Policy Advisors, Centre For Data Ethics and Innovation in Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) at London, England, United Kingdom

This listing is about Department for Digital Culture Media and Sport DCMS in London, England, United Kingdom
in 2022

About the job

Summary

About the job

The Centre Provides Support To a Wide Range Of Public And Private Sector Organisations Around Three Key Themes

The Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation (CDEI) guides and supports organisations to innovate responsibly, helping the UK maximise the benefits of data-driven technology.

• Data Sharing: Facilitate responsible data sharing across the economy, including piloting new forms of data stewardship & governance.
• Responsible Public Sector Innovation: Support and facilitate the responsible design, deployment and use of algorithms and AI across the public sector.
• AI Assurance: Help lay the foundations for the development of a strong AI assurance ecosystem in the UK, helping organisations have confidence to innovate responsibly with data, and fostering an emerging AI assurance industry.

Our goal is to support partners in enabling and delivering responsible innovation in data-driven technology, creating an environment in which:

• The public are confident their values are reflected in the way data-driven technology is developed and deployed;
• We can trust that decisions informed by algorithms are fair; and
• The risks posed by innovation are identified and addressed.

Our projects are supported by an independent advisory board with world-class expertise on data driven technologies and responsible innovation. In September, details of the new Advisory Board members were announced along with CDEI’s 2021/22 work programme.

We are recruiting for 3 policy advisors to sit in our projects pool.

Job Description

The Projects Team

CDEI’s Projects Team consists of around 20 highly motivated experts who lead our collaborative projects designed to support other organisations to use data-driven technology responsibly and innovatively.

We are an interdisciplinary team with experience and expertise in policy, computer science, law, social science, and other areas. We work on high impact data projects which aim to deliver significant benefits to society. Our engagements include short-term constructive challenge or ‘red teaming’ exercises and longer term projects designed to help organisations develop trustworthy governance mechanisms.

Our work focuses on developing solutions but we also aim to extract insights from different projects and consider how they might be applied across different sectors or contexts, and to inform wider government policy-making in this area.

Members of the Projects Team typically work across different projects, examples of which include:

• Working with the Ministry of Defence on the responsible use of AI in defence contexts, using a principles-based framework for the responsible development, use and governance of AI systems.
• Working with a local authority to develop an ethical governance framework for data and associated technology that enables it to achieve its smart city objectives.
• Drafting guidance for public sector organisations looking to implement responsible innovation interventions such as ethical advisory boards.
• Collaborating with the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy to run a challenge prize to accelerate the development and adoption of novel privacy enhancing technologies.

Some Of Your Responsibilities Will Include

• Delivering Projects – Contributing to the successful delivery of projects, working through policy, technical and legal complexities to deliver practical solutions that ensure AI and data-driven technology is developed and deployed responsibly.
• Developing Policy – Acting as the subject matter expert on the projects you are assigned to, building in-depth knowledge of different fields (e.g. online harms, recruitment or local government) and applying these insights to develop high quality, context-specific recommendations and outputs.
• Conducting High Quality Research – Understanding the impacts of data driven technologies across a range of contexts, using a range of research methods and communicating research insights in compelling and accessible ways.
• Collaborating with Partners and Convening Stakeholders – Forming close and productive working relationships with our project partners and bringing diverse stakeholders together to investigate high profile issues.
• Contributing to the CDEI’s Culture – Adding to the life and soul of the CDEI, taking time out of day to day duties to ensure the CDEI is an inclusive and purposeful place to work.

You are likely to work on several different projects simultaneously with colleagues from across the project pool. The types of topics you will be working on may include privacy enhancing technologies, online harms and data sharing.

Responsibilities

Person Specification

Essential

CDEI is passionate about diversity in thought and make-up, hence we welcome applications from candidates with a variety of backgrounds and skill sets, including those in policy-making, technology or ethics, and an interest in building their knowledge across all of these areas. You will need to demonstrate your skills and experience against the following criteria in your Statement of Suitability:

• Interest in the impacts and governance of data-driven technology such as artificial intelligence.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills – presenting complex information in a clear, effective manner
• Ability to establish effective relationships with people in different roles and with varying perspectives
• Capable of working independently under your own initiative and some knowledge of project management.
• Experience related to data-driven technology in at least one of the the key areas outlined below:

 1. Policy development or delivery: experience of developing policy recommendations drawing on a range of evidence or delivering complex policy priorities, ideally in an area relevant to data-driven technology.

 2. Technology design or delivery: experience of designing and developing data-related technologies, for example as a data scientist, software engineer, or product developer.

 3. Law or regulation: experience of working with legal and regulatory frameworks relevant to data-driven technology (e.g. data protection or equality law).

 4. Research: experience of conducting high quality research relating to data-driven technology, generating insights and advice from a range of sources.

 5. Convening stakeholders: experience of stakeholder coordination in areas related to data-driven technology, ability to convene multi-stakeholder groups and events planning, and understanding of data-driven technology landscape.

Behaviours

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

• Communicating and Influencing
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Making Effective Decisions
• Working Together

Benefits

You’ll receive over 30% of your total compensation package in benefits:

Flexible working arrangements and Flexi-time

26.5 days annual leave on entry increasing to 31.5 days after 5 years’ service.

