Tariff Policy Delivery Adviser

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) is the UK’s international trade department. Our Vision is to champion open and fair global trading that drives growth, creates better jobs and higher wages, and improves living standards in this country and around the world. The Department brings together policy and operational expertise to break down barriers to trade and investment in markets across the world. 

The Tariffs, Imports, Professions and Strategy team leads on several high-profile areas, including developing the UK’s domestic and multilateral tariff policy framework and implementation plans. The Tariff Policy Delivery team sits within TIPS and is vital to delivering the UK’s independent trade policy, working with policy and operational colleagues to ensure the UK’s trade policy is applied at the Border. The team also work closely with DBT’s Digital team to support the development of the Tariff Application Platform (TAP) which is the UK’s database for holding all tariff policy data. 

We are advertising for a permanent HEO role in the team to support the operational delivery of tariff and trade policies. This includes implementing tariff policy for all Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), trade remedies, disputes, tariffs and suspensions. The successful candidate will need to operationalise tariff and trade policies into the TAP system directly, taking responsibility for ensuring data is uploaded in a timely and accurate manner. 

The successful candidate will need to be able to work with teams across Government to agree the optimal way of delivering policy, including working closely with HMRC operational and technical experts. The role will build a strong grip on tariff issues and the ability to support policy owners with operationalising tariff policies at the Border.  

You will need to be able to develop a strong working relationship with policy teams within DBT and across other Government departments, as well as with the DBT digital team (DDaT). You will work with DDaT colleagues to build and develop the TAP system to best meet policy colleagues’ outcomes. You should be able to articulate the department’s position robustly and ensure DBT’s interests are credibly represented in cross Whitehall meetings. A key part of the role will be to support the development in training, guidance and upskilling materials for the TAP system. 

Comprehensive training would be given on how trade policy operates and how to use the digital systems for those with no previous experience of trade policy, though a background in an operational role would be advantageous. 

Key Accountabilities

• Develop expertise in how to operationalise tariff and trade policy, and develop a deep understanding of goods classification, commodity code structures, and a range of trade measures.
• Work closely with colleagues in policy, operational, and digital teams from Other Government Departments across Whitehall and use your operational knowledge of tariff/trade delivery to guide delivery and determine the best method of implementation in customs and tariff systems. 
• Update the Tariff Application Platform (TAP) system directly with tariff and trade policy data in order to ensure operational delivery at the UK Border. 
• Work closely with Digital colleagues to support development of training/upskilling materials related to the TAP system. This will include drafting guidance, running training sessions and supporting the onboarding of colleagues across Government onto the TAP system itself. 

Essential Criteria 

• Comfortable with delivering at pace and working in an environment which often has challenging deadlines 
• Ability to manage multiple work streams and switch between them as priorities change and evolve 
• Experience working with data including using large datasets in Excel 
• Ability to work as part of a team and on your own initiative 

DBT has a comprehensive trade policy training and development programme which is available to all new and existing staff members. 

Desirable Criteria  

• Evidence of building effective working relationships with internal stakeholders across Government 
• Experience working with tariff and/or trade data 
• Attention to detail to produce high-quality and accurate work 
• An interest in international trade and the internal workings of government. 

Personal Attributes & Skills

The Tariff Policy Delivery Advisor role is an operational delivery role that requires strong technical ability as well as working closely with policy, digital and other operational colleagues across Government. This makes it an exciting area to work in and a great place to develop knowledge of both operations and policy. The successful candidate will be reliable, approachable, and detail orientated in order to deliver on the UK’s trade policy ambitions. 

The team often work at pace to challenging timelines, reflecting the ever-changing nature of policy development. The successful candidate should be adaptable, flexible and able to operate in uncertainty with resilience. 

We are inclusive

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 recognise how important inclusivity is to achieve the best outcomes. We hope to attract applications from all underrepresented groups. 

We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation if required to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform crucial job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. 

We’ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace
• Working Together
• Managing a Quality Service

• 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.

Job contact :

• Name : Matt Williams
• Email : Matt.Williams@businessandtrade.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : dbtrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk