Policy Adviser - Sovereign AI

Sovereign AI

Artificial intelligence is central to the UK's economic and national security. As countries around the world compete to develop and deploy this transformative technology, the UK must ensure it can build, attract and retain the companies that will shape the future of AI.The Sovereign AI Fund sits at the heart of this mission, with a clear mandate to identify, back and scale the companies that will define the UK's position in one of the most consequential technologies of our time. 

Backed by up to £500 million, the Fund exists to turn ambition into action, supporting high-potential AI startups and scaleups to become national champions and strengthening the UK's sovereign capability in frontier AI. 

The Role

The Policy Adviser sits within the Policy team, reporting to the Policy Lead (G7), and plays a central role in ensuring the Fund remains strategically coherent as government priorities, funding opportunities and the AI market evolve. This is a unique opportunity to shape the strategic backbone of one of the UK Government's most high-profile initiatives, working across strategy, delivery, finance and ministerial priorities to ensure the Fund is well-governed and built to last. 

You'll work closely with HM Treasury, BIST and wider departmental stakeholders, as well as the Fund's Board, ensuring the Fund's strategy, funding model and performance framework keep pace with a fast-moving policy and market landscape. 

Key Responsibilities 

You will own: 

• Thesis and KPIs: You will own the Fund's thesis, objectives and KPIs, leading on work with analysts and delivery teams to develop and run the Fund's impact and evaluation framework, clearly evidencing its impact. 
• Business cases and spending reviews: You will support the development of business cases, Spending Reviews and funding proposals. You will support the Board with decisions on major programmes
• Remit and delivery model advice: You will coordinate cross-team advice on proposed changes to the Fund's remit, priorities or delivery model across delivery teams so decisions are well informed and consistent
• Institutional model: You will support policy work on the Fund's long-term institutional model and future delivery arrangements, helping shape how the Fund operates as it matures
• HMT and departmental relationships: You will build and manage relationships with HM Treasury, BIST and wider departmental stakeholders, ensuring the Fund’s strategic direction remains aligned with government priorities
• Ministerial and parliamentary business: You will lead ministerial and parliamentary business including PQs, FOIs, correspondence and briefings. Ensuring the Fund’s ministerial and parliamentary business is handled to a high standard.

This might not be the role for you if: 

• You prefer working on a single, well-defined policy area rather than across strategy, finance, delivery and ministerial business simultaneously. 
• You're less comfortable producing high-stakes advice for senior decision-makers under time pressure. 
• You'd rather execute an existing strategy than help shape and evolve one. 
• You find it challenging to manage relationships with stakeholders who have competing priorities (e.g. HM Treasury vs delivery teams). 
• You're looking for a role with limited exposure to ministerial or parliamentary business. 

What Success Looks Like 

• The Fund operates with a clear and coherent strategy, thesis and performance framework that stands up to scrutiny
• Senior leaders and the Board recieive high-quality, timely policy advice is that supports confident decision making.
• Strong, trusted working relationships are maintained with HM Treasury and key departmental stakeholders.
• Business cases, Spending Review products and ministerial commissions are delivered to a high standard, on time and fit for purpose.

Person Specification 

You’ll thrive if you bring: 

• Policy expertise: You have experience developing policy or strategy in government or a comparable organisation. 
• Drafting and communication: You produce high-quality policy advice for senior decision-makers, including designing new interventions or policy proposals from scratch.
• Analytical : You can evidence strong analytical and problem solving skills, including assessing progress towards long-term goals, and developing stop/start-change options as needed.
• Whitehall fluency: Experience of HM Treasury processes, business cases or public spending is desirable.
• Stakeholder management: Experience building and maintaining relationships with a wide group of stakeholders, resolving conflicts as needed. 
• Comfortable context switching: You’re comfortable working across strategy, delivery, finance and ministerial priorities, adapting your approach to the audience and ask.