Senior Policy Advisor, Telecoms Modernisation

Contents

• Location
• About the job
• Benefits
• Things you need to know
• Apply and further information

Birmingham, Cardiff, Darlington, Edinburgh, London, Salford

About the job

Job summary

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. 

Above all, we focus on improving people’s lives. 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. 

Our Inclusive Environment 

We offer flexible working benefits, employee well-being support and a great pension. We are enormously proud to be a Disability Confident Leader employer. We support candidates with adjustments throughout our recruitment process. 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. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service D&I Strategy. 

Find Out More 

We regularly run events where you can find out more about the department and tips for the application and interview process. You can sign up for upcoming events here: https://buytickets.at/departmentforsciencetechnologyandinnovation/1025519 

You can also follow our LinkedIn Page: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/dsitcareers/ 

Job description

Moving towards the digital networks of the future also means closing the book on the infrastructure of the past. For that reason, we have recently created a Telecoms Modernisation Team which will monitor how the telecoms industry is working to replace legacy equipment with modern and digital alternatives. This includes the once in a lifetime transition from analogue to digital landlines (“the PSTN migration”).

Getting this transition right is a top priority for DSIT ministers. If we succeed, we can improve how British citizens and businesses engage with the digital world. At the same time, our team’s mission is to make sure that the most vulnerable in society are protected and supported throughout the transition.

If you like working with others to solve problems, if you are motivated by helping others, and if you want to work in a friendly and supportive team – this could be a great role for you!

Person specification

Key responsibilities:

The successful candidate will be:

• Working directly with the telecoms industry and monitoring their plans for switching off legacy networks and equipment, holding them to account against industry commitments and regulatory guidance.
• Developing policy with a focus on identifying and supporting vulnerable people throughout the transition from analogue to digital networks. This includes bringing together quantitative and qualitative evidence to determine options for ensuring consumer safety; making recommendations to senior officials; presenting at board meetings; and drafting advice to Ministers.
• Monitoring progress of DSIT’s forthcoming cross-government action plan for protecting users of personal alarm systems (“telecare”), by establishing clear objectives and deliverables for multiple workstreams which are outlined in the plan.
• Building strong relationships with colleagues across DSIT and with other government departments, Ofcom, charities and interest groups such as Which? and Citizens Advice.
• Supporting Ministers and senior officials by delivering high-quality advice, briefings, speeches, Parliamentary Questions, and correspondence.

Skills and experiences:

We would love to hear from you if you have:

• Experience engaging with external stakeholders
• The ability to be a self starter
• Strong written and verbal communication skills

Policymaking experience is helpful, but not essential. We welcome applications from candidates who have experience in problem-solving or stakeholder management from fields or sectors.

Behaviours

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

• Working Together
• Delivering at Pace
• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £38,860, Department for Science, Innovation & Technology contributes £10,492 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 average employer contribution of 27%.
• 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. 

The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).

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 : Sofia Hicks
• Email : sofia.hicks@dsit.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : dsitresourcing.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Further information

Appointment 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

Read Full Description