Job summary
Smart Data is one of the government's flagship digital and economic policy programmes, giving people and small businesses better access to and control over their own data, unlocking innovative new services and driving competition across the economy.
We are looking for an analytical and curious policy professional to join our team as Senior Executive Officer (SEO) for Innovation and AI Policy.
You will lead horizon scanning and intelligence gathering across big, cross-cutting future areas of Smart Data focus – such as AI, public data, GDPR reform and other emerging digital policy areas.
You will actively shape the future direction of the Smart Data Strategy and influence our spending review bid.
You will also take operational ownership of cross sector use cases and work closely with the G7 Digital Innovation Policy lead and colleagues across government.
This is a fantastic opportunity for someone who enjoys making sense of a fast moving and technical policy landscape, translating complex information into clear and actionable insight, and working across a broad range of teams and government departments.
What you will be doing
- Leading the team's horizon scanning function, monitoring and synthesising developments in areas that may include AI policy, the National Data Library, GDPR reform, digital twins, or fraud prevention.
- Producing regular, accessible intelligence notes and briefings for the G7 Innovation and G7 Strategy leads, drawing out clear implications for Smart Data strategy and delivery.
- Acting as the day-to-day link between the innovation and strategy workstreams, ensuring horizon scanning intelligence actively informs strategic planning and the SR28 process.
- Taking operational ownership of cross sector use cases, maintaining records, tracking progress and keeping the team informed.
- Supporting the G7 Innovation lead's engagement with Cabinet Office, Home Office and HMRC, preparing briefings and background material for senior meetings.
Essential criteria
- Strong analytical and horizon scanning skills, with the ability to synthesise complex and technical information from multiple sources into clear, concise intelligence products for a range of audiences.
- Experience of, or a genuine interest in, AI policy, data policy, digital regulation or a related technology policy area, with the ability to quickly get up to speed on evolving and technical subject matter.
- Excellent written communication skills, able to produce accessible briefings, intelligence notes and reports that translate technical detail into clear implications for policy and delivery.
- Strong organisational skills, with experience managing multiple cross cutting pieces of work and keeping a wide range of stakeholders updated and informed.
- Ability to build effective relationships and manage stakeholders across teams and departments, gathering and sharing intelligence in a collaborative way.
- Comfortable dealing with ambiguity and applying long term strategic thinking to link fast moving, technical developments to the wider Smart Data Strategy.
- Sound judgement in identifying emerging risks and opportunities, with the confidence to know when to escalate issues to senior colleagues.
Desirable criteria
- Experience of, or knowledge of, Smart Data, Open Banking or wider data sharing policy.
- Understanding of the AI governance, GDPR reform or digital verification landscape.
- Experience of research methods or structured horizon scanning techniques.
- Experience of managing external delivery partners or contracts.
Behaviours
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Making Effective Decisions
- Working Together
- Delivering at Pace
Benefits
Alongside your salary of £44,913, Department for Business and Trade contributes £13,011 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.
Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
Learning and development tailored to your role.
An environment with flexible working options.
A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity.
A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%.
Things you need to know
Artificial 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.
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.
Interviews for this vacancy will be conducted virtually. We will, however, consider in-person interviews by exception.
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), 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.