Working for DSIT

Our Work

The Department of Science, Innovation & Technology is positioning the UK at the forefront of global scientific and technological advancement. We drive innovations that change lives and sustain economic growth, deliver talent programmes, physical and digital infrastructure, and regulation to support our economy, security and public services and R&D funding.

We are friendly, open and supportive as a place to work. We encourage each other to be bold and innovative and are passionate about what we do. We want to nurture a diverse and inclusive environment where we value our people and the people we serve, whoever they are, wherever they are, and whatever they do.

We recognise the importance of a good work-life balance and offer a family friendly flexible working options as default such full time, part time or job-share. We currently have a hybrid-working model with the option of blending your work time between the workplace and home on an informal basis. For most people, this will be 40% to 60% of time working from an office subject to business need.

Scientist looking into a microscope in a laboratory environment

“I have always been interested in the potential of research and innovation to transform society. Which is why working at DSIT is so exciting – we drive the UK’s research system so it responds to the challenges of today while developing the technology and innovations that shape the future.”

Alex Ademokun

Deputy Director for Science, Research and Innovation

Working at The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology

The department welcomes people from all backgrounds. We offer a range of exciting opportunities covering an abundance of professions, such as engineering, tech specialist, policy, and much more.

Within the department, colleagues come from a range of different educational backgrounds, from apprentices to various levels of degrees. We also recruit people at all stages of their careers through multiple routes such as secondments, fixed-term appointments, and permanent contracts.

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“Working at DSIT allows me to work on the cutting edge of technology, thinking about the most exciting new innovations and their implications for the future. It’s incredibly rewarding to work within a department full of people who are genuinely passionate about the things they work on.”

Dr. Isabel Webb

Head of Technology Strategy

Our Mission

Stronger growth, better jobs, bold discoveries

Our aim is to cement the UK’s place as a science and technology superpower. We will:

Back UK science, technology and innovation and boost investment in the UK’s most exciting technologies and sectors of the future, to grow the economy and create high-paid jobs.
Tackle global challenges through international influence and partnerships to secure our future resilience and security.
Improve lives by championing responsible innovation in the digital economy and public services.

Working in DSIT should feel different from anywhere else in government. We’ve defined three values that embody what makes us unique and guide how we will work together.

These values reflect the best of what already happens here, and now, we’re making them our norm. They’re not just a reflection of who we are, but a commitment to who we want to be and how we will work going forward.

Expert Together

We are: ‘Expert together’

We support each other, we use expertise from within and outside the Department, we respond to expertise more than to seniority, we learn.

Inventive

We are: ‘Inventive’

We experiment, we take thoughtful risks, we learn from what works and what doesn’t, we talk to each other about what we’re learning, we use the cutting edge to improve how government can serve Citizens. 

Impact Driven

We are: ‘Impact Driven’

We obsess about making a difference for citizens and the country, we have a bias to action, we focus on what matters most.

DSIT offer a range of benefits designed to support you at work and in life, helping you build your career, maintain a healthy work life balance, and feel supported to do your best work.

Pay and financial security

We provide a strong and reliable financial package, supporting both your day-to-day needs and long-term future.

competitive salary

Civil Service pension with a 28.97% employer contribution

in-year recognition awards

season ticket loans

salary advances

Time off and balance

We know that rest and flexibility are essential to doing your best work.

25 days’ annual leave, increasing by a day each year to 30 days

8 bank holidays

additional day’s leave for the King’s birthday

generous parental and special leave provisions. 9 months full pay for Maternity / Adoption Leave and transferable under Shared Parental Leave. 3 weeks paid paternity leave.

Flexible and hybrid working

We support flexible ways of working to help you balance your role with your life outside work.

flexible working options, including part-time, job share and compressed hours

hybrid working, with colleagues typically expected to spend 40-60% of their working time in the office, depending on business need

Learning and development

We help you build skills, grow your career and connect across DSIT and the wider Civil Service.

up to 10 learning days each year

access to Civil Service learning to develop core skills, leadership, management and specialist development

access to Civil Service professions, offering role-specific learning, career pathways and communities of practice

professional networks and cross-government connections to share expertise and broaden your experience

Health and wellbeing

We are committed to creating a supportive environment where you can thrive.

employee assistance programme

access to wellbeing support

occupational health support

access to health initiatives (e.g. eye tests and seasonal vaccinations)

Additional benefits

We offer a range of practical benefits to support your everyday working life.

cycle to work scheme

access to an employee discounts scheme

volunteering opportunities and volunteering leave

death in service benefit provided through the Civil Service pension scheme.

Whether you’re an engineer, a tech specialist or from any of the many other professions we host at DSIT, we want you to build your skills and career with us. We provide profession-specific training and everyone at DSIT can access a wide range of learning programmes for their personal and professional development. You can also take advantage of our mentoring scheme, so that you can be provided with valuable insight and feedback from more experienced colleagues.