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Civil Service Pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
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Investigation
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About the job
Job summary
The UK National Contact Point
The UK National Contact Point (NCP) is an exciting and unique team, sitting within the Department for Business and Trade (DBT). We are responsible for promoting the OECD (Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development) Guidelines for multinational enterprises on responsible business conduct and for operating the complaints mechanism set out in the Guidelines. The Guidelines set out standards for responsible business conduct which cover a wide range of topics, from human rights, employment and environment to bribery, competition and consumer interests.
The UK NCP is regarded internationally as an example of good practice and has handled some of the landmark complaints dealt with by the NCP network. Issues dealt with by the UK NCP are often high profile and can receive significant Parliamentary, media and stakeholder attention. You will gain valuable insight into international investment policy and its links with the Governments wider human rights and corporate social responsibility agendas.
You can read more about the UK NCP here.
The Role
As part of the UK NCP, your role will have a strong focus on handling complaints about enterprises that are not following the Guidelines, and upholding the UKs commitment to promote the Guidelines to a wide range of business, trade union and civil society stakeholders. The NCPs casework involves researching and making recommendations on complex complaints about alleged international harms by UK businesses. This is challenging but varied and rewarding work that often results in mediated outcomes (with an independent mediator) and positive change from businesses.
You will also support the UK NCPs policy work, including collaborating and driving policy coherence on responsible business conduct with other government departments, sharing best practice with NCPs from across the world. Internally you will be responsible for ensuring our governance arrangements are kept up to date including managing our relationship with our Secretariat and the UK NCP Steering Board.
You will also assist with stakeholder engagement and promotion of the Guidelines. You will work in partnership with DBT engagement teams as well as other responsible business initiatives in the UK and internationally.
You may be offered opportunities to travel overseas, e.g. to attend OECD meetings on responsible business conduct in Paris.
Training and learning & development opportunities are available to support the successful applicant.
Job description
You will:
- Lead on handling and managing complaints brought to the UK NCP in accordance with our published procedures, and follow up on implementation of recommendations. This includes drafting statements to explain the NCPs decisions in relation to complaints and arranging publication.
- Participate in cross-Whitehall communication and policy development on relevant issues and internal communications within DBT on the Guidelines.
- Undertake promotional work and stakeholder engagement to promote the Guidelines to businesses, trade unions and civil society organisations in the UK and internationally.
- Liaise with external experts, other NCPs, and the professional mediator as necessary.
- Provide updates to the NCP Steering Board on our complaints work.
- Prepare briefings on the Guidelines for Ministers and DBT senior management.
- Be part of the UK delegation to the OECD NCP network (at the OECD in Paris) and participate in capacity building with other NCPs.
Person specification
Essential Criteria:
- You have strong analytical skills you are able to identify a problem and consider various options, making a recommendation which takes into account the broader context of your work.
- You have strong written and verbal communication skills to build effective relationships.
- You have strong organisational and planning skills with a track record of effectively balancing competing priorities.
- You can deliver objectives taking into account differing stakeholder needs, anticipating risks and issues in advance.
Desirable Criteria:
- Casework, legal, dispute resolution, or arbitration experience, including managing complex and demanding caseloads.
- Policy experience, including in areas of human rights, employment rights, environmental rights or responsible business conduct.
- Experience engaging with senior stakeholders within government and/or with business, trade union, or civil society organisations.
Behaviours
We’ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
Benefits
£10,274 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%
Please refer to the attached candidate pack for further information on our benefits.
We recognise the challenges that people with (multiple) protected characteristics may experience on the job market and in their career progression. We are fully committed to being an inclusive employer and ensuring equal opportunities. We are keen to make our workforce as diverse as possible, and we hope to attract applications from underrepresented groups, including ethnic minorities, people with a disability, and people with gender diverse identities.
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.
To apply for this post, you will be asked to complete the following as part of the online application:
- A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Provide employment history that relates to the essential criteria, and that any gaps in employment history within the last 2 years are explained. The CV should not exceed more than 2 x A4 pages.
- A Personal Statement explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role in reference to the essential criteria.
It is likely that the sift will take place 1-2 weeks after the closing date and interviews 3-5 weeks after the closing date though this is subject to change.
In the event of a large number of applicants, an initial short sift will be conducted on the Personal Statement only. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to assessment/interview.
Reasonable Adjustments
We are committed to supporting candidates so they can perform at their best throughout the recruitment process. This includes making reasonable adjustments to our process. In order to request an adjustment:
Complete the Assistance required section on the Additional requirements page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process.
Alternatively contact the Government Recruitment Service at DBTrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the ‘Contact point for applicants’ section.
Candidate Support
You may want to join a virtual Candidate Support Session. These sessions include helpful tips and advice on the recruitment process, from application to interview.
Please see attached Candidate Pack for further information on: Diversity and Inclusion; Benefits; Learning and Development; Working Patterns and what we deliver as a department.
Further Information:
- A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made. Reserve Lists will be for each location and appointments made in merit order based on location preferences.
- Any move to the Department for Business and Trade from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments.
- The Department will not consider sponsoring a visa or issuing a Certificate of Sponsorship. We are unable to offer advice on any Visa and Immigration cases.
- 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. Any applicant who has 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.
- Terms and Conditions are attached. Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you.
Security and vetting
In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service /Disclosure Scotland/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
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is SC. All security clearances require you to provide evidence of your UK footprint where you have been physically present in the UK.
See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
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.
Please note the successful candidate will be expected to remain in post for a minimum of 18 months before being released for another role.
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 : Shaniah Royer
- Email : Shaniah.Royer@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@businessandtrade.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