Exceptional contributory pension scheme

5 days of paid leave for L&D

5 days of paid volunteering

Parental leave up to 9 months on FULL pay

Occupational sick pay

Brilliant and engaged staff networks to join including the LGBT+, BAME, Mental Health and Wellbeing and Women’s Network.

Access to one of the world’s largest learning and development platforms

Masterclasses and talks through the DCMS Academy

Season ticket loan, Cycle to work scheme and much more!

SCS T&C’s will vary, please refer to the attached candidate information pack to find out more.

Things you need to know

Security

Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check.See our vetting charter.

People working with government assets must complete basic personnel security standard checks.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.

Application Process

To apply for this post, you will need to submit the following documentation online via the CS Jobs portal, no later than 23:55 Monday 14 February 2022:

• Your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years.
• Statement of Suitability (max word count: 750) explaining why you want the role and how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience relate to the requirements of the role.

We have provided a possible outline for your Statement on page 15 of the application pack.

It is important that you provide evidence in your statement based on the Person Specification Criteria. We are not asking for evidence of the behaviours, this will be assessed at the interview stage. For more information on behaviours and the Civil Service the recruitment process, see page 16 in the attached candidate pack.

Shortlist

At this stage, the panel, including the hiring manager, will assess your experience and select applicants who demonstrate the best fit.

You will be selected based on the evidence you have provided against the criteria set out in the ‘Person Specification’ section. Failure to address any or all of these may affect your application. You should ensure that you address all criteria in order to provide the panel with enough supporting evidence as they review your application.

The Interview

Due to recent guidance, the department is conducting video interviews as default at the present time. If you are invited to interview and this would prove challenging for you, please do contact [email protected] as soon as possible to see what alternatives may be available. We are committed to ensuring reasonable adjustments are in place where required.

The interview will consist of a series of questions against the Civil Service Success Profiles: behaviours, strengths and experience. Candidates may be asked to prepare a short presentation on a topic to be advised if/when invited to the interview stage.

The hiring manager will chair the panel and will provide assurance that selection for appointment to the Civil Service is on merit and on the basis of fair and open competition.

We will notify all candidates invited to interview the outcome as soon as possible followed by some feedback. If you are successful you may be invited to a second round of interviews.

Indicative Timeline

Please note; the below dates are indicative only and are therefore, subject to change.

Shortlisting – we aim to conduct sifts w/c 14th February

Interviews – to be conducted w/c 28th February

Reasonable Adjustment

If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

Contact Government Recruitment Service via [email protected] as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.

Further Information

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

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service /Disclosure Scotland/Access NI 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 [email protected] stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

For further information on the Disclosure Scotland confidential checking service telephone: the Disclosure Scotland Helpline on 0870 609 6006 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email [email protected]

For further information on the Access NI confidential checking service telephone: the Access NI Helpline on 0300 200 7888 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email [email protected]

Please note that this role requires CTC clearance, which would normally need 3 years’ UK residency in the past 3 years. This is not an absolute requirement, but supplementary checks may be needed where individuals have not lived in the UK for that period. This may mean your security clearance (and therefore your appointment) will take longer or, in some cases, not be possible.

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.

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

Existing Civil Servants and applicants from accredited NDPBs are eligible to apply, but will only be considered on loan basis (Civil Servants) or secondment (accredited NDPBs). Prior agreement to be released on a loan basis must be obtained before commencing the application process. In the case of Civil Servants, the terms of the loan will be agreed between the home and host department and the Civil Servant. This includes grade on return.

This role is full time only. Applicants who wish to work an alternative pattern are welcome to apply however your preferred working pattern may not be available and you should discuss this with the vacancy holder before applying.

The expectation within DCMS is that staff will normally remain in post for a minimum of 12 months for band C, 18 months for band B and 24 months for band A/AU and will not apply for DCMS roles on level transfer during that time.

DCMS has a London and a National pay scale. For more information on this, including the circumstances in which each pay scale will apply, please see the candidate information pack.

This role can be based in London, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Manchester or Belfast. The hub locations are displayed on the job advert. Not all hub locations yet have confirmed office space – successful applicants will be expected to work remotely until this becomes available.

Interviews will take place remotely via Google Hangout video call. Successful applicants will join the department through our remote onboarding process.

A reserve list may be held for a period of 6 months from which further appointments can be made.

Any move to DCMS 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. Determine your eligibility at here

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

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

Nationality requirements

This Job Is Broadly Open To The Following Groups

• UK nationals
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals from the EU, EEA or Switzerland with settled or pre-settled status or who apply for either status by the deadline of the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals working in the Civil Service
• relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals who have built up the right to work in the Civil Service
• certain family members of the relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals

Further information on nationality requirements

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code 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.

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.

Apply and further information

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 : Operations teamEmail : [email protected] Recruitment team :Email : [email protected]

Further information

The law requires that selection for appointment to the Civil Service is on merit on the basis of fair and open competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and you wish to make a complaint, you should contact ([email protected]) in the first instance. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission at: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.ukecruitment/civilservicerecruitmentcomplaints/

Company: Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS)

Vacancy Type:  

Job Location: London, England, United Kingdom

Application Deadline: N/A

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