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Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Darlington, Edinburgh, London, SalfordJob SummaryThe Government Office for Science works at the heart of Government, ensuring policies and decisions are informed by the best scientific evidence and strategic long-term thinking. It’s an exciting time to join the organisation; we have outstanding and high-profile positions providing you an opportunity to inform and influence policy-making and the systems for use of science and engineering across government. If you are highly motivated and looking for your next career challenge we want to hear from you.Our Mission IsScience advice mechanisms that are efficient, effective, speak truth to power and are embedded irreversibly in Government systems. Visible impact through both pro-active and demand-led science advice that is relevant, excellent, and delivered fit for purpose. Further Information Can Be Found Herehttps://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/government-office-for-scienceWe strongly believe diversity of experience, thought, perspectives, skills, and background makes us a more innovative, welcoming Department, thus making better decisions and better delivering our objectives. We are actively seeking applications from every part of the community and particularly welcome applications from candidates of any age, background, disability, or from an ethnic minority background and any other protected characteristics. This will help us move to a workforce that reflects the people we serve to deliver better policies.We are a friendly, inclusive team and emphasise personal development. We will ensure individuals with disabilities are provided adjustments to participate in the job application and interview process. We support your wellbeing by putting flexible working at the heart of our offer.; if successful, you will be able to discuss working arrangements with your new manager.We maintain an internal surge capability of staff who may be called at short notice to support an activation of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE). Training and support will be provided. This is an excellent opportunity to develop crisis management skills.Job DescriptionThis role sits within the Technology, Insights Future and Foresight team (TIFF) team in the Government Office for Science (GOS). TIFF is a joined up capability which brings together GOS’ Technology and Science Insights and the Futures and Foresight functions. Collectively we provide horizon scanning, engagement, analysis and assessment on critical Science &Tech capabilities, emerging technologies, the geopolitical context and wider futures trends and foresight projects.TIFF supports cross-HMG work on science, technology and innovation by building understanding on emerging issues and technologies, supporting strategic positioning and promoting futures-informed S&T policy. Recent TIFF work has included economic analysis informing industrial strategy and technology prioritisation for Government Missions, tech assessments on robotics and neuromorphic computing in China, strategic futures resources such as Drivers of Change and a current Foresight project on the Future of Childhood.It is an exciting place to work – the topics we cover are fascinating, the way we approach them is uniquely interdisciplinary and we have an inclusive, highly collaborative culture with team members based across the country. Come join us!This role sits within the AI and Tech Engagement team and focus on AI technological landscape. TSI Engagement delivers expert informed advice and events across AI, Tech and Global. The engagement team is one of four teams operating as Technology Science Insights. The team plans and delivers projects based on their potential to bring scientific evidence into the most pressing government priorities in areas such as tech niches, international competition, leverage and AI.This role sits within the Technology, Insights Future and Foresight team (TIFF) team in the Government Office for Science (GOS). TIFF is a joined up capability which brings together GOS’ Technology and Science Insights and the Futures and Foresight functions. Collectively we provide horizon scanning, engagement, analysis and assessment on critical Science &Tech capabilities, emerging technologies, the geopolitical context and wider futures trends and foresight projects.TIFF supports cross-HMG work on science, technology and innovation by building understanding on emerging issues and technologies, supporting strategic positioning and promoting futures-informed S&T policy. Recent TIFF work has included economic analysis informing industrial strategy and technology prioritisation for Government Missions, tech assessments on robotics and neuromorphic computing in China, strategic futures resources such as Drivers of Change and a current Foresight project on the Future of Childhood.It is an exciting place to work – the topics we cover are fascinating, the way we approach them is uniquely interdisciplinary and we have an inclusive, highly collaborative culture with team members based across the country. Come join us!This role sits within the AI and Tech Engagement team and focus on AI technological landscape. TSI Engagement delivers expert informed advice and events across AI, Tech and Global. The engagement team is one of four teams operating as Technology Science Insights. The team plans and delivers projects based on their potential to bring scientific evidence into the most pressing government priorities in areas such as tech niches, international competition, leverage and AI.Person specificationThe Senior AI Lead will lead high‑impact engagement, evidence gathering and pilot projects to support science advice and accelerate responsible AI adoption across government. The role operates at pace in a fast‑moving policy and technology environment, delivering rapid, high‑quality analysis and advice to support senior decision‑making.Working closely with the Government Chief Scientific Adviser, Directors and senior officials, the post holder will help shape cross government thinking on AI, supporting the formulation and delivery of authoritative advice, briefings and assessments on new and emerging AI risks and opportunities. This role would suit either a candidate from an AI research background with strong communication and delivery skills who is looking to gain experience in government, or a civil servant with a solid understanding of AI who is keen to lead projects that generate up-to-date evidence to inform key policy decisions on AI.This includes leading expert engagement at pace, responding