Description
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.
The Security and Online Harms (SOH) Directorate led on the development and passage of the Online Safety Act 2023 (OSA), which introduces a range of measures to tackle online harms and makes the UK the safest place to be online. Following a national consultation from March to May 2026, one of the largest engagement exercises undertaken by this Government, SOH will also deliver on the social media ban for under 16s. The Directorate is now working on the implementation of these new laws, and is engaging with countries and institutions around the world to promote a safer environment.
The SOH Directorate is looking to appoint five enthusiastic and proactive Higher Executive Officers (HEO) to join the Directorate as Policy Advisers across both the Public Safety and Information Resilience Team, and the Strategy and Analysis Team.
Public Safety Team:
- 2x Pornography Review Policy Advisers: Support the Joint Team to implement the Delivery Plan to tackle harms arising from online pornography.
- 1x Societal Harms Policy Adviser: Develop and implement policy solutions to protect the online information environment from threats to public safety and social cohesion.
- 1 x Information Resilience Adviser: Support work to develop a shared cross-government view on what categories of high-quality content children should have access to.
Strategy and Analysis Team:
- 1 x Stakeholder Engagement role: Support the Directorate's stakeholder engagement, ministerial and parliamentary work on high-profile online safety policy issues.
Essential Criteria:
- You will be confident at working independently to drive forward work.
- You will have excellent organisational skills and be able to deliver high-quality work at pace, whilst managing competing deadlines.
- You will be confident using data and information from a range of sources to reach credible conclusions.
- You will be skilled in explaining complex and technical concepts in a clear and accessible way, both verbally and in writing.
- You will also need to be able to build and maintain strong relationships with senior colleagues, across other Government Departments, and with external stakeholders.
Desirable Criteria:
- Experience working on digital or legislative policy.
Benefits:
- Salary of £37,655 - £44,595 per year
- 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.
- A hybrid office/home based working model where staff will spend a norm of 40-60% of their time in the office (minimum of 40%) over a month with flex dependent on balancing business and individual need.