Policy Adviser – Digital Technology

Are you passionate about working with digital technology ? Are you willing to get stuck-in to drive forward workstreams that will meet Ministerial priorities for growth and productivity? If so, we’d love to hear from you! 

About the Team

Science, innovation, and digital technology transform how we live and work. This brings new opportunities to unlock economic growth, improve productivity and create high skilled jobs. The Science, Technology & Access to Finance (STAF) team advises on how the UK can make the most of this opportunity. We oversee spending by, and lead the Treasury’s relationship with, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT). We lead on the allocation and monitoring of R&D spending across government. We are responsible for HMT policy on the technologies including - AI, quantum, telecoms, semiconductors, and engineering biology and HMT’s strategy for the digital technology sector. We lead on access to finance, including managing the Treasury’s relationship with the British Business Bank.

About the Job

This is an exciting and fast paced role that is central to how His Majesty’s Government responds to the opportunities and risks posed by AI, alongside how we support the growth of the tech sector.  

In this role, you will:

·        Respond to Briefings, Correspondence and Parliamentary Questions (PQs) commissions: You will need to work flexibly with other team members to draft high quality responses to briefing and correspondence requests, PQs and FoIs on a range of digital technology and tech sector issues. You will be responsible for ensuring the team’s ‘standard lines’ and core facts about the sector and AI are up to date to ensure responses are accurate and timely.

·        Draft Advice on Digital Technology Policy and Spending: Working with the team, DSIT and wider colleagues in HMT you will assess the evidence base and scrutinise the affordability and value for money of different proposals that support the growth of the tech sector in the UK and the contribution of technology adoption to wider productivity and growth across the country. You will support advice to Ministers on the measures and interventions that meet their priorities. 

·        Tech Sector Stakeholder Engagement: This role involves supporting plenty of Ministerial visits, events and international trips. Working with other team members and HMT colleagues, you will provide Ministers with advice on how they should engage with the tech sector and briefings for these engagement opportunities. This will involve building a strong working knowledge of the sector and working closely with the relevant stakeholders to agree objectives and priorities for these different opportunities. 

About You

You do not need to have background in AI or digital technology to apply. We’re looking for a highly motivated self-starter, who can pick up new material quickly and who is keen to learn about the policy area.

You should be someone who is confident working with quantitative and qualitative data and can use these analytical skills to assess policy problems, review business cases and develop nuanced policy advice.

You enjoy working in a fast-paced environment and can balance multiple priorities and deadlines, while progressing longer-term pieces of work.

Some of the Benefits our people love!

·        25 days annual leave (rising to 30 after 5 years), plus 8 public holidays and the King’s birthday (unless you have a legacy arrangement as an existing Civil Servant). Additionally, we operate flexitime systems, allowing employees to take up to an additional 2 days off each month

·        Flexible working patterns (part-time, job-share, condensed hours)

·        Generous parental and adoption leave packages

·        Access to a generous Defined Benefit pension scheme with employer contributions of 28%

·        Access to a cycle-to-work salary sacrifice scheme and season ticket advances

·        A range of active staff networks, based around interests (e.g. analysts, music society, sports and social club) and diversity

For more information about the role and how to apply, please follow the apply link.

If you need any reasonable adjustments to take part in the selection process, please tell us about this in your online application form