to immediate priorities while also contributing to longer‑term strategic ambitions..The role will build and mobilise influential stakeholder networks spanning academia, industry, investors, industry bodies and government departments.Key Responsibilities Of The Role Include Use your knowledge and understanding of AI to track key developments in the technology and translating fast moving technological change into strategic insight that informs senior decision making. Work closely with the Government Chief Scientific Adviser (GCSA), supporting her in senior meetings, helping to shape briefing and messaging, and actively championing her voice, priorities, and influence across government. Project scoping and delivery, including leading end-to-end delivery of projects for the Government Chief Scientific Adviser (GCSA), ensuring outputs are high quality, timely, and aligned to priority policy needs on AI. Lead on convening and engaging leading thinkers from across government, academia, industry, and international institutions to bring the most advanced AI expertise into policy and practice. Work with other AI, digital and data leads to help GOS towards an AI enabled organisation and embed AI into everyday ways of working and help GOS become a confident, capable, and responsible user of AI. Build and maintain strategic relationships with a broad range of UK and international stakeholders, including at senior level across the private and public sector. Champion and communicate the team’s work, promoting insights and products to senior leaders and policy teams across government, tailoring messages to different audiences to maximise understanding, relevance, and impact.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 CriteriaWe are seeking candidates with a foundational understanding of AI technologies. While expert-level working knowledge is not required, a strong understanding of the mechanics of AI models and the current AI landscape is essential.Strong project management and delivery skills, with the ability to manage multiple stakeholders and an evolving set of priorities, enabling the wider team to deliver effectively and remain motivated; Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to build positive working relationships with stakeholders (including at senior level) across the public and private sector, academia, and across Government;Excellent influencing and communication skills, with the ability to creatively adapt communication styles to a broad range of stakeholders with varied backgrounds; Ability to quickly grasp new and complex technical topics, and explain them to non-technical audiences in a credible and persuasive way;Undergraduate degree or qualification of an equivalent level in a science, engineering or technology subject and a demonstrable interest in the science, technology and innovation landscape e.g. policy, research, AI.BehavioursWe’ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:Communicating and InfluencingMaking Effective DecisionsDelivering at PaceAlongside your salary of £44,620, Department for Science, Innovation & Technology contributes £12,926 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 attendanceThe 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 intelligenceArtificial 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 detailsThis vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths 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.Please use your personal statement (in no more than 500 words) to provide a short summary of why you are interested in the role, and clearly outline how the skills and experience described in your CV meet the role profile and the required criteria.Applications will be sifted on CV and Personal Statement.In the event of a large number of applicants, applications will be sifted on the CV only.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 and a written exercise at interview, further details will be provided nearer the time.Sift and interview dates to be confirmed.Further InformationExisting Civil Servants and applicants from accredited NDPBs are eligible to apply,and can be considered on loan basis (Civil Servants) or secondment (accredited NDPBs). Prior agreement to be released on a loan basis must be obtained before commencing the application process. In the case of Civil Servants, the terms of the loan will be agreed between the home and host department and the Civil Servant. This includes grade on return.Please be aware the levels of national security clearance are changing which may impact on the level needed for this role by the time of appointment. All efforts will be made to keep candidates informed of any changes and what that will mean in terms of vetting criteria. For more information please See our vetting charterFor further information on National Security Vetting please visit the Demystifying Vetting website.Reasonable AdjustmentWe 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 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.ukApplicants 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.FeedbackFeedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.SecuritySuccessful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.Nationality requirementsThis Job Is Broadly Open To The Following GroupsUK nationalsnationals of the Republic of Irelandnationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UKnationals 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 2020Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil ServiceFurther information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)Working for the Civil ServiceThe 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.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 InclusionThe 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).This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.Contact point for applicantsJob ContactName : Shaarad SharmaEmail : Shaarad.Sharma@go-science.gov.ukRecruitment teamEmail : dsitresourcing.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.ukFurther informationAppointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles. If you feel that your application has not been treated in accordance with the recruitment principles, and wish to make a complaint, then you should contact in the first instance DSITrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk . If you are not satisfied with the response that you receive, then you can contact the Civil Service Commission. For further information on bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission please visit their web pages: Click here to visit Civil Service Commission/Complaints.
