Chief of Staff to the Director of Analysis

The machinery of government changes earlier this year created the Department for Business and Trade (DBT), bringing together the Department for International Trade and the business focused part of the Department for Business, Energy and Industry Strategy. The creation of DBT has brought together two large analytical communities under one departmental brand, making it one of the largest bodies of analytical expertise in HM Government covering a broad economic policy agenda across aspects of business environment and support, international trade and investment. 

The Director of Analysis is responsible (directly or indirectly) for all analytical outputs and insight across the whole Department and the Office for the Director of Analysis (ODA) plays a key role in the smooth running of the Analytical Function across DBT.

The Chief of Staff is a new role that has been created in response to the MoG.  While it is not an analytical role per se, it has been created with the expectation that it will:

• Provide cross-cutting strategic oversight of analytical requirements across the department and, where appropriate, it’s arms-length bodies (ALBs).
• Provide strategic and operational oversight of the running of both the Central Analysis Directorate (which reports directly to the Director of Analysis) and the wider analytical community (where teams are bedded out into policy directorates across the Department;
• Work alongside the analytical Heads of Profession to support the design, development and effectiveness of the analytical professions within DBT; and
• Engage strategically with other equivalent offices across HM Government and with external experts to support the effectiveness of DBT through its analytical insight and position as a key department in the delivery of economic growth across the UK.

The Chief of Staff will be responsible for running a team of 12 individuals in support of both the day-to-day running of these two components and wider foresight with respect to:

1. Leading on workforce planning discussions with respect to short and long-term analytical needs in CAD and across the department (for example within annual business planning processes and fiscal events where appropriate;
2. Consideration of recruitment, retention and development of analysts within DBT; and
3. Having oversight of all levels of governance and levels of responsibility which require DoA sign off.  

 The successful candidate will be expected to:

1. Provide strategic oversight and leadership into the operational plans for the Central Analysis Directorate and for the wider Analytical Community.  In the short term this will focus on ‘landing’ the changes required by the recent MoG and delivering the transition to a new operating model for the analytical function across the Department.  In the medium-term this will cover workforce planning and, where appropriate, transformation with a view to having ongoing oversight of the efficiency and effectiveness of the Analysis Function within DBT.
2. Work closely with HoPs to ensure that the recruitment, retention and development of analysts across all professions is appropriate to Departmental need and professional development;
3. Maintain the network of relationships with equivalent offices across HM Government to share best practice and insight.  
4. Design and deliver an effective internal and external engagement strategy for analysis within the Department, working closely with both hub and embedded teams to set out clear and consistent objectives and responsibilities; and
5. Provide oversight of all cross-cutting corporate workstreams that reach across all analysts, particularly with respect to delivering an appropriate L&D offer, guidance on Performance & Talent, and take note of insights from workstreams on Equality, Diversity & Inclusion, and Mental Health and Wellbeing to improve the functioning of the analytical community across DBT.

The role is directly responsible for line managing two G7s who, while working closely together, will be broadly responsible for the running of the Central Analysis Directorate and the wider analytical community.   This team as whole comprises 12 roles, including posts specifically designed to engage on detailed finance issues as well as HR/people capability aspects.  While this isn’t an analytical post, it may also suit an analyst looking for broader experience of strategic and operational delivery.

Essential Criteria

• Have experience of operational delivery of a large and diverse workforce – including leading change/transformation in a large organisation.
• Have experience of working on the financial and/or the HR/people aspect of running business operations.
• Have a track record of programme / project delivery, including delivery at pace with changing priorities.

Personal Attributes & Skills

• The ideal candidate will be able to work collaboratively across a large and diverse group of stakeholders both within and outside the Department. They should have excellent interpersonal skills and be confident in engaging with senior leaders and key decision makers. 
• They should demonstrate inclusive leadership, role-modelling bringing their whole self to work, and valuing the complexity and diversity of the community they represent. 

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

• Changing and Improving
• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing
• 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 : Elizabeth Anastasi
• Email : Elizabeth.Anastasi@businessandtrade.gov.uk

Recruitment team

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