Senior Policy Advisor, Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation

Job content

Summary

About the job

We are looking for a Senior Policy Advisor to join the Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation’s (CDEI) Projects Team. The role offers an exciting opportunity to shape some of the most important and high profile issues facing UK society today.

The successful candidate will be responsible for leading specific projects, working with partner organisations seeking to take forward data-driven initiatives for the public good. These projects focus on developing practical solutions designed to help partners maximise the benefits of data driven technology while addressing potential harms.

NB: This role is being advertised in parallel to the Senior Technology Advisor (ref: 158276) - Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation. This will be assessed by the same recruitment panel.

Job Description

The post holder will manage CDEI’s day-to-day interactions with our project partners and be required to build and maintain effective working relationships. The role will likely involve line management of one or more Policy Advisors, and project management of a variety of work, including inputs from suppliers and partners.

You will also be expected to support Team Leads in identifying new project opportunities and actively support the CDEI to maximise its impact across Government and beyond.

Responsibilities

Some of your responsibilities include:

• Designing high impact projects - Helping partners to identify and address their needs through mixed method projects that support innovation and drive the responsible use of data and AI.
• Leading projects - Responsible for the successful delivery of projects from start to finish, ensuring they are completed on time and to a high standard. This includes managing multiple projects simultaneously, working with colleagues from across the team, and drawing on diverse perspectives and experiences.
• Engaging with partners - Forming close working relationships with our project partners, and fostering valuable connections to industry, government and civil society.
• Championing the CDEI’s expertise - Communicating the findings of our project work to a wider audience, including through reports, briefing papers and speaking engagements.
• Building a team - Directly managing 1-2 policy advisors, as well as supporting a wider team of colleagues to learn, grow and achieve more together.
• Capturing insights - Consider how findings from particular projects can be applied elsewhere to support other organisations to use data and AI responsibly.
• Contributing to the CDEI culture - Adding to the life and soul of the CDEI, taking time out of day-to-day duties to ensure the CDEI is an inclusive, purposeful and diverse place to work.
  

Person Specification

Essential

CDEI is passionate about diversity in thought and make-up, hence we welcome applications from candidates with a variety of backgrounds and skill sets, including those in policy-making, technology or ethics, and an interest in building their knowledge across all of these areas. The roles are compatible with flexible working patterns such as part time working, or compressed hours e.g. to cater to caring and childcare responsibilities. You will need to demonstrate your skills and experience against the following criteria:

• Interest in the risks and opportunities posed by data-driven technology such as artificial intelligence, and an ability to quickly and effectively engage with leaders in this field;
• Previous professional experience working in at least one of the following areas: technology design or delivery, data science or machine learning, regulation & governance, data/technology policy;
• Experience of working in partnership with other teams or organisations to deliver complex projects successfully;
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills (e.g. presenting to senior audiences and leading on the drafting of reports);
• Capable of analysing highly complex issues to reach clear and balanced conclusions; and
• Excellent project management skills, capable of working independently under own initiative and guiding
  

the work of others.

Desirable

• A keen interest in responsible innovation with data and Al, and a willingness to engage with policy and governance issues around;.
• An understanding of the policy making process and/or the delivery of digital services in government; and
• Line management experience.
  

Behaviours

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

• Working Together
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Communicating and Influencing
  

Benefits

You’ll receive over 30% of your total compensation package in benefits:

Flexible working arrangements and Flexi-time

26.5 days annual leave on entry increasing to 31.5 days after 5 years’ service.

Exceptional contributory pension scheme

5 days of paid leave for L&D

3 days of paid volunteering

Parental leave up to 9 months on FULL pay

Occupational sick pay

Brilliant and engaged staff networks to join including the LGBT+, BAME, Mental Health and Wellbeing and Women’s Network.

Access to one of the world’s largest learning and development platforms

Masterclasses and talks through the DCMS Academy

Season ticket loan, Cycle to work scheme and much more!

SCS T&C’s will vary, please refer to the attached candidate information pack to find out more.

Things you need to know

Security

Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check.See our vetting charter.

People working with government assets must complete basic personnel security standard checks.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.

How To Apply

We encourage all candidates to apply for this role. To apply for this post, you will need to submit the following documentation online via the CS Jobs portal, no later than 23:55 on Monday 1st November.

• A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years.
• A Statement of Suitability (max word count: 750) explaining why you want the role and how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience relate to the requirements of the role paying particular reference to the criteria in the person specification. It is important that you provide evidence in your statement based on the criteria; we are not asking for evidence of the behaviours, this will be assessed at the interview stage.
  

Failure to submit both documents will mean the panel only have limited information on which to assess your application against the essential requirements and desirable skills.

Shortlist

At this stage, the panel, including the hiring manager, will assess your experience and select applicants demonstrating the best fit with the role by considering the evidence you have provided against the criteria set out in the ‘Person Specification’ section. Failure to address any or all of these may affect your application. You should ensure that you address all criteria in order to provide the panel with enough supporting evidence as they review your application.

The interview

Due to recent guidance, the department is conducting video interviews as default at the present time. If you are invited to interview and this would prove challenging for you, please do contact cdeioperations@cdei.gov.uk as soon as possible to see what alternatives may be available. We are committed to ensuring reasonable adjustments are in place where required.

The interview will consist of a series of questions against the Civil Service Success Profiles: Behaviours, Experience and Strengths. Candidates may be asked to prepare a short presentation on a topic to be advised if/when invited to the interview stage. The behaviours to be assessed at interview are:

• Working Together
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Communicating and Influencing
  

The hiring manager will chair the panel and will provide assurance that selection for appointment to the Civil Service is on merit and on the basis of fair and open competition.

We will notify all candidates invited to interview the outcome as soon as possible followed by some feedback. If you are successful you may be invited to a second round of interviews.

Please see the candidate information pack attached at the bottom of the page for further details about CDEI, selection process and T&Cs.

DCMS has a London and a National pay scale. For more information on this, including the circumstances in which each pay scale will apply, please see the candidate information pack.

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.

Any move to DCMS will mean you will no longer be able to carry on claiming childcare vouchers. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk

A reserve list will be held for 6 months from which further appointments can be made.

The expectation within DCMS is that staff will normally remain in post for a minimum of 12 months for band C, 18 months for band B and 24 months for band A/AU and will not apply for DCMS roles on level transfer during that time.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service/Disclosure Scotland /Access NI on your behalf. However, we recognise in exceptional circumstance 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-Employment.Checks@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

Existing Civil Servants and applicants from accredited NDPBs are eligible to apply, but will only 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.

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check maybe carried out.

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

Interviews are held remotely and successful candidates get to experience our bespoke remote on-boarding process. Although initially remotely, the role will be based at the location stated in this advert.

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact

the email address in the “Contact point for applicants”; section.

Reasonable adjustment

If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

Contact Government Recruitment Service via DCMSRecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Nationality requirements

This Job Is Broadly Open To The Following Groups

• UK nationals
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals from the EU, EEA or Switzerland with settled or pre-settled status or who apply for either status by the deadline of the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals working in the Civil Service
• relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals who have built up the right to work in the Civil Service
• certain family members of the relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals

Further information on nationality requirements

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code 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.

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.

Apply and further information

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 applicants

Job contact :Name : Mark DurkeeEmail : mark.durkee@cdei.gov.uk Recruitment team :Email : dcmsrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Further information

The law requires that selection for appointment to the Civil Service is on merit on the basis of fair and open competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and you wish to make a complaint, you should contact ( recruitment.team@dcms.gov.uk ) in the first instance. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission at: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/recruitment/civilservicerecruitmentcomplaints/