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Salary
Civil Service Pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
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Type of role
Policy
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About the job
Job summary
The Department for Business and Trade champions open and fair global trading that supports UK economic growth. Our programme is continuing to expand in 2023, including negotiating and implementing trade agreements, the UKs representation at the World Trade Organisation and tackling overseas market barriers for UK businesses.
You will join the team responsible for our trade policy on government procurement. Our teams objective is to create a trading system that supports UK businesses to fairly compete for public contract opportunities in overseas markets.
As a policy adviser, you will support and provide advice on the negotiation and implementation of government procurement chapters and market access schedules in our trade agreements and within the wider global trading system.
You will also take on responsibility for wider team functions and communication with key stakeholders such as other government departments, the devolved administrations and businesses.
You will also be expected to take on wider corporate responsibilities for the team and directorate, including capability building and the development of our culture.
Some travel between DBTs Darlington and London offices will be necessary for this role.
Job description
- Be part of a team negotiating or implementing the government procurement chapter in our trade agreement framework. You will work together with policy, legal and analytical leads.
- Develop UK policy positions on government procurement in the context of the global trading system. This will involve pulling together and assessing the evidence base and factoring in wider international and public policy considerations.
- Lead wider team functions and communication with key stakeholders such as other government departments, the devolved administrations and businesses.
- Support the teams capability and development of our culture.
The role will be based in one of the following DBTs offices: Belfast, Birmingham, Cardiff, Darlington, Edinburgh, London or Salford. You will be asked to express a location preference during the application process.
Please be aware that this role can only be worked from within the UK and not overseas.
Informal hybrid working arrangements will be available as agreed with the vacancy manager and in line with the requirements of the role.
Most DBT employees will be working a hybrid pattern, spending 2-3 days a week (pro rata) in an office, on average. If your office location is London, you will be eligible to receive London weighting.
Appointments will be made to candidates in merit order based on location preferences.
Person specification
Essential Criteria
- Ability to identify different evidence sources and perspectives and use these to inform advice and recommendations
- Excellent organisation and planning skills
- Strong communication and collaboration skills
Personal Attributes & Skills
The ideal candidate will be confident in using a range of evidence sources and factoring in different perspectives, to inform policy advice and recommendations. You will be capable of developing deep expertise and credibility in a technical policy area. At the same time, you will need to factor in wider negotiation and bigger picture policy considerations.
The ideal candidate will have strong collaboration skills. You will need to work within a team to deliver. You will need to be able to form relationships and communicate effectively with your colleagues and a range of stakeholders.
Behaviours
We’ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
Benefits
£8,489 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.
Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
- Learning and development tailored to your role
- An environment with flexible working options
- A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
- A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
Things you need to know
Selection process details
Interviews for this vacancy will be conducted virtually. We will, however, consider in-person interviews by exception.
Please ensure that you check your emails regularly as all updates from us will be sent to you this way.
Sift will take place week commencing 19/09/2023
Interviews will take place week commencing 26/09/2023
As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV and personal statement. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.
Please align your CV with previous skills and experience. Maximum of 2 A4 pages.
In your personal statement, please explain your motivation for applying for this role and the extent to which you satisfy the essential and desirable requirements of the role. Maximum word count of 500.
Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the CV. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.
If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.
In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service/Disclosure Scotland or Access NI on your behalf.
However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.
For further information on the Disclosure Scotland confidential checking service telephone: the Disclosure Scotland Helpline on 0870 609 6006 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email Info@disclosurescotland.co.uk
For further information on the Access NI confidential checking service telephone: the Access NI Helpline on 0300 200 7888 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email accessni@ani.x.gsi.gov.uk
New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.
Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicants details held on the IFD will be refused employment.
A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.
Please note the successful candidate will be expected to remain in post for a minimum of 18 months before being released for another role.
The Department for Business & Trade embraces and values diversity in all forms. We welcome and pride ourselves on the positive impact diversity has on the work we do, and we promote equality of opportunity throughout the organisation.
Please note harmonised terms and conditions are attached. Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you.
Further Information
A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.
Any move to the Department for Business & Trade from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk
Reasonable Adjustment
If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.
If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:
- Contact Government Recruitment Service via dbtrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
- Complete the Assistance required section in the Additional requirements page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if youre deaf, a Language Service Professional.
If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the ‘Contact point for applicants’ section.
Vetting Requirements – SC
All security clearances require you to provide evidence of your UK footprint where you have been physically present in the UK.
The requirement for SC clearance is to have been present in the UK for at least 3 of the last 5 years.
Failure to meet the residency requirements will result in your security clearance application being rejected.
If you require SC clearance you will need to provide evidence of the below requirements.
Checks will be made against:
- Departmental or company records (personnel files, staff reports, sick leave reports and security records)
- UK criminal records covering both spent and unspent criminal records.
- Your credit and financial history with a credit reference agency
- Security Services records
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Nationality requirements
Working for the Civil Service
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission’s recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
Apply and further information
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Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : Ben Ritchie
- Email : ben.ritchie@businessandtrade.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : dbtrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Further information
If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with these principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should in the first instance contact DBT by email: Resourcing@trade.gov.uk.
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive, you can contact the Civil Service Commission, which regulates all Civil Service recruitment.
For further information on bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission please visit their web pages: Click here to visit Civil Service Commission/Complaints.
