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About the job
Job summary
Oliver Griffiths, TRA’s Chief Operating Officer, is offering the opportunity for an informal chat with him ahead of the application closing date if you would like to find out more about the role and/or TRA. Email chrissy.adams@traderemedies.gov.uk to arrange.
The TRA was one of the first public bodies to be set up to meet the new needs of the UK economy following the departure from the European Union. We play a central part in ensuring that the international trading environment in the UK is fair as well as free, by protecting businesses from unfair trading practices such as dumping, trade-distorting subsidies and from unforeseen surges in imports.
Our first staff joined five years ago and the organisation has since grown to 150 people, with our headquarters in Reading. We were formally established as a Non Departmental Public Body in June 2021 to provide independent, evidence-led recommendations to the Government. We have made good progress since then: we have made final recommendations on 22 of our initial programme of 43 Transition Reviews and in the latest People Survey 82% of staff said they would recommend the TRA as a great place to work. But we are still a young organisation and this role will give you the opportunity to shape the next phase of the TRAs development.
We are passionate about building a high-performing organisation on our values of integrity, expertise, transparency, and inclusion. It is vital to me that we have a friendly, supportive culture, which prioritises personal and professional development. Trade remedies is a new area of practice for the UK and so nobody joins the TRA as the finished article. We strive to be an outward-looking organisation, learning from international best practice and engaging proactively so that everyone that needs us knows about us.
If you believe that you have the experience and qualities to lead the delivery of our investigations and to put your own stamp on our developing organisation, we very much look forward to hearing from you.
Job description
The Director of Investigations Delivery is a member of TRAs Executive Committee and plays an integral leadership role across the organisation. You will be responsible for building the capability and capacity in the organisation to deliver high-quality, robust investigations and ensure the TRA delivers its Business and Corporate plans.
You will lead a team of approximately 60 investigators in conducting trade remedies investigations under a statutory framework to make recommendations to the Secretary of State on how the UK should use trade remedies to remove the injury suffered by UK producers because of dumped or subsidised goods, or surges of imports.
Key accountabilities include:
- Delivery of the investigations programme of Transition Reviews, new investigations and other reviews on time and to quality, consistent with statutory requirements and non-statutory guidance.
- Providing appropriate scrutiny and assurance of investigations, and the reports and recommendations that flow from them.
- Ensuring close collaboration with other teams within the TRA to deliver investigations and our other Strategic Goals.
- Briefing the Board on all matters relating to investigations.
- Developing the investigations function as part of taking over as SRO of the current Case Strategy project, which is looking at how the TRA can optimise delivery of our projected investigations programme over the next 5 years.
- Engaging senior stakeholders domestically and internationally in support of investigations and to build our reputation as a world-class trade remedies authority.
- Membership of the four-person Senior Leadership Panel, making recommendations to the CEO at key stages of investigations.
- Being a visible leader to people across the organisation, spearheading the TRA values and behaviours and contributing to the wider corporate leadership of the TRA.
Person specification
You are an inspiring leader who can motivate teams handling complex investigations and nurture the growth of specialist experts. You are robust and analytical in your oversight of cases as well as being a team player, who can work collaboratively with colleagues in the interests of the organisation.
To be successful in this role applicants should demonstrate the following:
Essential criteria:
- Experience of delivering complex programmes of work drawing on strong programme management skills and a track record of integrating advice from across a range of professional disciplines into clear, evidence-led conclusions.
- Experience of building high-performing operational teams that have worked under close public scrutiny, with a track record of developing team and individual capability.
- Excellent communication abilities, with the ability to establish collaborative relationships internally and with government stakeholders, and to be the public face of the TRA with senior domestic and international stakeholders.
- Experience of leading teams through strategic uncertainty and taking informed and timely decisions on the basis of imperfect information.
- Willingness and ability to prioritise the corporate leadership of the TRA, living up to our values of expertise, integrity, transparency and inclusion.
Desirable criteria:
- Expertise in international trade policy.
- Experience of leading complex investigations, inquiries or cases.
- Experience of analysing financial data.
Benefits
Things you need to know
Selection process details
Find out more
Oliver Griffiths, TRA Chief Operating Officer, is offering the opportunity for an informal chat with him ahead of the application closing date if you would like to find out more about the role and/or TRA. Email chrissy.adams@traderemedies.gov.uk if you’d like to arrange.
Apply
To apply, you will need to submit a CV and Statement of Suitability. Your CV (up to two-pages) should set out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years. Your Statement of Suitability (up to two-pages) should provide explanation as to how your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with particular reference to the essential and desirable criteria for the role and ‘about you’ section. Our guide for candidates provides more useful information (link).
Shortlist
Shortlisted candidates will be invited to next phase of assessment. This will include a Staff Engagement presentation and psychometric assessment followed by an interview and presentation. Full details of the assessment process will be made available to you if you are shortlisted.
Assessment and Interview
The assessment process will include a staff engagement exercise, involving a presentation and discussion with a group of colleagues from across the TRA via MS Teams, and assessments appropriate for the role. This part of the process will not result in a pass or fail decision but instead will be used to support the interview panels decision making and highlight areas to explore further at interview
The interview will take place in either Reading or London and will give you an opportunity to have a more in-depth discussion of your previous experience and professional competence in relation to the criteria set out in the experience and skills section. As part of the interview, the panel will also ask you to prepare and present a short presentation.
Offers
We will notify candidates of their outcome as soon as possible after the interview.
Expected timeline*
- Application closes 11.59pm Monday 18th September 2023
- Shortlist results w/c 25th September 2023
- Staff engagement exercise/ Psychometric assessment w/c 2nd October 2023
- Interviews mid-late October 2023
* Please note that we try and offer as much flexibility as we can but it may not always be possible to offer alternative interview dates.
A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.
Any move to Trade Remedies Authority 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 trarecruitment.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 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.
If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the ‘Contact point for applicants’ section.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
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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).
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Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : TRA Resourcing
- Email : resourcing.enquiries@traderemedies.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : TRArecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Further information
