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Civil Service Pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
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Policy
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About the job
Job summary
This is an exciting time to join the Department for Business and Trade (DBT). The newly created department oversees the domestic business environment, breaks down international barriers to trade and investment, and helps boost economic growth by ensuring the UK is a country where businesses can thrive.
The Trade Policy, Implementation and Negotiations Group is responsible for negotiating and implementing the UKs trade agreements with partner countries from across the globe to support the growth of UK businesses internationally. The Group has over 700 people, expert in diverse technical areas of trade policy and negotiations, at the cutting edge of delivering the UKs trade negotiation objectives.
This role will focus on all elements of stakeholder engagement and external affairs for a small number of non-EU Free Trade Agreements in the European Region. DBT is currently negotiating an ambitious programme of FTAs, and it is expected that the role holder will contribute to stakeholder engagement activity for these FTAs on a flexible basis.
We are recruiting for an outstanding candidate who is comfortable engaging with businesses and representing the organisation with key stakeholders. The role holder will need to grapple with complex policy issues, advising on stakeholder handling implications and horizon scanning for issues. This is a high profile position within trade negotiations, ensuring that stakeholder priorities are reflected in UK negotiation positions and that negotiations are well received by public stakeholders.
The role is part of the Chief Negotiators team, and reports to the Head of External Affairs and Planning. The role carries significant leadership responsibilities, including line management of 2 FTE team members, plus wider matrix management duties. There may be opportunities for overseas travel to FTA negotiation partner countries.
Job description
The primary duties of this role will include:
- Leading engagement with business, NGOs and wider stakeholders in relation to relevant FTAs. This will involve promoting the opportunities presented by the FTAs under negotiation, building relationships and acting as a visible figurehead for trade negotiations.
- Work with DBT policy and negotiation teams to engage the business community on UK trade policy, collecting stakeholder feedback for UK negotiation positions, and case studies to deploy in negotiations.
- Leading communications activity in relation to the FTAs, working closely with other teams across the department including Press Office. This involves activity in the press, media and social media, normally timed to coincide with major points in negotiations such as launch and conclusion.
- Manage all parliamentary activity in relation to FTAs in a high quality and timely manner. This includes Parliamentary Questions, debates and legislation.
- Working closely with British Embassies in FTA partner countries. This involves supporting them to engage local business and stakeholder communities on the FTA, and to develop strategies to support negotiations and influence partner government.
- This is role carries significant leadership responsibilities. It will involve directly line managing 2 FTE team members, and matrix management duties across other teams. It will also involve a lot of senior exposure at official and Ministerial level.
Person specification
Essential Criteria
- Experience of working in a stakeholder focused role, such as a business engagement lead within a government department.
- Experience in policy development, formulation and communication.
Desirable Criteria
- Knowledge and experience of trade policy, or wider foreign policy.
Personal Attributes & Skills
- Somebody who is a clear communicator, able to act as a highly credible figurehead with businesses and other external stakeholders.
- Somebody who can think strategically, spotting risks and opportunities as policy is developed.
- Somebody that is comfortable working with senior people at official or Ministerial level, or leaders from businesses and NGOs.
Behaviours
We’ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
Benefits
£14,040 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%
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
Please refer to the attached candidate pack for further information on our benefits.
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 CV only. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to assessment/interview.
As part of your interview, you will be asked to deliver a short oral presentation, details will be provided prior to your 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.
- Please note the successful candidate will be expected to remain in post for a minimum of 18 months before being released for another role.
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
Vetting
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.
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 : Alex Mulchrone
- Email : Alex.Mulchrone@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
