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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
At the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) we support businesses to invest, grow and export, creating jobs and opportunities across the country. The International Strategy and Engagement Directorate (ISED) sits at the heart of the Department and shapes its international strategy, coordinates its delivery and engages across the department, including our overseas network in over 100 countries, to drive ministerial priorities.
The work will be high profile, and fast moving – you will be expected to oversee several work strands simultaneously and be credible in representing your team and the Department with senior contacts across Government and with our external stakeholders including businesses and the diplomatic community. It is a great opportunity to be at the centre of the Departments strategic and organisational developments, and to work across DBT and Government to deliver Ministerial ambition.
You will be expected to demonstrate skills in:
- Strategy and Policy, including engaging on cross government strategy development and strategic projects.
- Advocacy for your region, including becoming expert on the markets in your portfolio and responding to Ministerial requests.
- Delivery, including managing governance arrangements, visits and briefing.
You will be expected to work across all these areas to a consistently high standard. More detail is in the key accountabilities section below.
We are recruiting a number of roles and successful candidates will be posted to a role in one of our 9 geographic teams, covering a region of the world. We will, where possible, try to match candidates to regions of interest or experience where possible and in merit order.
We warmly welcome applicants from any and all backgrounds as we continue to strive to be a diverse, inclusive, international, economic Department. We would encourage anyone who is unsure if this role is right for them to speak to the hiring manager. All applications will be considered on individual merit.
Job description
As Regional Policy Advisor in ISED you will be expected to:
- Become expert in issues relating to your portfolio, including the wider foreign policy context, national security, prosperity and development and how these elements affect our trade and investment position.
- Develop high quality strategy and policy for your region, including supporting the development of the regional trade plan.
- Support your team to act as a geographic hub within DBT HQ, coordinating requests and engaging with stakeholders.
- Represent your region in cross-HMG initiatives (including the development of regional strategies), coordinating views of stakeholders and advocating for business and trade objectives.
- Deliver for your region supporting Ministerial requests, leading on visits, and running governance structures.
- Brief Ministers and senior officials, accurately and sometimes at short notice, on the issues in the region.
- Lead on discrete tasks within your team’s portfolio, which could include exploring new policy areas or establishing new areas of responsibility for your team. (according to need and your prior knowledge, skills and experience which you will bring to the team.)
Support in applying for our vacancies is available by joining a virtual Candidate Support Session. These sessions include helpful tips and advice on the recruitment process, from application to interview.
Hybrid Working
The role will be based in either Darlington or London. You will be asked to express a location preference during the application process.
Please be aware that this role can only be worked from within the UK and not overseas.
Informal hybrid working arrangements will be available as agreed with the vacancy manager and in line with the requirements of the role.
Most DBT employees will be working a hybrid pattern, spending 2-3 days a week (pro rata) in an office, on average. If your office location is London, you will be eligible to receive London weighting.
Appointments will be made to candidates in merit order based on location preferences.
Person specification
Essential Criteria
Excellent briefing and communication skills, both written and oral.
- Excellent briefing and communication skills, both written and oral.
- Excellent organisational skills and the ability to prioritise a high workload.
- Strong relationship building skills and evidence of working with stakeholders to deliver outcomes.
- Able to work flexibly with others, adapting to the changing demands of a team.
Desirable Criteria
- Experience or knowledge of Governments international strategy
- Experience of working internationally or in an international facing role
- Knowledge of DBTs overseas network
- Some experience of policy and/or strategy development
Personal Attributes & Skills
- Successful candidates are likely to be strong team players who are comfortable working on a wide variety of subjects, tasks and activities.
- The successful candidates should be skilled networkers, who have a natural disposition to building contacts and relationships with key stakeholders.
- We are looking for candidates with curiosity, attention to detail and a collaborative mindset.
Behaviours
We’ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
Benefits
£8,489 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%
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.
Sift will take place week commencing 28/08/2023
Interviews will take place week commencing 04/09/2023
As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV and personal statement. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.
Please align your CV with previous skills and experience. Maximum of 2 A4 pages.
In your personal statement, please explain your motivation for applying for this role and the extent to which you satisfy the essential and desirable requirements of the role. Maximum word count of 500.
Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the CV. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.
If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.
In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service 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.
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 had their employment continued. Any applicants 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.
Please note the successful candidate will be expected to remain in post for a minimum of 18 months before being released for another role.
The Department for Business & Trade embraces and values diversity in all forms. We welcome and pride ourselves on the positive impact diversity has on the work we do, and we promote equality of opportunity throughout the organisation.
Please note harmonised terms and conditions are attached. Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you.
Further Information
A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.
Any move to the Department for Business & Trade from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk
Reasonable Adjustment
If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.
If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:
- Contact Government Recruitment Service via dbtrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
- Complete the Assistance required section in the Additional requirements page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if youre deaf, a Language Service Professional.
If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the ‘Contact point for applicants’ section.
Vetting Requirements – SC
All security clearances require you to provide evidence of your UK footprint where you have been physically present in the UK.
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.
If you require SC clearance you will need to provide evidence of the below requirements.
Checks will be made against:
- Departmental or company records (personnel files, staff reports, sick leave reports and security records).
- UK criminal records covering both spent and unspent criminal records.
- Your credit and financial history with a credit reference agency.
- Security Services records.
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 : Cade Hamilton
- Email : Cade.Hamilton@trade.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@trade.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.
