The Home Office works to build a safe, fair, and prosperous UK. We achieve this through our work on counter-terrorism, policing, crime, drugs policy, immigration, and passports.

The Science, Technology, Research and Analysis (STAR) Group sits at the heart of the Home Office. The group ensures the best evidence and analysis are used to address the strategic issues facing the department. We also provide the science, technology, data, and international insights and collaboration capabilities to drive delivery.

Job description

We are recruiting a number of policy advisors, who will work in the core AI Harms Mitigation Team in the Data & Identity Directorate (D&I), or as an embed within a priority policy team across the department. There will be some flexibility to work with teams across different directorates and build on skills and expertise from previous roles.

This exciting programme provides a unique opportunity to shape the future of AI and seize opportunities to tackle harms to protect the public. To do this, you will work to ensure that the programme reflects the Home Office’s priorities and supports the wider AI harms mitigation programme by developing strong relationships with Subject Matter Experts (SME) and policy experts and delivering impactful policy. 

These roles offer a great opportunity for individuals wanting to work at the ‘frontier’ of AI, ensuring innovative usage can continue while addressing its impacts in order to mitigate against harms. Successful candidates will have space to develop policy skills, stakeholder management skills and work to progress policy to mitigate risks arising from AI. 

We are seeking candidates with experience in technology policy, with a curiosity about AI and other powerful data-driven technologies. They will be comfortable working in a new and emerging policy area where the technology and the requirements from ministers will change. 

Key Responsibilities:

• Developing policy on tech-enabled harms to support the wider mitigation programme and develop legislative options to support the passage of the AI Readiness Bill and other relevant legislation. 
• Delivery and management of a priority workstream as part of the AI harms mitigation programme.
• Developing strong working relationships with colleagues across the Home Office, as well as the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology, the AI Security Institute and law enforcement. 
• As AI is a new developing policy, the work remit may change over the period of the role.

Working Patterns

Due to the business requirements of this role, it is only available on a full-time basis. However, job-share and compressed hours are available.

This role is also suitable for part-time working hours, with a minimum requirement to work [3 days] per week due to business requirements.

Travel

Occasional travel within the UK may be required. Travel costs incurred for business needs will be reimbursed in line with the Home Office travel policy.

Person specification

Essential Criteria

• Experience developing and implementing policy in challenging and fast-moving circumstances.
• Understanding a complex and shifting portfolio with rapidly changing priorities.
• Presenting complicated advice to senior audiences.
• Experience working with colleagues across Whitehall. 
• A curiosity about or knowledge of artificial intelligence or data-driven technologies.

Desirable Criteria

• Experience working on technology policy, working with law enforcement, and working with legislation is desirable. 

Behaviours

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

• Making Effective Decisions
• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing
• Seeing the Big Picture

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

• Making Effective Decisions

Benefits

In addition to your salary, a career with the Home Office offers a range of benefits, including:

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
• Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and home-based working. This is a non-contractual arrangement where all employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office.
• See more of our benefits on our careers website.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

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

This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job, drives up performance and improves diversity and inclusivity.

We will endeavour to conduct the selection process in line with the dates indicated below, but cannot guarantee that these will not, where necessary, be revised.

 1. Application - by 11th June 2025.

  As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete:

• CV detailing your career history, skills/and experience. 
• Personal Statement (500 maximum words)
• Evidence of the Behaviour - 'Making Effective Decisions' (maximum of 250 words per Behaviour)

Your CV should consist of your career history, skills/experience, and any key achievements in each role. Your CV will be used to provide further context on your personal statement and scored against the essential criteria.

The Personal Statement should be aligned to and demonstrate how you meet the skills and experience set out in the essential criteria, detailed in the job description.

For guidance and information on how to construct your application (Personal Statement, Behaviour and CV), you are encouraged to visit the Civil Service Careers website.

2. Sift - commencing from 16th June 2025.

The sift will be held on Personal Statement, CV and Behaviour. 

Should a high volume of applications be received, an initial sift will be conducted on the Behaviour - 'Making Effective Decisions'. Candidates who pass the initial sift will then be progressed to a full sift that will consist of the Personal Statement and CV.

3. Interview – commencing from 7th July 2025

If you are successful at the sift stage, you will be invited to an interview that will be assessed using Behaviours and Strength-based questions (as listed on the advert). 

In addition, candidates will be asked to prepare a presentation that will be delivered at the interview. The question/scenario will be disclosed closer to the interviews.

The interview will take place on Microsoft Teams. Further details and instructions will be provided closer to the scheduled interview.

Reserve List

A reserve list may be held for a period of up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made. There is no guarantee that being held on a reserve list will lead to a job offer. Further information can be found on our website.

Reserve lists will be held for each location and profession. Candidates will be appointed in merit order by location and profession.

Location Preferences

You can select up to two locations in order of preference. Please ensure that these are locations you are prepared to travel to. If you are offered a role at one of your preferred locations and you decline, your application will be withdrawn.

Standards

All Civil Servants are expected to comply with the Civil Service Code, and its core values of integrity, honesty, objectivity and impartiality. 

Additional Security Checks 

As well as successfully obtaining UK Security Vetting clearance, candidates will be subject to a range of additional checks. The range of checks carried out will depend on whether you are a current Home Office employee, an existing civil servant or an external new entrant, as well as the role requirements. Further details are included in the Notes to Candidates. 

Further information

If you are invited to an interview, you will be required to bring documentation for the purposes of establishing your identity.

You will need to meet the nationality requirements for this role and obtain the necessary security clearance to take it up. 

For meaningful security checks to be carried out, individuals need to have lived in the UK for a sufficient period of time. Learn more on our website. Security Checks - Home Office Careers

Visa sponsorship

We do not sponsor individuals via Skilled Worker Sponsorship / Tier 2 (General) work visas.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to the Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf. However, we recognise that in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms directly. 

If you will be doing this, please advise the Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

NSV

For further information on National Security Vetting, please visit the Demystifying Vetting website.

Reasonable Adjustments

If a person with disabilities is 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 the Government Recruitment Service via HOrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk 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 an interview, or if you're deaf, a language service professional

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

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is a security check (opens in a new window). See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

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)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) 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 (opens in a new window).

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.

The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attracting, retaining and investing in talent wherever it is found. To learn more, please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.

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: HORC Campaign Team (Corporate Enablers)
• Email: horccampaignteamcorporateenablers@homeoffice.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email: HOrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Further information

If you feel that your application has not been treated in accordance with the recruitment principles, and wish to make a complaint, then you should contact us in the first instance HORecruitment.GRS@cabinetoffice.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response that you receive, then you can contact the Civil Service Commission

Attachments

candidate_information_v13_March_2025(pdf, 311kB)Pre-employment Checking - Document Requirements (V16) 2025-04-03(pdf, 493kB)