Senior Policy Officer

At DSIT we’re all about improving people’s lives by maximising the potential of science & technology.
We accelerate innovation, investment and productivity through world-class science, research and development.
We use technology for good by ensuring new and existing technologies are safely developed and deployed across the UK, with the benefits more widely shared.
We are driving forward a modern digital government which gives citizens a more satisfying experience and their time back.
We do all this to enable the Government’s 5 national missions: kickstarting economic growth, making Britain a clean energy superpower, taking back our streets, breaking down barriers to opportunity and building an NHS fit for the future.
Whether it’s researching new treatments for disease, developing better batteries, reducing burdens through better public services, keeping children safe online, and much more, outcomes for citizens are at the heart of what we do.
We offer flexible working benefits, employee well-being support and a great pension. We are enormously proud to be a Disability Confident Leader employer. Information about disability confidence and just some examples of the adjustments that you can request can be found in the reasonable adjustment section below.
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. We regularly run events where you can find out more about the department and tips for the application and interview process. Semiconductors are one of six frontier technologies prioritised in the Industrial Strategy’s Digital and Technology sector plan, recognising their high growth potential and importance for national and economic security.
The Semiconductor Unit in DSIT leads the UK’s strategic efforts to strengthen our semiconductor ecosystem, delivering on the Government’s ambitions for the semiconductor sector through targeted R&D investment, infrastructure development, workforce development, access to finance support and international collaboration. Our team also plays a central role in shaping policy on supply chain resilience and national and economic security in relation to the semiconductor sector, aligning with the Industrial Strategy and Digital and Technologies Sector Plan to support frontier technologies, regional growth, and net zero goals.
This role will help shape and deliver policy interventions to grow the UK’s semiconductor sector, with a particular focus on supporting the innovation of semiconductor technologies, from academic research, to commercial application, to scale up. The role will involve developing and delivering policy to support the early-stage innovation in semiconductor technologies, with a particular focus on AI-enabling hardware. It will also involve project managing the delivery of a new £5m Chip Design Enablement Programme to support SMEs.
Semiconductors are one of six frontier technologies prioritised in the Industrial Strategy’s Digital and Technology sector plan, recognising their high growth potential and importance for national and economic security.
The Semiconductor Unit in DSIT leads the UK’s strategic efforts to strengthen our semiconductor ecosystem, delivering on the Government’s ambitions for the semiconductor sector through targeted R&D investment, infrastructure development, workforce development, access to finance support and international collaboration. Our team also plays a central role in shaping policy on supply chain resilience and national and economic security in relation to the semiconductor sector, aligning with the Industrial Strategy and Digital and Technologies Sector Plan to support frontier technologies, regional growth, and net zero goals.
This role will help shape and deliver policy interventions to grow the UK’s semiconductor sector, with a particular focus on supporting the innovation of semiconductor technologies, from academic research, to commercial application, to scale up. The role will involve developing and delivering policy to support the early-stage innovation in semiconductor technologies, with a particular focus on AI-enabling hardware. It will also involve project managing the delivery of a new £5m Chip Design Enablement Programme to support SMEs.
Delivery of the Digital and Technologies Sector Plan: Design and implement policy interventions to boost the UK’s semiconductor sector through targeted action for innovation support.
Engage with experts, academia and businesses in semiconductor and related technological fields to inform and implement UK policy.
Develop clear, concise advice and briefings for Ministers and senior officials on relevant policy.
Leadership: Act as a visible leader within the team, fostering a collaborative and inclusive culture, and championing high standards of delivery and professional development.
Ability to understand and analyse complex technical or policy issues, and to translate them into actionable insights or policy recommendations.
Ability to lead and deliver projects, managing timelines and stakeholders to achieve high-quality outcomes.
Good organisation skills, with experience of working at pace and balancing different priorities to deliver high-quality outputs to deadlines.
Interest or experience in the semiconductor sector, in R&D and/or other areas of technology policy.
Interest or experience in developing innovation policy.
Experience building and developing successful collaborative relationships with stakeholders.
Alongside your salary of £40,415, Department for Science, Innovation & Technology contributes £11,708 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 attendance
The 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 intelligence
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. Artificial Intelligence
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. We 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 . If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.
Any move to the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. 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).
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.
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.For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the Demystifying Vetting website .
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. 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.
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
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 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 Inclusion
The 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) .
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.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.