Head of Product and Policy *Deadline Extended*

About the Division

The Policy and Products Division (PPD) ensures that UKEF has the range of financial products and effective internal policies needed to support UKEF’s wide variety of transactions, from major overseas infrastructure projects to UK multinationals and SME exporters. To do this, PPD:

1. Structures UKEF’s range of financial products to meets the needs of exporters and banks.
2. Manages the implementation of relevant government policies across the department.
3. Ensures UKEF’s transactions follow internal policy and international agreements.
4. Conducts market research on potential demand for UKEF support.
5. Advises other government departments, UKEF teams, banks and exporters on the application of UKEF’s policies and practices to the transactions we support.

Recent divisional achievements include the implementation of both UKEF’s climate change policy and the Government’s policy on aligning support for clean energy transition, as well as the delivery of innovative working capital products to support UK exporters of all sizes.

PPD sits in the Strategy, Sustainability and Impact Group (SSIG). SSIG is responsible within UKEF for managing UKEF’s financial products, setting policy, contributing and responding to HMG strategy, overseeing corporate strategy and planning, managing UKEF’s approach to Climate Change matters and Sustainable Development Goals, reviewing environmental and social impacts of projects supported, and engaging internationally in UKEF’s capacity as an Export Credit Agency (ECA).

About The Role

The role is responsible for supervising work undertaken in the Policy and Products Division, supporting the Deputy Director leading the team.  Alongside two other Grade 6 roles, the main responsibilities of the successful candidate will be to ensure that UKEF is supported by: 

• a suite of products to meet the needs of exporters, complementing those available from the private market;
• underwriting policies, practices, processes and procedures in fulfilment of UKEF’s statutory and international regulatory requirements and the policies set for it by HMG, in delivering its products;
• advice to colleagues and stakeholders relating to the application of our policies and practices; and
• engagement across government on policies that are relevant to UKEF’s activities and application of those policies to UKEF’s activities.

Main Activities

Leadership and Management

1. Play a leadership role within the Policy and Product Division and across the wider Strategy Sustainability and Impact Group.
2. Work alongside colleagues, ensuring work is allocated effectively within the Division.
3. Direct line management of up to two Grade 7 managers, monitoring the achievement of performance management objectives and supporting team members’ career development.
4. Support the Deputy Director in planning activities over the longer term to achieve strategic goals.
5. Collaborate with and assist the Director of Strategy, Sustainability and Impact and other teams within the Directorate as required in relation to the workload of the Directorate.

Underwriting policy

1. Oversee the development, review, maintenance and promulgation of UKEF underwriting policies and practice across all products.
2. Manage high profile, novel or contentious issues, ensuring compliance with statutory obligations, international agreements and that appropriate approvals are obtained. This may require mobilising and leading teams from across the organisation and within government.
3. Manage the provision of advice on the application of all underwriting policies and ensure improvements are made where necessary, supported by associated training and communication.

Products

1. Ensure the completion and quality of a rolling programme of product reviews to ensure that UKEF’s range of financial products remains fit for purpose, meeting the requirements of stakeholders.
2. Ensure that UKEF financial product delivery mechanisms are appropriate, in line with wider Government policy, adequately protect the Department and taxpayer, and reflect Departmental policies.
3. Provide support and advice to team members on the development of new financial products, including feasibility, design, approval and launch.

Policy and Engagement

1. Ensure that UKEF operates policies that are consistent with HMG requirements, public law requirements, UKEF strategy and Accounting Officer responsibilities.
2. Manage the development and updating of policies to consider cross-Whitehall initiatives and ensure that other Government Departments are consulted where relevant.
3. Represent HMG and the Department in various forums, e.g. marketing UKEF’s services, negotiator, adviser. Contacts will be various but may include high level representatives from commercial organisations or foreign governments.
4. Assist in the development and implementation of policy areas of responsibility by working alongside other teams in UKEF.
5. Ensure that development of UKEF products and policy is evidence-based, drawing on market research and staff feedback, in particular from UKEF’s regionally based Export Finance Managers and internationally based Country Heads.
6. Ensure that the work of the team is effectively communicated within the Department and that training is delivered to internal staff on relevant issues. Represent the Department in external meetings to promote awareness and understanding of UKEF’s activities.

This list is not exhaustive; you may be required to carry out additional duties according to business need.

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

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Changing and Improving
• Making Effective Decisions
• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing

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

• • Technical – a short presentation (this will be on a topic determined by UKEF and will need to be prepared in advance).

• 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%

Job contact :

• Name : UKEF Resourcing Team
• Email : Recruitment2@ukexportfinance.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : Recruitment2@ukexportfinance.gov.uk