Policy Adviser – Strategy Unit

Job summary

If you’re interested in making a difference to people’s lives, the Treasury can offer you an exciting opportunity to influence decision making that affects the whole of the UK. Working at the heart of government, we collaborate across government to promote responsible public spending and drive strong and sustainable economic growth.

Our work ranges from protecting customers through the regulation of the financial sector, helping to reduce carbon emissions and creating a greener economy, to promoting British trade around the world and supporting people across the country on jobs, growth and more.

We are part of the Darlington Economic Campus, a cross-government hub bringing people together to tackle key national issues while working closer to the communities we serve.

Job description

This is a fascinating, stretching and high-profile role in HMT’s Strategy Unit. We are recruiting for an ambitious, proactive, committed and intellectually curious postholder, who wants to develop their career, learn new skills and test themselves in a fast-paced and influential team.

The successful candidate will work closely with our Permanent Secretaries and Directors General on the issues which matter most to the continued effectiveness of the Treasury, and to be at the centre of decision-making on the Treasury’s future. We will give you the support and development opportunities to thrive.

You’ll need to have excellent judgement and be comfortable both presenting your ideas to senior colleagues and working closely with them to shape and deliver their priorities. Ideally, you will be passionate about public service and the opportunity to improve the way the Treasury works, delivering better outcomes for the country and its citizens.

The nature of our work means this role can and will change over time, in line with Ministers’ and senior officials’ priorities. We flex projects and portfolios around individuals’ strengths, experiences and interests where possible, and review our approach as a team on a quarterly basis.

However, to provide some flavour, expected accountabilities in this role are likely to include:

1. Coordinating the department’s approach to prioritising its work, setting out what the Treasury wants to achieve and how we plan to achieve it, including through collaborating closely with senior officials (EMB) and Ministers.
2. Supporting decisions to match HMT’s resources with its priorities, including through our ‘Business Planning’ process. This will include working closely with the department’s Finance Director and Strategy Director.
3. Supporting the development of the department’s organisational strategy, helping lead our thinking about how the Treasury can become more effective and efficient. This will include producing briefings and advice that help senior officials and Ministers make decisions on the topic. This cuts across every aspect of the Treasury’s work and provides an opportunity to work with senior officials and Ministers to influence the direction of the department.
4. Taking ownership for scoping, planning, driving and evaluating discrete projects, often commissioned by senior stakeholders. This will involve rapidly developing knowledge of new issues to support robust and evidence-based solutions and advice.
5. Providing a secretariat function for senior meetings, including our monthly Directors’ Forum.
6. Establishing and maintaining relationships with internal and external stakeholders, representing the work of the Strategy Unit and HM Treasury.

This role is the perfect springboard for a successful career at HM Treasury, bringing you into regular contact with senior officials and giving you an excellent grounding in how the department works. Previous members of the team have gone on to policy roles in our priority projects unit, tax teams and growth teams.

We are keen to see a wide range of applications, including from people with backgrounds both inside and outside of government. So, if this job sounds exciting, please do apply and give us the chance to consider you for this role!

Candidate Drop-In Session

The hiring manager will be running a candidate drop-in session to give you greater insight about the role and HM Treasury and ask any questions you might have. If you would like to join us, use the link below to join the call at the right time.

Friday 28th August 2026, 11:00am-12:00

https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/371986318736277?p=cH9i9DzMp6s1vDZjeI

If you would like to speak to the hiring manager informally prior to the closing date, please contact Sara Gracey, [email removed]

Visa sponsorship is not available for this role.

Person specification

Application Stage

Application Form

Applications should consist of a CV including your employment history, and a 1000-word personal statement setting out how you meet the shortlisting criteria below. Your CV and employment history won’t be scored. It’s used to give context to your application and support discussions at interview.

The panel will review applications and invite those that best demonstrate evidence of the shortlisting criteria for interview. Please keep this in mind when writing your application.

Please note that only applications submitted through Civil Service Jobs will be accepted.

1000 Word Personal Statement. Please spend the first c.750 words focusing on:

• Ability to think and act strategically. You find opportunities to deliver effective change, suggesting innovative ideas to further the team’s work and thinking creatively to solve difficult problems. You demonstrate an appreciation for the broader context in which we work. You are capable of reading organisational dynamics and using multiple sources of evidence to make decisions.
• Capability delivering in a fast-paced environment. You consistently deliver high-quality work to tight deadlines. You should proactively take ownership of your work, planning and prioritising across your portfolio. You are capable of progressing multiple pieces of work at the same time.
• Comfort building and maintaining relationships. You gain the trust of senior stakeholders and partner teams, while actively supporting your colleagues. You communicate clearly and persuasively with senior stakeholders, including through public speaking.

Please spend the final c.250 words focusing on:

• How you think HM Treasury could change to become a more effective department. Please draw on your knowledge of HM Treasury's remit and goals. You do not need to have experience working in HM Treasury to answer this question – excellent answers could be based on publicly available information and commentary and/or lean on experience of engaging with the Treasury from the private sector, third sector, wider public sector or another government department.

Interview Stage

If you are successful at the application stage, you will be invited to interview where you will be assessed against the following criteria:

• Experience
• Strengths

Interview Task / Presentation

Prior to your interview, we will contact you about a task / presentation that the panel would like you to deliver as part of the assessment. Further details will be communicated to you nearer the time.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £44,600, HM Treasury contributes £12,920 towards you being a me