Senior Strategy Advisor
Department for Business and Trade
Apply before 11:55 pm on Friday 27th September 2024
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About the job
Job summary
About the team:
The net zero transition, adaptation to climate change and work to protect and improve the environment are driving one of the most consequential economic transformations in history.
The Green Strategy Teams sits within the Global Futures Directorate at the heart of the Department. We provide a central strategy function as well as offering specialist advice and support to policy teams across the Department. Our aim is to protect and promote economic growth through the green transition and to work with business to advance the Government’s response to climate change and to support nature recovery.
We are a diverse, friendly, and enthusiastic team that is actively encouraging applications from as diverse a set of candidates as we can possibly get. If you are from a minority group, interested in the role but uncertain about your suitability, please drop us a line – we’d be very happy to have a chat.
A little about the role:
This is a high-profile and exciting role, leading and shaping work on the green-growth agenda. Green Growth is a top national priority and to reflect that DBT has bolstered its central strategy and coordination function.
The post holder will play a central role in leading this team, working in close partnership with another G7-led unit also working on Green Strategy. The split of responsibilities between the G7-led units can be discussed in view of the successful candidate’s preferences and strengths, but the broad split will be to have one unit (‘Strategy Development’) focused on shaping strategy and thinking ‘upstream’, shaping policy choices and drawing together the work of others to advance the agenda, while the other unit (‘Strategy Delivery and Coordination’) leads on delivering and coordinating the work, working cross DBT and cross Whitehall.
In both, you will play a proactive and visible leadership role, tracking green trends and policy developments and convening across the Department to develop and execute impactful strategy and ensure policy is responsive to the Department’s green priorities.
Alongside this core role, you will be a supportive team leader, managing a small budget as well as supporting the wider management of the Green Strategy Team and the Global Futures Directorate.
Job description
The post-holder will be expected to:
- Lead DBT’s work to deliver and coordinate green growth policy. This will include advising ministers on green growth strategy and priorities, and marshalling the work of the department to advance the UK Government's green priorities.
- Originating, designing and delivering high-impact advisory projects to support enhanced understanding, design and delivery of DBT’s green priorities; including short-term projects embedded with policy teams across the Department.
- Horizon scanning, keeping abreast of current research and green growth opinion, writing strategy and presentations to tell compelling stories that will galvanise action.
- Build effective relationships within DBT, cross Whitehall and with external stakeholders to coordinate and develop a strategic view of green growth policy and to shape policy advice.
- Work closely with analytical colleagues to bring their insights to bear on policy formulation.
- Manage and develop initially 1 SEO.
Person specification
Essential Criteria
- Success working collaboratively and building influential relationships across government or industry with a proven ability to affect change through others.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to speak confidently and compellingly to influence a wide range of different audiences, including senior stakeholders and at industry events.
- Ability to harness a wide range of information to form a clear position, including the ability to use this to inform, challenge, influence others.
- A capable leader who is able to set a clear direction for their team, prioritise effectively and empower them to deliver.
- Ability to work at pace and juggle multiple workstreams whilst continuing to push forward your priority objectives.
Desirable Criteria
- Knowledge of the UK Government’s climate and environment policy would be beneficial.
- Numerate, with experience utilising analysis and data to support strategy and policy design.
Personal Attributes and Skills
We are looking for someone who can:
- Build relationships with people who may not always share your goals and persuade them to work with you.
- Be confident when talking to colleagues, companies, and others, stand by their opinions and defend their positions whilst also taking on board new information.
- Develop strategies and approaches that balance competing priorities and take account of a complex and diverse contexts.
- Manage a team and other resources effectively.
- Ability to work autonomously and lead multiple specific pieces of work. This includes being highly organised, ensuring structure is brought to various programmes of work.
- Be flexible to respond to emerging priorities and work towards a common goal.
- Be curious – keen to upskill yourself on new policy areas, look for gaps in existing policy, and be eager to come up with innovative solutions to help solve them.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Making Effective Decisions
- Communicating and Influencing
- Delivering at Pace
Benefits
- 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.
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.
To apply for this post, you will be asked to complete the following as part of the online application:
- A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Provide employment history that relates to the essential criteria, and that any gaps in employment history within the last 2 years are explained. The CV should not exceed more than 2 x A4 pages.
- A Personal Statement of up to 500 words, explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role in reference to the essential criteria.
It is likely that the sift will take place 1-2 weeks after the closing date and interviews 3-5 weeks after the closing date, though this is subject to change.
In the event of a large number of applicants, an initial short sift will be conducted on the CV. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to assessment/interview.
As part of your interview, you will be asked to deliver a short oral presentation, details will be provided prior to your interview.
Reasonable Adjustments
We are committed to supporting candidates so they can perform at their best throughout the recruitment process. This includes making reasonable adjustments to our process. In order to request an adjustment:
Complete the ‘Assistance required’ section on the ‘Additional requirements’ page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process.
Alternatively contact the Government Recruitment Service at DBTrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.
Candidate Support
You may want to join a virtual Candidate Support Session. These sessions include helpful tips and advice on the recruitment process, from application to interview.
Please see attached Candidate Pack for further information on: Diversity and Inclusion; Benefits; Learning and Development; Working Patterns and what we deliver as a department.
Further Information:
- A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made. Reserve Lists will be for each location and appointments made in merit order based on location preferences.
- Any move to the Department for Business and Trade from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments.
- The Department will not consider sponsoring a visa or issuing a Certificate of Sponsorship. We are unable to offer advice on any Visa and Immigration cases.
- 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. Any applicant who has 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.
- Terms and Conditions are attached. Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you.
- Please note – the successful candidate will be expected to remain in post for a minimum of 18 months before being released for another role.
- This role may be considered as a secondment opportunity. Please reach out to the hiring manager listed at the bottom of this advert to discuss.
In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service / Disclosure Scotland / Access NI 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.
For further information on the Disclosure Scotland confidential checking service telephone: the Disclosure Scotland Helpline on 0870 609 6006 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email Info@disclosurescotland.co.uk
For further information on the Access NI confidential checking service telephone: the Access NI Helpline on 0300 200 7888 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email accessni@ani.x.gsi.gov.uk
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).
Diversity and Inclusion
Apply and further information
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : Sean Jordan-Kirwan
- Email : sean.jordankirwan@businessandtrade.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@businessandtrade.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
