SEO – Smart Data Policy Advisors

Government Recruitment Service; City of Edinburgh; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 53,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Disability Confident employer

Job summary

Government Recruitment Service in Edinburgh seeks SEO Policy Advisors to support delivery of the government’s Smart Data Strategy and contribute to a major programme of work across sectors. These roles will help turn strategy into practical delivery, including policy development, stakeholder engagement, and governance within a fast-moving government programme.

Successful candidates will work on sector-specific or cross-cutting policy work, liaising with other government departments, regulators,

Responsibilities

• Supporting Smart Data policy for priority sectors with regulators and stakeholders to identify use cases.
• Designing regulatory regimes for sector-specific Smart Data schemes with evidence, consultations and policy briefing.
• Supporting policy development relating to the legislative framework for smart data.
• Developing cross-sector policy thinking for longer-term objectives.
• Gathering and analysing evidence from industry, regulators, consumer groups to inform policy options.
• Coordinating inputs so scheme design is robust and aligned with Smart Data objectives.

Job description

SEO – Smart Data Policy Advisors

We have exciting opportunities available for SEO Policy Advisors in the Smart Data team. These roles will support delivery of the government’s Smart Data Strategy and contribute to a major programme of work to create an interoperable Smart Data economy across multiple sectors. Smart Data enables consumers and businesses to securely share their data with authorised third parties, with their consent, so that innovative services can help them save time, reduce costs, improve productivity and make better-informed decisions. Open Banking is the UK’s most mature example of Smart Data and demonstrates the potential for secure, standardised data sharing to support competition, innovation and investment. The government has committed £36 million over four years to deliver Smart Data, with an ambition to support 5+ schemes by 2030 and 20+ schemes by 2035. DBT works in partnership with other government departments, regulators, industry and consumer groups to develop sector-specific Smart Data schemes and ensure they are designed in a coherent, trusted and interoperable way.

Successful candidates may work in one of a range of SEO policy roles. Some roles will focus on sector-specific delivery, working with other government departments and regulators to design and develop Smart Data schemes in priority sectors such as banking, finance, energy, property, digital markets, transport, retail, trade, telecoms or agrifood. Other roles will focus on cross-cutting policy work, including the development of overarching governance arrangements, cross‑economy standards and technical architecture, and legislative frameworks needed to underpin a joined‑up Smart Data economy. Across all roles, post‑holders will help turn strategy into practical delivery, supporting policy development, stakeholder engagement, evidence gathering, options analysis, governance, risk management and delivery planning. This is a high‑priority and fast‑moving area of work, with strong ministerial and cross‑government interest, and offers the opportunity to shape a major programme of economic reform.

Successful candidates will support high‑priority Smart Data policy work across either sector delivery or cross‑cutting programme activity. The exact role will depend on team need and candidate fit, but all roles will contribute to the development and delivery of Smart Data schemes and the wider foundations needed for a trusted, interoperable Smart Data economy.

Depending on the post, responsibilities may include:

• Supporting the development of Smart Data policy for one or more priority sectors, working with other government departments, regulators and wider stakeholders to identify use cases, develop delivery plans and progress scheme design.
• Helping to design regulatory regimes for sector‑specific Smart Data schemes, including supporting calls for evidence, consultations, impact assessments, policy instructions, briefing and advice.
• Supporting policy development relating to the overall legislative framework for smart data including further primary legislation.
• Developing cross‑sectoral policy thinking for our longer‑term objectives.
• Gathering and analysing evidence from industry, regulators, consumer groups and technical experts to inform policy options, identify risks and develop clear recommendations.
• Coordinating legal, analytical, technical and policy inputs so that scheme design choices are robust, deliverable and aligned with wider Smart Data objectives.
• Supporting cross‑cutting work on Smart Data governance, standards, interoperability, technical architecture, assurance, accreditation, trust, consent, redress and customer protection.
• Working with colleagues across DBT and other departments to ensure sector‑specific delivery aligns with the wider Smart Data Strategy, programme governance and cross‑economy objectives.
• Preparing high‑quality written products, including submissions, briefings, policy papers, stakeholder notes, consultation materials and ministerial advice.
• Supporting stakeholder engagement across government, regulators, industry, consumer organisations and technical experts.
• Tracking milestones, dependencies, risks and issues, and supporting effective reporting and governance across the Smart Data programme.
• Helping the team identify opportunities for cross‑sector use cases, shared infrastructure, common standards and reusable approaches that reduce duplication and support interoperability.
• Contributing to a collaborative, supportive and inclusive team culture, working flexibly across priorities as the Smart Data programme develops.

Company: Government Recruitment Service, Salary: £44,913 to £53,230 a year, Hours: Full‑time, Location: Edinburgh, Job type: Temporary, Posting date: 23 Oct 2026, Closing date: 15 Nov 2026

Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme

About Disability Confident

Disability Confident is a government scheme. It encourages employers to recruit and retain disabled people and those with long term health conditions.