Policy Adviser

Policy Adviser – Department for Science, Innovation & Technology (DSIT)

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) is recruiting five Policy Advisers to support its Security and Online Harms Directorate. The successful candidates will work on important government policies relating to online safety, public protection, information resilience and stakeholder engagement.

This is an opportunity to join the Civil Service at Higher Executive Officer (HEO) grade, contributing to policies designed to make the UK a safer place to be online.

Job Overview

• Employer: Department for Science, Innovation & Technology (DSIT)
• Job Title: Policy Adviser
• Salary: £37,655 – £44,595 per year
• National Salary: £37,655 – £41,120
• London Salary: £40,850 – £44,595
• Grade: Higher Executive Officer (HEO)
• Contract: Permanent
• Working Pattern: Full-time, part-time, flexible working and job share
• Locations: Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Darlington, Edinburgh, London and Salford
• Number of Vacancies: 5
• Visa Sponsorship: DSIT cannot offer visa sponsorship through this recruitment campaign.
• Closing Date: 9 November 2026 at 11:55 pm
• Reference Number: 487752

Available Policy Adviser Positions

The five vacancies are distributed across two teams within the Security and Online Harms Directorate.

Public Safety and Information Resilience Team

1. Pornography Review Policy Adviser – 2 vacancies
2. Societal Harms Policy Adviser – 1 vacancy
3. Information Resilience Adviser – 1 vacancy

Strategy and Analysis Team

4. Stakeholder Engagement Policy Adviser – 1 vacancy

Key Responsibilities

Pornography Review Policy Advisers

The successful candidates will support the cross-government Joint Team on Pornography in implementing its Delivery Plan to tackle harms associated with online pornography.

Responsibilities include:

• Supporting the implementation of government policies addressing online pornography.
• Engaging with industry stakeholders and Parliamentarians.
• Helping develop and deliver key aspects of the government’s Delivery Plan.
• Supporting efforts to improve consistency between the regulation of online and offline pornography.

Societal Harms Policy Adviser

This role focuses on developing policies to protect the online information environment and address threats to public safety and social cohesion.

Responsibilities include:

• Supporting policies to tackle hateful and violent content online.
• Understanding the factors driving harmful online content.
• Developing measures to prevent people from profiting from harmful content.
• Working with government departments, industry, academia and civil society.
• Engaging with stakeholders to develop effective policy solutions.

Information Resilience Adviser

The successful candidate will support government initiatives aimed at improving media literacy and protecting people from online information threats.

Responsibilities include:

• Supporting policies that improve media literacy across the UK.
• Helping develop guidance for parents and children on identifying positive online content.
• Working with government departments to identify high-quality information that children and young people should be able to access.
• Developing initiatives with industry, civil society and subject matter experts.
• Supporting efforts to make trusted information more accessible to young people.

Stakeholder Engagement Policy Adviser

This position supports stakeholder engagement and ministerial and parliamentary work across the Security and Online Harms Directorate.

Responsibilities include:

• Preparing high-quality briefings for senior officials and Ministers.
• Drafting responses to Parliamentary Questions.
• Coordinating contributions from policy teams and other government departments.
• Managing incoming requests and working with Private Offices.
• Maintaining records of stakeholder engagement activities.
• Building effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders.

Essential Requirements

Applicants must demonstrate:

• The ability to work independently and take responsibility for progressing tasks.
• Excellent organisational skills and the ability to manage competing deadlines.
• Confidence using information and data from different sources to reach credible conclusions.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• The ability to explain complex and technical information clearly.
• The ability to build and maintain effective relationships with senior colleagues, government departments and external stakeholders.

Desirable Experience

Experience working on digital policy or legislative policy would be an advantage.

Civil Service Behaviours

Candidates will be assessed against the following behaviours:

• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace
• Working Together

Salary and Employee Benefits

Successful candidates will receive a competitive salary alongside a range of Civil Service benefits, including:

• Civil Service Pension Scheme with an employer contribution of 28.97%.
• At least 25 days of annual leave, increasing by one day each year up to 30 days.
• Flexible working arrangements, including job sharing and compressed hours.
• Learning and professional development opportunities.
• Employee discounts on retail, travel and lifestyle products.
• Employee wellbeing support.
• Hybrid working arrangements.

Hybrid Working: Employees are normally expected to spend 40–60% of their working time in the office or another non-home-based location. The department does not normally offer fully home-based working.

Application and Selection Process

The recruitment process will assess candidates’ behaviours and experience under the Civil Service Success Profiles framework.

Applicants will be required to complete an initial application stage, followed by a Civil Service Judgement Test.

Candidates who pass the online test will be invited to complete the final application stage.

The application will require:

• A CV.
• Behavioural statements.
• Completion of the required online assessment.

Applications will initially be assessed using behavioural statements and CVs. If there is a high volume of applications, the department may conduct the initial sift using CVs only.

Successful candidates may proceed to a full sift or directly to an assessment or interview. Interviews will consist of behaviour-based questions.

Important: Applicants are encouraged to complete their online tests as soon as possible after receiving the invitation. The test deadline is 9 November 2026 at 11:55 pm. Failure to complete the assessment before the deadline will result in the application being withdrawn.

Important Visa Sponsorship Information

This position is not open to applicants requiring Skilled Worker visa sponsorship.

DSIT has a visa sponsorship licence, but the department has explicitly confirmed that this recruitment campaign does not qualify for sponsorship.

Applicants must therefore have an appropriate existing right to work in the UK.

Security and Eligibility Requirements

Successful candidates must:

• Pass a basic criminal record check or equivalent.
• Meet the required Security Check (SC) security vetting requirements.
• Complete the relevant pre-employment screening checks.
• Meet the Civil Service nationality requirements.

The vacancy is broadly open to eligible UK nationals, Irish nationals, qualifying Commonwealth nationals and other applicants who meet the specified nationality and right-to-work requirements.

How to Apply

Interested candidates should review the full job description and submit their applications through the official Civil Service Jobs recruitment portal.

Job Reference: 487752

Closing Date: Monday, 9 November 2026 at 11:55 pm.

Contact Information

• Job Contact: Luca Everett
• Email: luca.everett2@dsit.gov.uk
• Recruitment Team: dsitresourcing.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk