Corporate & Policy Senior Executive Officers
Department for Business and Trade
Apply before 11:55 pm on Sunday 27th October 2024
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About the job
Job summary
The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) brings together business expertise and world-class trade negotiators under the vision of making the UK the best place to start and grow a business – driving growth, increasing jobs, and raising wages and living standards.
We are seeking to recruit four highly skilled people to join the EU Services and Trade Directorate (EUST) as Senior Executive Officers. These roles will help shape the future of UK-EU relations, including services trade and regulatory frameworks, and support key corporate functions. The positions offer excellent opportunities to work in a fast-paced, high-impact area central to the government's agenda.
EUST values a positive workplace culture promoting both work-life balance and individual well-being. We encourage active participation in creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels valued, empowered, and able to succeed. A healthy, balanced approach to work is critical to achieving our objectives.
Private Office Role
This dynamic role involves close collaboration with the director to shape strategic priorities. We are looking for motivated individuals eager to engage in initiatives like risk and deliverables management. In this role, you will manage the director's office, supporting the Director to lead the directorate efficiently and effectively- making necessary connections to deliver results. You'll also track progress, manage departmental contributions, and resolve issues. Building strong relationships with team members and senior staff will be essential, as will supporting stakeholder engagement and coordinating work effectively.
Policy Roles
Our policy and strategy positions suit those passionate about shaping the UK's business and economic landscape.
Two of our roles are part of the Services Frameworks team, a dynamic team working on an exciting mix of domestic and international trade responsibilities, that works collaboratively with stakeholders across government, local authorities, and industry. You'll have a key role in driving regulatory reform, policy development, and legislative initiatives.
As part of the EU Strategy team, you will play a central role in leading DBT’s input and position into the UK-EU Reset, one of UKG’s biggest priorities. This will include working with DBT teams and OGDs, including FCDO, Defra, HMT, DESNZ and DSIT, to develop cross-cutting policy options, as well as briefing seniors so they are prepared to represent DBT interests in the xWH TCA Review process.
If you're ready to bring fresh perspectives and help shape the UK's economic future, join us and be part of this important mission.
Job description
Private Office Role:
You will ensure that the Senior Leadership Team, especially the Director make the best use of their time by:
- Developing a strong understanding of the directorate’s goals to effectively communicate and provide guidance on how our work aligns with broader objectives. You’ll manage the Directorate risk register and support Deputy Directors on key deliverables associated with these projects.
- Ensuring that the Director has the correct advice and briefings for meetings, using your own judgement to manage the directors time - prioritising appointments, dealing with clashes and organising deputies where necessary.
- Building and sustaining effective relationships with a range of internal and external stakeholders to make a positive impact on achieving Directorate objectives.
- Actively contribute to continuous improvement of processes and standards to develop new ways of working or sustainable solutions that will have a positive impact on work delivery.
Policy Roles:
Within the EU Strategy team, you will ensure that EUST drives the implementation of overall UK-EU trade strategy; key policies, ensuring effective delivery and alignment with strategic objectives by:
- Leading DBT’s response into the UK-EU Trade and Co-operation Agreement (TCA) review, ensuring our interests are well represented in cross-government discussions.
- Designing policy options to support the UK’s services trade policy, influencing Whitehall and external stakeholders to adopt and implement these initiatives.
- Overseeing compliance with international trade commitments and contributing to regulatory reforms.
- Developing strategic position papers and ensuring senior officials are well-prepared for key meetings.
Within the Services Frameworks team, you will be responsible for delivering reforms to domestic legislation and ensuring compliance with international commitments. You will do this by:
- Leading on stakeholder engagement and the development of a set of policy proposals to reform a complex set of regulations and to ensure digital tools for business are accurate and complete.
- Working with colleagues across Government to ensure domestic reforms support the Government’s Growth ambition and future trade negotiations.
- Establish strong working relationships with analysts, lawyers, other Government departments, the Devolved Governments, businesses and with regulators.
- Working with trade experts to prepare for the UK-EU TCA Review and to ensure that international commitments align with our domestic legislation. Influencing cross-Whitehall and external stakeholders to adopt and implement these policy initiatives.
Person specification
Skills and Experience
Essential
- An excellent communicator, both written and spoken, you will confidently advise colleagues at different levels of seniority.
- Proactive and proficient planner, using sensitive, inclusive and tactful judgement to make effective decisions, considering people, finance and resourcing needs.
- Ability to drive forward delivery autonomously, understanding the links between your work and the wider strategic direction to make recommendations to seniors.
- Strong attention to detail, able to analyse data and draw out key themes and recommendations for seniors.
- Confident in building and maintaining strong positive relationships with high-profile internal and external stakeholders. Handling sensitive information with discretion and professionalism.
Desirable
- Experience in a similar role and/or experience with working with senior colleagues is ideal, although not essential.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Communicating and Influencing
- Making Effective Decisions
- 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 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 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 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.
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 : Sara Bibby
- Email : CS.TINS@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
