Apply Now
Details
Reference number
Salary
Civil Service Pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
Job grade
Contract type
Type of role
Investigation
Policy
Working pattern
Number of jobs available
Contents
Location
About the job
Job summary
Do you have a passion for environment, social and corporate governance (ESG) policy on issues like human rights, modern slavery, employment rights, the environment, sustainability and climate change?
Do you want to make a meaningful difference working with multinational companies and civil society on how they can address climate change, and ensure high standards on ESG are maintained?
Do you enjoy working with international partners to deliver HMGs priorities on globally significant issues?
Then wed love to hear from you!
The Responsible Business Conduct office has a unique role in DBT leading work on a range of high-profile ESG issues. We adjudicate on business compliance with the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) standards on Responsible Business Conduct, working closely with businesses, civil society, and other governments around the world to promote understanding of responsible business and support UK businesses in making improvements to their operations, products, and services to achieve outcomes across the Environment, Social and Corporate Governance (ESG) agenda. This includes tackling climate change, ending human rights abuses, and promoting labour rights.
As part of this, the team runs the UKs internationally renowned National Contact Point (NCP), which promotes the Guidelines to a wide range of business, trade union and civil society stakeholders and handles complaints where enterprises are not following the Guidelines. Leading this process is challenging but highly rewarding, often resulting in real, positive change from businesses. This office sits within DBT but is operationally independent from Ministers.
The complaints process seeks to bring the relevant parties together to resolve the issues with an independent mediator. The casework is complex, and the team regularly face novel challenges, which need to be addressed in line with the procedures while not being closed to innovative solutions. Casework can be high-profile and receive significant Parliamentary, media and stakeholder attention. Materials submitted in evidence, including photographs and video footage, can be disturbing.
More information is available online at: www.gov.uk/government/groups/uk-national-contact-point-for-the-organisation-for-economic-co-operation-and-development-guidelines
The role sits in a friendly, supportive team. Our Directorate has a fantastic corporate side, with a comprehensive L&D offer, and a strong commitment to wellbeing and Diversity & Inclusion, with regular training and events put on by the Directorate.
Job description
The Responsible Business Conduct Senior Policy Adviser will:
- Lead casework for the office, driving delivery of the complaints process and performance improvement, working with Legal colleagues and stakeholders to deliver robust judgements without fear or favour;
- Represent the UK at relevant OECD meetings in Paris and engage with international partners on UK positions on responsible business conduct;
- Work collaboratively with cross-Whitehall networks on ESG and responsible business conduct policy issues;
- Lead promotional work, including engaging with stakeholders to promote responsible business conduct;
- Drive the work of the NCPs external Steering Board, ensuring that the NCPs processes and work can be properly evaluated and scrutinised by external experts;
- Prepare briefings on responsible business conduct issues for Ministers and DBT Senior Management.
The role encompasses varied and challenging work that provides an excellent insight into and links with the Governments wider human rights and international corporate social responsibility agendas.
Occasional travel overseas will be required to attend OECD meetings in Paris and other stakeholder meetings on responsible business conduct.
Person specification
Essential Criteria
- Strong analytical skills able to identify a problem and consider various options, making a recommendation which takes into account the broader context of your work;
- Strong written and verbal communication skills to build effective relationships;
- Good organisational and planning skills with a track record of effectively balancing competing priorities;
- Ability to deliver objectives taking into account differing stakeholder needs, anticipating risks and issues in advance.
Desirable Criteria
- Experience of working on complex operational case work;
- Good stakeholder management skills, ideally with experience working with business, civil society and international stakeholders;
- A background working on one or more Environment, Social, and Corporate Governance (ESG) issues, such as human rights, employment rights, or sustainability;
- A legal background or experience working closely with lawyers would be advantageous.
Personal Attributes & Skills
We are looking for someone with passion and commitment to making a difference on issues like climate change, sustainability and human rights of the day. If you are collaborative and keen to work with a wide range of stakeholders, both within and outside government, and both domestically and internationally, wed love to hear from you.
Behaviours
We’ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
Benefits
£10,633 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 of up to 500 words, explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role in reference to the essential criteria.
After the closing date 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.
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
You may want to save a copy for your records.
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : Simon Squire
- Email : Simon.Squire@businessandtrade.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : dbtrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Further information
