Senior Policy Advisor, Steel Trade and International Engagement
Department for Business and Trade
Apply before 11:55 pm on Tuesday 17th September 2024
Details
Reference number
Salary
Job grade
Contract type
Business area
Type of role
Working pattern
Number of jobs available
Contents
Location
About the job
Job summary
The Materials Directorate works with key sectors of the economy to support them to be financially sustainable, low-carbon and innovative. The Steel and Aluminium team leads on delivering the government’s priority to support a thriving steel industry. We do this by working closely with the sector to ensure the UK Government has a clear understanding of the steel and aluminium industry landscape and to help inform and shape policies that impact on the sector.
Steel is a highly trade-exposed good, and global steel markets are heavily distorted from unfair practices and subsidies. We work closely with various teams across the UK government, the domestic steel sector, overseas governments, intergovernmental bodies and other stakeholders to help inform and shape policies that ensure the UK steel sector can trade on a fair and competitive basis.
We are recruiting for a stretching and exciting role, which will offer an excellent opportunity to lead policy development and delivery on high-profile and varied workstreams. We are seeking candidates who will be excited about having the autonomy to drive their policy areas forward, are willing and keen to take ownership of workstreams as they arise and support the delivery of high-profile strategic outcomes for the department.
We are a high-performing and supportive team, and we care about career development and creating opportunities for interesting work. This role is a great opportunity for someone who is looking to develop and nurture their influencing skills and leadership ability. There are potential opportunities for international travel to represent the UK Government at intergovernmental fora (c. twice yearly), and more generally this role will require working internationally with other governments and intergovernmental bodies.
This role is suitable for flexible working and can be based in London or at a departmental regional hub. Members across our team currently work flexibly, under a hybrid-working model and support will be given to ensure that the role fits with personal circumstances. All team members are highly encouraged to invest time in corporate activities for the team and wider DBT activities.
Job description
The role is central in facilitating the delivery of multiple key government priorities. It will require collaborating with a range of stakeholders, including trade, analyst and legal colleagues across government, as well as a range of external stakeholders, including trade associations, steel producers, international organisations and other governments.
The key responsibilities will include:
- The UK Steel Safeguard, which provides critical protection to the UK sector, must end in 2026. A key part of this role will be contributing to the collaborative work taking place across government to explore what happens next. This will involve preparing, drafting and contributing to policy papers, briefings, submissions, and reports for Ministers and senior officials, as well as supporting opportunities to take collective action with international stakeholders.
- Coordinating the UK’s participation in international fora, including the OECD Steel Committee and the Global Forum on Steel Excess Capacity (GFSEC). This will include leading the UK Government’s contributions to OECD programmes of work, working closely with the team’s Deputy Director as the senior representative for the UK. This responsibility comes with potential opportunities for international travel to represent the UK at intergovernmental fora (c. twice yearly).
- Working with colleagues across various trade-focused teams to influence and support the government’s trade strategy to ensure that the needs of the steel sector are taken into consideration.
- Facilitating policy development and decision-making between industry and government through the coordination of key decision-making bodies.
- Leading team input on domestic trade remedies cases, including contributing to briefings and x-WH meetings, and monitoring foreign trade remedies cases impacting the UK sector.
- Leading the steel trade communications function for the team, including managing the weekly steel briefing newsletter, leading responses to PQs, correspondence and x-WH brief requests.
- Leading workstreams to monitor and reduce barriers to trade and improve international competitiveness for the UK steel industry.
- Monitoring more general trade and decarbonisations developments in the global steel industry.
We are a collaborative team that works flexibly to respond to immediate priorities. The individual that holds this role may also be required to contribute to workstreams outside of those listed above in support of the wider team.
Person specification
Essential Criteria
- Ability to deliver at pace with experience of effectively prioritising work and managing conflicting demands to deliver progress against the team’s priorities.
- Strong written and oral communicating and influencing skills with experience of working across organisations to deliver solutions.
- Ability to see the bigger picture to navigate complex and information to shape policy thinking to deliver against government priorities.
- An analytical thinker able to develop and evaluate policy trade-offs and develop innovative solutions that deliver desired outcomes.
Desirable Criteria
- International engagement experience.
- Previous experience and / or knowledge of trade policy, the steel sector or decarbonisation landscape.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Delivering at Pace
- Communicating and Influencing
- Seeing the Big Picture
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 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 CV. 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.
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
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 : Jack Buckee
- Email : jack.buckee@businessandtrade.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : dbtrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Further information
