and implement a strategic engagement plan targeting key stakeholders across industry, academia, the third sector, and devolved administrations.
+ Collaborate with the communications team to produce press releases, blog posts, social media content, and ministerial speeches promoting the Unit's work.
+ Brief ministers and senior officials on key developments in digital inclusion.
+ Develop and maintain strong relationships with relevant parliamentary committees, providing briefings and responding to inquiries on digital inclusion policy.
+ Engage and build trusted relationships with key stakeholders across all sectors to support and refine policy development for digital inclusion.
+ Scope and deliver partnerships with businesses and the third sector on policy measures., We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
+ Communicating and Influencing
+ Making Effective Decisions
+ Delivering at Pace
+ Seeing the Big Picture, 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.
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.
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 06/11/2024. 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.
Please use your Personal Statement (in no more than 750 words) to demonstrate how your experience, even if gained in a different field, has equipped you with the essential skills for this 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.
Sift and interview dates
Expected Timeline subject to change
Sift dates: w/c 7/11/2024.
Interview dates: 10/11/2024.
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 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
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements
This job is broadly open to the following groups:
+ UK nationals
+ nationals of the Republic of Ireland
+ nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
+ nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
+ nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
+ individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
+ Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
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).
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion
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 (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information
This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.
The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).
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Strong communication skills: Confidently engage with diverse audiences, including writing for senior officials and delivering presentations. We also welcome applications from individuals with transferable communication skills gained in any sector.
Analytical thinker: Analyse information, identify trends, and develop practical solutions. Experience with data analysis and visualization tools is desirable.
Collaborative approach: Build relationships with a range of stakeholders. Experience working with diverse communities or organisations in the tech sector would be valuable.
Delivery focused: Work independently, manage priorities, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment. Project management experience is a plus.
Policy understanding: Knowledge of policy processes and experience contributing to policy development.
Desirable:
+ Experience with ministerial briefings or parliamentary processes is a plus.
+ Direct experience in technology policy is desirable, but we are also keen to support individuals with transferable skills and a strong interest in this area to develop their policy expertise.

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

Alongside your salary of £31,745, Department for Science, Innovation & Technology contributes £9,196 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
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.