Internet Resilience Policy Adviser
Department for Science, Innovation & Technology
- Department
- Department for Science, Innovation & Technology
- Location
- London
- Openings
- 2 posts
- Grade
- HEO
- Salary
- £39,850 to £43,020
- Closing
- 7 days left
- Profession
- Policy, Operational Delivery
- Contract
- Permanent
- Security clearance
- DV
- Working pattern
- Flexible working, Full-time, Job share, Part-time
Job summary
DSIT
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
You can also follow our LinkedIn Page: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/dsitcareers/
What they’re looking for
- Key Responsibilities
- The role provides a unique opportunity to make a difference to the security and resilience of the country. We are looking for a motivated individual with strong communication skills to support this work. You will be a self-starter with drive and energy who can work with a community of experts across government, industry and academia to identify the key operational, security and resilience challenges faced by our national digital core network infrastructure.
- The role of the Internet Resilience Policy Advisor involves delivering policies to ensure the security, resilience and availability of internet and subsea cable critical national infrastructure, addressing technical and policy issues to maintain our growing use of the internet and its economic and national security impacts. This portfolio requires work producing and maintaining robust and resilient cable incident protocols. The role sits within our Telecoms Resilience and Incident Management team, with regular opportunities to contribute to cross-Government resilience priorities, engage with colleagues across Government, security agencies and industry experts to support the emergency response to any major loss of telecoms services in the UK.
- In this role you will work on the following areas:
- Develop a good understanding of the essential functions that internet infrastructure provides in the UK, and the key systems and dependencies it needs to operate effectively.
- Develop and maintain relationships with stakeholders across government and industry and engage with other critical national infrastructure sectors.
- Engage in research, investigation, analysis to draft papers and submissions for senior management and Ministers, outlining potential internet resilience policy options.
- Provide support in response to emergency telecoms and internet related incidents.
- Support the review of the UK’s capability to maintain and repair subsea fibre-optic cables, so that HMG has the assurance that internet services can remain uninterrupted.
- Contribute to resolving policy issues that directly align with the team and the wider department’s core objectives.
- Essential Criteria
- Ability to work autonomously, with excellent workload management and prioritisation skills to manage competing demands
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to analyse and explain complex information to senior officials and stakeholders.
- Strong interpersonal skills, to establish and manage excellent working relationships with a wide range of stakeholders and organisations.
- Confident in problem solving, with experience using complex information in order to enable effective decision making.
- Experience of crisis or incident response, or a similar fast-paced operational environment.
- Hold DV clearance, or a willingness to undergo DV.
- Desirable Criteria
- Experience or demonstrated interest in National Security and/or Internet Policy.
Behaviours you’ll be assessed on
This advert says the panel will score you against these behaviours at HEO level. Each one links to worked examples.
Job description
The Telecoms Resilience and Incident Management team in the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) is leading Government’s effort to ensure the UK’s core digital infrastructure is secure and resilient. Our modern way of life is built upon the internet, underpinned by a complex digital core network whose infrastructure is inherently fragmented and international. Society is becoming increasingly digital, from home working to the emergence of technologies such as artificial intelligence, immersive technologies and robotics. If the benefits of global connectivity are to be fully realised, we need to understand and manage risks to its security and resilience.
Almost every essential service in the UK, from policing and food supply to national security and defence, relies on access to the internet.
This is a challenging but extremely exciting role. You will support the scoping and development of the UK's security and resilience policy framework for the infrastructure that sits at the core of the internet. You will work with colleagues across DCMS, industry and wider government, including the Cabinet Office and the National Cyber Security Centre, to identify vulnerabilities and develop proportionate mitigation responses.
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)
Selection process
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths 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 23:55 on 7th September 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.
You will be directed to the Talogy - True Talent – Scheduled Maintenance Window Webpage for online tests during an outage.
Online Test Maintenance
Our online test supplier will be performing scheduled maintenance between 4pm to 7pm on 23rd August and 4pm to midnight on 30th August 2026. You will be unable to access tests during this period.
If you are in the middle of a test when the maintenance begins, your progress will be paused. You will be able to resume your test from where you left off via your application centre once the downtime has ended. Please note that you will not be able to launch any new tests while the system is offline.
As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a Behaviour statement, CV and personal statement. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.
Please use your personal statement (in no more than 500 words) to explain how your skills, knowledge and experience meet the criteria for the role.
Please note - the CV incorporated into the application form is for information purposes only and will not be scored.
In the event of a large number of applicants, applications will be sifted on lead behaviour statement - Delivering at Pace, only. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.
The interview will consist of behaviour and strength-based questions.
Sift and interview dates to be confirmed.
Further Information
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.
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.
Practise before you apply
Civil Service panels score every answer against the Success Profiles behaviours at HEO level. Practise STAR answers and get them marked against the same framework.
3 free questions · No card needed
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