DSIT opportunities

Please note the current round of fellowship secondment opportunities closed on 25 July. We will update this page with new DSIT opportunities for our members when released.

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DSIT tech secondees

techUK is proud to be working with DSIT again to deliver the second phase of their industry secondee work.

Following the success of the Expert Exchange Programme Pilot Cohort, DSIT is launching the DSIT Science & Technology Fellowship. The DSIT Science & Technology Fellowship is an opportunity for experts from across the science and technology ecosystem to join DSIT for a 12-month part-time secondment beginning in Autumn 2024.

DSIT is seeking mid- to late-career professionals who are experts in their field and interested in contributing to policy and public sector work, to contribute to the development and delivery of DSIT’s work in key areas of interest across science, innovation, and technology.

Fellows will be embedded into policy teams across DSIT, working alongside civil servants to input expert advice and insight drawing from their expertise to support delivery of the Framework. They will be provided with a curated offer of support and opportunities over the course of their secondment, including but not limited to training on how the Civil Service works, opportunities to hear from impactful Senior Civil Servants, and opportunities to share their insights across the department.

Benefits of the DSIT Science & Technology Fellowship

For the participant:

Develop a practical, in-depth understanding of how government and the Civil Service works, and how policy is developed and implemented.
Use your specialist knowledge and skills to inform and impact policy and wider work in DSIT.
Curated programme of training and opportunities, including the opportunity to hear from Senior Civil Servants.
Access to Civil Service training and departmental opportunities, including the opportunity to engage with civil servants beyond the team you are placed in.
Develop your networks in DSIT, the wider Civil Service and beyond.
Participation in a cohort with other secondees from across a diverse range of sectors and backgrounds.

For the organisation:

New networks developed by their employee within DSIT, the wider Civil Service and beyond, including with other Fellows.
An employee better able to engage with the Civil Service and understand how policy is developed and what its impacts are.
Reimbursement of employee’s salary for the time they are with DSIT up to the level of Civil Service equivalent pay bands.

How can I apply?

Opportunities to develop a role through the DSIT Science & Technology Fellowship can be found in the following pages of this brochure. If any of the opportunities listed spark your interest, please contact the partner who connected you to this brochure and ask them to introduce you to the Expert Exchange Programme team. If appropriate, the Expert Exchange Programme team will facilitate a matching conversation with the relevant DSIT team to test the potential for a match and to develop the potential placement. These are not role descriptions, and Fellows are expected to be actively involved in co-designing a mutually beneficial placement with their host teams.

How will Fellows be selected?

Fellows will be selected for their experience as well as their alignment with the placement opportunity and potential impact on the work of the DSIT team. The fellows will be selected following matching conversations based on the outcomes of these conversations, and with consideration of the balance and diversity of the cohort.

When will the Fellows be confirmed?

Potential Fellows should be put forward to DSIT by 25 July 2024. Matching conversations will take place throughout early summer and a final decision will be taken in the late summer to allow onboarding and background checks to be completed before the Fellowship placements start in Autumn 2024.

How fixed is the timeframe?

Start/end dates can be flexed by mutual agreement of the Fellow and their host.

About DSIT & the Expert Exchange Programme

DSIT was founded on 7 February 2023 to build on the UK’s strong foundations of world-class research, a thriving technology scene and global networks of collaboration to create a golden thread from outstanding basic science to innovations. DSIT works on Research and Development, talent programmes, physical and digital infrastructure and regulation across the science and technology sectors.

The Expert Exchange Programme supports DSIT to deliver on its ambitious agenda by strengthening DSIT’s policy development, delivery, knowledge and skills as well as its partnerships with stakeholders. The Expert Exchange Programme aims to make it easier, encouraged and more effective to bring outside expertise into DSIT and to support civil servants in seeking diverse experiences externally. The Expert Exchange Programme team administers the DSIT Science & Technology Fellowship.

For more information, please contact

Alice Jackson

Director, Brand and Marketing, techUK

Alice leads all of techUK’s activities across brand, marketing and communications as well as our member engagement and business development teams.

She works closely with the market and policy teams to define how best to engage with members and stakeholders.

Previously, Alice led techUK’s communications strategy building brand awareness through an ambitious media relations and wider communications programme. She has international experience building corporate, consumer and business campaigns for both mainstream and niche technology brands.

Email:: [email protected]
Phone:: 020 7331 2163

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Rohit Sharma

Manager, Digital Marketing and Content, techUK

Rohit works for the marketing department and is responsible for techUK's content programme.