Senior Policy Advisor

The Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade (BIST) is at the heart of the Government's mission to drive economic growth through innovation, technology and business transformation.

Working across government, BIST is leading an ambitious programme that will transform how businesses interact with government services online. BIST, in partnership with the Government Digital Service’s new Business Unit, is leading cross government digital transformation to offer businesses a ‘front door’ to simpler, more proactive, and personalised digital services. It will reduce time spent searching for information and accessing services, saving time and money so businesses can focus on the things that really matter.

This work sits at the intersection of economic growth, digital transformation, innovation and public service reform. It is a high-profile ministerial priority that brings together policy, technology, data and delivery to improve outcomes for businesses across the UK.

We are looking for two talented Senior Policy Advisors to join our Strategy and Policy team. This is a rare opportunity to play a key role in shaping the policy foundations of a major cross-government transformation programme. Working at the intersection of economic growth, digital reform and public service transformation, you will help develop innovative policy solutions, influence strategic decisions and support delivery of a high-profile ministerial priority that will influence how government serves businesses for years to come.

You will work with colleagues from across Whitehall, alongside legal, analytical, delivery and digital teams, helping to develop policy solutions that balance ambition, practicality and public value.

Whether your background is in digital, economic, regulatory, public service or wider policy development, this role offers the chance to contribute to a programme with genuine national impact while developing expertise in one of the most exciting areas of modern government.

Role 1: Digital Business Identity Senior Policy Advisor

The Digital Business Identity Senior Policy Advisor will assist in the development, coordination, and implementation of policy initiatives that support the delivery of the Programme, in particular digital identity and business verification services.

The role’s responsibilities will include:

• Shape and support implementation of a policy framework for Digital Business Identity (DBID) ensuring alignment with wider government priorities, standards and legislative requirements.
• Support the development of legal, regulatory and governance frameworks required to enable delivery, working closely with legal, technical and delivery experts across government.
• Produce high-quality policy advice, briefing and submissions for senior officials and ministers relating to core aspects of the programme’s delivery, such as impacts on business support, growth and productivity, counter fraud, and data use.
• Conduct research and analysis to identify emerging opportunities, risks and trends and inform policy options and recommendations.
• Monitoring legislative, regulatory, and strategic developments, assessing their implications for the programme and advising on potential policy responses.
• Build and maintain strong relationships across Whitehall and beyond, working with government departments, regulators, delivery partners and business stakeholders to develop policy, build consensus and drive delivery.

Role 2: Digital Platform Senior Policy Advisor

The Digital Platform Senior Policy Advisor will lead the development and coordination of policy to support the delivery of the digital platform solution. Working collaboratively across the programme and wider government, the postholder will use evidence and insights from government, industry and users to shape policy requirements, ensure alignment with strategic objectives, and support the successful implementation of the platform. The role will play a key part in translating complex policy issues into clear, actionable requirements that enable effective programme delivery.

The role’s responsibilities will include:

• Supporting development of policy positions and evidence on key aspects of the Programme, such as counter fraud, reduction in business admin burdens, increasing uptake in business support, data sharing, and driving growth and productivity.
• Supporting the drafting and development of policy documents, briefings, and ministerial submissions related to core aspects of delivery.
• Conducting research and analysis to inform policy options and recommendations, including synthesising analytical, legal and delivery insights into clear, actionable advice.
• Monitoring legislative, regulatory, and strategic developments relevant to the Programme and summarising implications for decision makers.
• Coordinating cross government policy alignment and stakeholder engagement, including organising working level forums, capturing actions, and tracking follow-up with departments and external partners.
• Supporting the programme’s strategic co-ordination and business case activity, including contributing to the Strategic Case and helping colleagues set a clear strategic narrative for ministers and senior officials.
• Ad hoc support across the Programme’s Strategy & Policy team as required.

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)

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

Interviews for this vacancy will be conducted virtually. We will, however, consider in-person interviews by exception.

Please ensure that you check your emails regularly as all updates from us will be sent to you this way.

To apply for this post, you will be asked to complete the following as part of the online application:

• A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Provide employment history that relates to the essential criteria, and that any gaps in employment history within the last 2 years are explained. The CV should not exceed more than 2 x A4 pages.
• A Personal Statement of up to 750 words, explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role in reference to the essential criteria.

Your application will be sifted against the Experience criteria of the Civil Service Success Profiles.

We aim to sift both the CV and the Personal Statement but, in the event of a large number of applicants, an initial short sift may be conducted on the CV only. Candidates who pass the initial sift of the CV will either progressed to a full sift where the Personal Statement is then assessed, or progressed straight to further assessment/interview.

Candidates who pass the sift will be invited to interview, where we will assess you on the Success Profiles elements of Behaviours.

It is likely that the sift will take place 1-2 weeks after the closing date and interviews 3-5 weeks after the closing date, though this is subject to change.

Please note, following a recent change to the Machinery of Government, the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) will be renamed to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade (BIST) as of 20th July 2026. BIST will connect the UK’s world-class science and technology base directly to the businesses, places and workers that will drive good growth across the country. Such changes will not affect the selection process for this campaign; however, we wanted to take this opportunity to advise you of the recent changes to our department.

You can find further information here regarding recent governmental changes Machinery of Government changes: Fact Sheet - GOV.UK.

Reasonable Adjustments

We are committed to supporting candidates so they can perform at their best throughout the recruitment process. This includes making reasonable adjustments to our process. In order to request an adjustment:

Complete the ‘Assistance required’ section on the ‘Additional requirements’ page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process.

Alternatively contact the Government Recruitment Service at DBTrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

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

Please see attached Candidate Pack for further information on: Diversity and Inclusion; Benefits; Learning and Development; Working Patterns and what we deliver as a department.

Further Information:

• A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made. Reserve Lists will be for each location and appointments made in merit order based on location preferences.
• Any move to the Department for Business and Trade from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments.
• The Department will not consider sponsoring a visa or issuing a Certificate of Sponsorship. We are unable to offer advice on any Visa and Immigration cases.
• New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.
• 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. Any applicant who has 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.
• Terms and Conditions are attached. Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you.
• Please note – the successful candidate will be expected to remain in post for a minimum of 18 months before being released for another role.
• Candidates that do not quite meet the standard for this role may be offered a position at a lower grade.

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 Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk 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 Info@disclosurescotland.co.uk

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 accessni@ani.x.gsi.gov.uk

Feedback

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