Senior Policy Advisor – Advanced Manufacturing Policy Projects
Department for Business and Trade
Apply before 11:55 pm on Sunday 3rd November 2024
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About the job
Job summary
Advanced manufacturing is one of the Government’s priority growth sectors, and has been recently announced as one of the government’s eight growth-driving sectors at the centre of our Industrial Strategy. The Advanced Manufacturing sector supports many of the UK’s domestic and international policy priorities. Manufacturing policy is key to strengthening economic security and achieving net zero targets, amidst rising global competition and supply chain disruptions. Moreover, manufacturing is a major contributor to GDP and creates productive jobs for millions of people across the whole of the UK. The Advanced Manufacturing Directorate is the centre of the Government’s expertise in this important area of the economy. This team leads on strategic policy projects to drive growth in this key sector and is behind high profile publications, including the UK Battery Strategy.
The team is recruiting for a highly motivated Grade 7 to lead on access to finance for advanced manufacturing firms developing the next generation of critical technologies. The exact portfolio will be determined based on the specific policy priorities of the Government of the day, and the postholder will have an in-depth understanding of an advanced manufacturing firm’s journey from technological development through to commercialisation.
The post-holder will be comfortable working at pace and managing ambiguity. You will establish collaborative working relationships with stakeholders, both inside and outside of Government, to drive a strategic agenda of complex policy programmes related to finance. You will work closely with economists, analysists and financial experts within the Department. Previous experience working in or with the financial sector is preferred.
We are a friendly and inclusive team, with a strong emphasis on high performance and wellbeing. We will support you in developing your policy-making expertise with ongoing senior engagement and site visits, in addition to a robust learning and development offer.
Job description
- Lead the development of policy projects related to access to finance for advanced manufacturing firms and other priority areas depending on Departmental needs. These will typically last six months to a year, and usually have senior ministerial attention.
- Collaborate effectively with other policy professionals and economists to understand complex issues quickly and develop evidence-based solutions. This will include working with quantitative and qualitative data to develop a robust evidence base.
- Establish close working relationships with key stakeholders from across government – the Treasury in particular – and private firms, think tanks, trade associations and arms-length bodies delivering support programmes for advanced manufacturing firms.
- Managing a Civil Service Fast Streamer, providing mentoring and ensuring that they meet their professional development goals.
The successful candidate will be a curious and independent thinker who is comfortable working proactively to develop a strong evidence base for complex policies.
You will be a dynamic and confident communicator that advocates for the interests of the Directorate and establishes positive working relationships with a variety of stakeholders.
You will be measured against the following:
Behaviours
Communicating and Influencing
Seeing the Bigger Picture
Delivering at Pace
Making Effective Decisions
Strengths
Leadership
Location preference for the role
The role will be based in Belfast, Birmingham, Cardiff, Darlington, Edinburgh, London or Salford. You will be asked to express a location preference during the application process.
Please be aware that this role can only be worked from within the UK and not overseas.
A reserve list may be held for up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made for the same or similar roles – if this applies to you, we’ll let you know via your Civil Service Jobs account.
You will be placed on a reserve list if your application is successful, but we cannot offer you a post immediately. Where more than one location has been advertised, candidates will be approached for roles in merit order according to the first preferred location stated on your application form.
Please note that a place on the reserve list does not guarantee an offer. We would still encourage you to apply for other DBT opportunities that you are interested in. If you are offered a role in your first preferred location and you decline the offer or you are unable to take up the post within a reasonable timeframe, you will be removed from the reserve list, other than in exceptional circumstances.
Person specification
Essential criteria
- Strong experience leading policy development and implementation
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to convey complex issues to a variety of audiences.
- Experience leading work that involves multiple stakeholders across government and/or in business and civil society.
- Experience or understanding on financial policy.
Desirable criteria
- Experience working in or with the financial sector, particularly venture capital funds.
- Experience designing or delivering programmes to expand access to finance to underserved sectors or populations.
- Academic background in finance or economics.
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 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.
Successful candidates will be invited to a 45 minute interview that will test the behaviours and strengths outlined in the job description.
As part of this interview, candidates will be asked to prepare a short presentation, information on this will be sent to successful candidates prior to the 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 : Raja Hanna, Head of Advanced Manufacturing Strategic Projects
- Email : raja.hanna@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
