Policy Advisor - Data Policy

Job summary

The Government Digital Service (GDS) is the digital centre of government. We are responsible for setting, leading and delivering the vision for a modern digital government.

Our priorities are to drive a modern digital government, by:

1. joining up public sector services
2. harnessing the power of AI for the public good
3. strengthening and extending our digital and data public infrastructure
4. elevating leadership and investing in talent
5. funding for outcomes and procuring for growth and innovation
6. committing to transparency and driving accountability

We are home to the Incubator for Artificial Intelligence (I.AI), the world-leading GOV.UK and at the forefront of coordinating the UK’s geospatial strategy and activity.

We lead the Government Digital and Data function and champion the work of digital teams across government.

We’re part of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) and employ more than 1,000 people all over the UK, with hubs in Manchester, London and Bristol.

The Government Digital Service is where talent translates into impact. From your first day, you’ll be working with some of the world’s most highly-skilled digital professionals, all contributing their knowledge to make change on a national scale.

Join us for rewarding work that makes a difference across the UK. You'll solve some of the nation’s highest-priority digital challenges, helping millions of people access services they need.

Please note

Former DSIT recruitment campaigns are continuing as usual, but candidates should be aware that following the Government’s announcement on the changes to some civil service departments, roles will be subject to the machinery of government moves and will ultimately be in one of the new departments. We will provide more information if you are selected for a role. This work remains of high importance to the civil service, and we thank you for your continued interest.

Job description

If you’re a strong generalist policy professional who enjoys working at pace on complex, real world issues - and you’re curious about how data and digital policy can drive growth and improve public services - we’d love to hear from you.

We’re recruiting up to 8 Policy Advisers (HEO grade) across multiple teams in DSIT’s Data Economy Directorate. You don’t need a technical background. You do need great policy skills, sound judgement, and the confidence to work on fast moving priorities with a wide range of partners.

Who we are

We are responsible for helping the UK realise the benefits of data and AI - in a safe and trusted way.

The UK already has one of the world’s largest data economies and a world leading geospatial data ecosystem. Our ambition is for the UK to become the world’s most trusted, dynamic and effective data economy, where citizens and businesses are enabled by and benefit from data. We focus on unlocking more of that potential across sectors while maintaining public trust.

We use policy, regulatory, investment and coordination levers to:

• Increase responsible data and AI use across high growth sectors
  
• Empower people and businesses to benefit more directly from data about them
  
• Enable seamless, safe cross border data flows
  
• Maximise the value and use of geospatial data
  
• Maintain trust in the digital economy

Our work sits at the intersection of technology, regulation, security, economic growth and public services - and it has visible impact: helping organisations use data responsibly, enabling innovation, and improving how government delivers.

About the roles

These roles are spread across several teams and policy areas. While you’ll be appointed to a specific post, all roles share a common thread: taking a policy problem, building the evidence, working with stakeholders, and turning ministerial intent into practical outcomes.

You could be working on:

1) Data Sharing Infrastructure Initiatives - Supporting the development of the UK's data sharing infrastructure, helping businesses make better use of data to drive innovation, productivity and economic growth. This is an exciting opportunity to work on high-profile policy issues at the heart of the UK's data economy.

2) Geospatial data policy - The Geospatial Data Asset Policy team has a number of initiatives underway to establish better access to location-based data to drive innovation, improve public services, and support economic growth. This role will support:

• Drafting key policy documents and guidance materials.
  
• Coordinating stakeholder engagement across government and industry.
  
• Supporting strategic policy decisions and briefings.
  
• Work collaboratively with technical, legal, and delivery teams (both in DSIT and with partners) to ensure policy proposals are practical, evidence-based, and aligned with programme goals.
  
• Contribute to ministerial briefings, submissions, and cross-government policy discussions.
  
• Identify and support the development of an evidence base for additional opportunities regarding the use of public sector data, including but not limited to subsurface data and large-scale data procurement (e.g. Public Sector Geospatial Agreement)

3) Data Opportunities policy - working in a team that considers what the opportunities are for reform in the UK to improve access and use of data across the country to help grow the economy and improve lives. This is an exciting opportunity to look into different policy levers that could be used to shape how the UK uses its data.

4) International Data Flows policy - Supporting the UK’s prosperity and security by shaping policy that enables data to move internationally with confidence, including work through international forums (e.g. G7, G20, OECD, UN, and Council of Europe), and policy development on international transfer tools and cross‑border frameworks. Some roles focus on emerging policy issues such as data security and data sovereignty, working across government to develop options and manage geopolitical risks.

Successful candidates will be matched to roles for offer based on their experience and knowledge.

Person specification

You’ll take ownership of meaningful pieces of work, typically involving a mix of research, analysis, advice, engagement and delivery. You will lead workstreams, deliver through others and be comfortable operating independently. Depending on the role, this could include:

• Turning complex issues into clear policy choices: framing the problem, identifying options, assessing trade-offs, and making recommendations.
  
• Building and testing an evidence base (qualitative and quantitative) and working with analysts to shape practical proposals.
  
• Producing high quality written products: leading on briefings, submissions and clear narratives for a range of audiences.
  
• Working with a wide range of stakeholders across government, regulators, delivery teams, analysts, lawyers, devolved administrations and external partners (including industry bodies), to gathe