Policy Advisor, Semiconductor Unit

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.

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://forms.office.com/e/Jae3B4w7xm

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

Job description

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 sits within the Frontier and Early-Stage Technologies Directorate in the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. We work with other technology areas to enable cross-tech initiatives, such as with AI and quantum teams to realise the potential of sovereign AI hardware.

The Semiconductor Unit in DSIT leads the UK’s strategic efforts to strengthen our semiconductor ecosystem to deliver on this potential, through targeted R&D investment, 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.

This role is for a Policy Advisor focusing on National and Economic Security. This is an exciting time to join the Semiconductor Team as we navigate a rapidly changing global S&T landscape and topics from supply chain resilience to risks from dual-use semiconductor technologies. Our work is cross-cutting in nature, and you will have the opportunity to work with a variety of policy and critical tech teams across DSIT, as well as wider HMG departments and intelligence agencies.

The role holder will help ensure the semiconductor sector in the UK can grow securely, by balancing the risks that some investment can pose while providing businesses and investors with the certainty and transparency they need to do business in the UK. You will lead on the Semiconductor Unit’s legal requirements under the National Security Investment Act (NSIA) by leading casework analysis for investments notified under the Act and working with stakeholders across Cabinet Office’s Investment Security Unit, MOD, and intelligence agencies. You will also be responsible for managing case workload across the wider team, upskilling new team members, and producing regular analysis.

You will lead the Semiconductor Unit’s input into cross-government economic security activity related to semiconductors, including export controls, ensuring the semiconductor sector is represented. You will also support the team to identify opportunities for inward investment in a secure and resilient way.

This role comes with excellent development opportunities including high levels of responsibility and would suit an experienced or highly motivated HEO.

Person specification

• Leading on NSIA casework relating to investments in the semiconductor sector.
  
• Supporting the wider team to fulfil NSIA casework, including upskilling new team members and managing the casework across the team.
  
• Maintaining analysis of notified NSIA cases to build a long-term picture of trends.
  
• Leading on economic security levers (export controls) where they relate to semiconductors and representing the team’s view in cross-government fora.
  
• Identify opportunities for secure inward investment in the semiconductor sector.
  
• Building and maintaining relationships with the Cabinet Office’s Investment Security Unit, the Department for Business and Trade’s Export Controls Joint Unit, as well as intelligence agencies and the MOD.
  
• Maintain an up-to-date understanding of the national security risks from investment in the semiconductor sector.
  
• Contributing to the team’s work to balance the risks to the UK’s national security and resilience from investments in the semiconductor sector, while ensuring we maximise the economic opportunities.
• Frequent travel to the office is required.

Essential Criteria

• Strong analytical skills with the ability to synthesise complex information into accessible formats.
  
• A proactive mindset and ability to drive work and manage timelines to achieve high-quality outcomes.
  
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to tailor messages to different audiences.
  
• Good personal organisation skills, with experience of working at pace and balancing different priorities to deliver high-quality outputs to deadlines.
  
• Ability to build and develop successful collaborative relationships with your team and stakeholders, both internal and external.

Desirable Criteria

• Interest or experience in national and economic security policy.
  
• Good commercial awareness and understanding, particularly in relation to technology businesses.
  
• Interest or experience in the semiconductor sector and/or other areas of science and technology policy

Candidates are not required to hold any level of security clearance to apply for this role, however, candidates will be required to undergo Developed Vetting (DV) once in post.

DV usually requires you to have been resident in the UK for the last 10 years. Candidates with a minimum of 5 out of the last 10 years of UK residency may also be considered, at least one year of which must be 12 consecutive months.

Behaviours

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

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

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £36,735, Department for Science, Innovation & Technology contributes £10,642 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.

Things you need to know

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. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

After submission of the first stage of your application you will be invited to complete a Civil Service Judgement Test. If you successfully pass the test, you will be invited to complete the final stage of the application.

Please complete the online tests as soon as possible (within 24-48 hours is recommended), the closing date for the tests is 23:55pm on 18th June 2026. If you fail to complete the online test before the deadline your application will be withdrawn. Guidance for the test will be available when you are invited to take the test. The tests are administered online and accessed via the CS Jobs website.

Applications will be sifted on CV and Personal Statement.

In the event of a large number of applicants, applications will be sifted on the personal statement only.

The interview will consist of behaviour questions.

A reserve list of candidates may be kept for up to 12 months.

Sift and interview dates to be confirmed.

Further Information

Reasonable Adjustment

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. A DSIT Plain Text Version of the guidance is also available.

We encourage candidates to discuss their adjustment needs by emailing the job contact which can be found under the contact point for applicants section.

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

A location based reserve list of successful candidates will be kept for 12 months. Should another role become available within that period you may be offered this position.

Candidates who meet the minimum benchmark may be placed on a Reserve List for consideration for similar roles, including those at a lower grade. Candidates who narrowly miss the benchmark and are not placed on the Reserve List may still be considered for an offer in a similar role at a lower grade.

Please note terms and conditions are attached. Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you.

Any move to the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. 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).

DSIT cannot offer Visa sponsorship to candidates through this campaign. DSIT holds a Visa sponsorship licence but this can only be used for certain roles and this campaign does not qualify.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf.

However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

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. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment.

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.

For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the Demystifying Vetting website.

Feedback

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is developed vetting (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).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 theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.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 : Harriet Peel
• Email : harriet.peel2@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.

Attachments

DSIT T&Cs v1.2 Opens in new window (docx, 179kB)