Head of Strategic Technologies Team

at  Department for Business and Trade

JOB SUMMARY

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) supports business to invest, grow and export, creating jobs and opportunity across the country. Science and technology is now the greatest driver of UK growth, and at the centre of our wider global strategic interests. The Strategic Technologies Team supports the goal to maintain the UK’s edge as a Science and Technology Superpower. It sits as part of a wider Directorate covering Science and Technology which incorporates healthcare and life sciences.
This is a rare opportunity to co-lead a team doing vital and exciting work building the UK’s future economy. The team has recently been re-designed to deliver activity most likely to boost UK growth, using the levers at our disposal, including export, investment and policy work, in line with DBT’s strategic objectives. There are two posts available and you need only submit one application for both roles, but you can indicate a preference if you wish.
Our sectoral approach aligns to the Science and Technology Framework priorities with a focus on four critical technologies that are crucial to our future prosperity: Future Telecoms, AI, Semiconductors and Quantum. We focus on IP rich, R&D intensive businesses. This includes supporting venture capital backed businesses, and ranges from early start ups to established giants. The team is responsible for managing the Department’s relationship with key technology companies. For international activity, there is a heavy focus on the 12 markets that have been designated as a Strategic International Partner (SIP) in Science and Technology – all are in North America, Europe and Indo Pacific.
The team of 15 in total is structured to correspond with the technologies and their most important markets. One co-leader is responsible for AI and Future Telecoms and focuses mainly on North America and Europe. The other co-leader is responsible for Quantum and Semiconductors and focuses mainly on Indo Pacific.

JOB DESCRIPTION

You will report to the Deputy Director – Technology and be part of a newly restructured team working on one of the most dynamic portfolios in Government. You will work closely with the DD for Tech Policy and other G6s, building an ambitious and single business plan to deliver on this growth agenda. This will require strong project management skills and excellent leadership to inspire and motivate the team.
The role mixes leadership, policy, delivery and external engagement. Above all, your goal is to ensure that your team spends it’s time on activity that will help jump start UK economic growth. The successful candidate will join the management team of the Science and Technology Directorate. The role involves the day-to-day management of a team of civil servants with a diverse range of backgrounds. A key part of the role will be working across DBT, Government and with key external stakeholders to deliver – whether that be individual companies, investors (e.g. venture capital) or stakeholders (e.g. trade associations).

PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES & SKILLS

If you are interested in the technology sector – both in the UK and across the world – this role is for you. You will have exposure to interesting and fast-moving tech companies while playing a role in delivering on a key agenda.
You should be an excellent team player, highly collaborative and comfortable operating across blurred boundaries and at ease working on the big picture – helping shape strategies and approaches to growth in the sector. Equally you will be interested and able to deliver at a tactical level rolling your sleeves up to deliver on projects, events and ad hoc requirements.

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)

Information Technology
International Trade
Policy
Science