Senior Policy Adviser: Digital Infrastructure

Are you looking for an exciting new opportunity leading the Treasury’s work on overseeing the roll out gigabit capable broadband and 4 & 5G across the country as quickly as possible? If so, we'd love to hear from you!

About the Team

We are looking to recruit a Senior Policy Adviser which sits within the Science, Technology and Access to Finance (STAF) Team of the Enterprise and Growth Unit (EGU).

EGU promotes sustainable economic growth and higher productivity for the UK. We provide analysis and advice on enterprise, innovation, private sector investment and a cost-effective transition to a low-carbon economy. The Enterprise and Growth Unit has a varied and exciting agenda and we work closely with a wide variety of other teams across the Treasury.

The UK’s prowess in science and digital technology has transformed how we live and work. This brings new opportunities to unlock economic growth, improve productivity and create high skilled jobs. The UK is already a global leader, and with the right policy can go even further to unleash the benefits of frontier science and technology.

The Science, Technology and Access to Finance (STAF) team advises on how to make the most of this opportunity. We develop policy and oversee government spending on wider science Research & Development (R&D) and innovation policy, technology and access to finance and Digital Infrastructure. We also deliver wider spending control for the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.

About the Job

In this role, you will:

1. Lead specific areas of HM Treasury’s strategy for science and technology, developing new policies to bolster UK leadership in Digital Infrastructure manufacturing, and ensure cross-cutting policies (on areas such as skills) respond to the needs of these sectors.
2. Lead HM Treasury’s work on scrutinising specific aspects of science and technology spending, including at Spending Reviews and other fiscal events, ensuring investment is well-targeted and value for money.
3. Represent HM Treasury in senior-level Whitehall discussions on Digital Infrastructure and manufacturing policy.
4. Build and maintain strong relationships across HM Treasury, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, Cabinet Office and No.10.
5. Lead HM Treasury’s relationship with relevant science and tech sectors, engaging with a wide range of partners.

You will lead the Treasury’s work on overseeing the government’s programmes to roll out gigabit capable broadband and 4 & 5G across the country as quickly as possible. You’ll also lead work to support the semiconductor sector (in collaboration with the economic resilience team), taking a strategic view of how government should engage with the sectors to drive growth.

Depending on your interests, capability and capacity, you may also contribute to wider science and technology policy development including at fiscal events, funded from an R&D budget set to reach £20bn next year. This will include advising ministers on the value for money of R&D and other investment propositions, delivery against budgets and strategic alignment with government priorities.

No two weeks in these jobs are the same and the successful applicants can expect to work on high profile policy projects throughout the year, particularly in the run up to the next Spending Review.

About you

The successful postholder will have an ability to get to grips quickly with technical or detailed issues, and to draw on a wide range of evidence and analysis in reaching a decision. You will be able to operate in a complex environment, taking economic, political or wider financial considerations into account in your work. You’ll have strong communication skills and a successful track record of influencing partners and seniors.

HM Treasury is proud of a diverse and inclusive work environment, committed to fairness and the promotion of equality of opportunity for all. We know that having a range of experiences, ways of working and thinking makes us a stronger organisation, better at developing policy that is reflective of the communities we serve. We embrace different views and experiences and value the fresh perspective that people from a variety of circumstances bring to the work we do. We welcome applications from candidates who have not previously worked for the Civil Service, mid- and late-career changers with transferrable skills, people from all backgrounds and circumstances regardless of disability, ethnicity, LGBT+ identity and socio-economic status.

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.
• 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 (e.g. women in the Treasury, ethnic minority network, LGBT* network, faith and belief network)

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, or speak to the recruitment team at hrrecruitment@hmtreasury.gov.uk