Industrial Strategy Unit – Senior Policy Adviser
Department for Business and Trade
Apply before 11:55 pm on Thursday 7th November 2024
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About the job
Job summary
The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) is the department for economic growth. We support businesses to invest, grow and export, creating jobs and opportunities across the country. We operate in an increasingly dynamic international environment, with a range of forces rapidly reshaping the global economy. For the UK to navigate this environment successfully, we need to understand how the world is changing.
Sustained economic growth is the key to improving the prosperity of the country and the living standards of working people. Accordingly, developing and implementing a new UK wide Industrial Strategy is one of the government’s key priorities when it comes to driving forward growth across the UK.
The Industrial Strategy Unit is at the heart of the government’s mission for growth. It is the team responsible for delivering the Industrial Strategy alongside His Majesty’s Treasury (HMT), working to coordinate workstreams and ensure plans on Industrial Strategy are successfully delivered.
Job description
This is a new post for a stretching policy leadership role in the development of the overall strategy. You should be comfortable taking the lead across complex policy areas, working confidently with a range of teams across government, advising ministers and be able to adapt at pace to shifting priorities.
This is a newly formed directorate, comprised of three strands with distinct aims: to support businesses and consumers by generating a stable business environment; to strengthen institutions across the UK, and to give investors the certainty they need to fuel growth.
We are predominately a policy team who work closely with analytical colleagues to develop cross-cutting policy which is underpinned by rigorous economic analysis. It is a stretching role, and as the only policy area within the Secretary of State’s policy portfolio it has high ministerial interest and consistent engagement with the Secretary of State and other senior leaders. We are looking for someone who is enthusiastic and keen to work in a fast-paced role at the heart of the government’s agenda.
The successful candidate(s) will support a range of policy development within the Industrial Strategy Unit. This may also include the secretariat of the Industrial Strategy Advisory Council which is monitoring and advising the government on the delivery of the Strategy.
They will have ownership of establishing and leading a cross-governmental network of those working on the development and implementation of a specific aspect of the Industrial Strategy.
The role will involve developing working relationships with HMT, No. 10 and external stakeholders. It will also have a role in directly advising the Secretary of State, Junior Ministers and other senior stakeholders.
Person specification
As the role is dynamic and fast-moving, priorities are likely to change and the candidate should be able to adapt quickly to changing circumstances, whilst keeping abreast of the context and bigger picture. Potential areas which the successful candidate may lead on include:
- Developing and delivering impartial advice to ministers and senior officials, in writing and orally, on the Industrial Strategy and secure their support for delivery.
- Collaborate with colleagues across government and industry to design and deliver the Industrial Strategy. Act as a critical friend where there are disagreements about approach to the strategy and agree a path forward with key stakeholders.
- Managing and leading on a portfolio of DBT initiatives and/or sectoral plans for specific Industrial Strategy deliverables.
- Respond efficiently to new challenges and demands working in an agile and flexible way.
- Proactively contribute to a supportive and inclusive culture in the Industrial Strategy Unit.
Essential Criteria
- Experience of drafting papers and explaining complex advice
- Working alongside and advising senior stakeholders
- Generating evidence based options to successfully address challenges
- Contributing as part of a team and showing flexibility to achieve outcomes
Desirable Experience
- Previous work on developing strategies
- Previous work on thought leadership
- Previous work in a project team delivering to tight timescales
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Delivering at Pace
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Making Effective Decisions
- Communicating and Influencing
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 employer contribution of 28.97%
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 750 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 Personal Statement. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to assessment/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.
- Candidates that do not quite meet the standard for this role may be offered a position at a lower grade.
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
Vetting
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.
For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the following page https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/demystifying-vetting
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 : Will Marks
- Email : will.marks@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
