Senior Policy Advisor, BIST Burden Reduction

Job summary The Department for Business, Innovation, Science & Trade’s Regulation Directorate (RD) is at the heart of the work in supporting the government’s growth mission and new Industrial Strategy. It aims to: Reform the stock of existing regulations to minimise bureaucracy and modernise regulation on the statute book Ensure the pipeline of regulation is necessary and proportionate, enabling analysis and scrutiny of new regulatory proposals from government departments, via the Better Regulation Framework.

Ensure independent regulators deliver the right outcomes, with BIST driving a coordinated approach across government. Improve economic regulation by ensuring it supports growth and investment, promotes competition, works for consumers, and enables innovation. Deliver the Regulation Action Plan by cutting regulatory administrative burdens by 25% which will save businesses time and money, reduce friction for innovators, and help create a regulatory environment that is targeted, proportionate, transparent, and agile enough to support growth and keep pace with change.

Regulation and the work of regulators is vital for promoting growth. When designed well and carefully implemented, regulation can be essential for protecting consumers, supporting vulnerable communities, and providing the stability businesses need to thrive. Job description The Administrative Burden Reduction programme focuses on driving government activity, which reduces unnecessary time, effort and costs associated with complying with government requirements.

This role focuses on identifying and driving delivery on practical reforms that reduce unnecessary burdens on business and make it easier for businesses to operate and grow. The role combines strategic thinking with delivering through others, offering the chance to influence policy development while driving tangible improvements for businesses. This role will support delivery of BIST’s administrative burden reduction programme.

You will lead working-level engagement across five key BIST policy areas: Product Safety, Company Law and Governance, Trade Group, ESTR Group and Business Group. You will work with policy teams and sponsored Arm’s Length Bodies to maintain oversight of delivery, identify opportunities to reduce burdens, support accurate reporting of savings, and escalate risks or blockers where needed. The role’s key responsibilities are: Lead day-to-day engagement with policy teams across the five BIST areas, building effective relationships and maintaining a clear understanding of progress, risks and dependencies.

Provide constructive support and challenge to teams, helping them identify regulatory burdens, develop credible savings estimates, and align activity with the wider programme. Support senior engagement at Director level by preparing clear briefings on progress, risks, issues and recommended next steps. Ensure relevant Arm’s Length Bodies sponsored by the five policy areas are kept informed and able to contribute to the programme where needed.

Maintain oversight of delivery across the five areas, identifying cross-cutting issues, dependencies or blockages and working with teams to resolve or escalate them. Input into programme reporting, including maintaining dashboard information on progress, risks, mitigations and delivery confidence. Support annual reporting to No10 through the Annual Simplification Plan, helping ensure returns from the five areas are complete, accurate and evidence-based.

Draft or contribute to submissions, ad hoc returns, board papers and briefings for the Regulation Action Plan Board and senior officials. Person specification Essential criteria The below criteria are essential and will be assessed at application stage. Policy delivery: Experience of working in a policy or programme environment, with the ability to understand complex issues, assess options and develop practical recommendations that support delivery and senior decision-making.

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