Deputy Director – Russia, Ukraine & Economic Security
HM Treasury
Apply before 11:55 pm on Sunday 27th October 2024
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About the job
Job summary
If you’re interested in making a difference to people’s lives, the Treasury can offer you an exciting opportunity to influence decision making that affects the whole of the UK. Working at the heart of government, we collaborate across government to promote responsible public spending and drive strong and sustainable economic growth.
Our work ranges from protecting customers through the regulation of the financial sector, helping to reduce carbon emissions and creating a greener economy, to promoting British trade around the world and supporting people across the country on jobs, growth and more.
We are part of the Darlington Economic Campus, a pioneering new cross-government hub which brings people together to play an active role in the most important issues of the day whilst working closer to the communities we serve. The campus provides the opportunity for people from all over the UK to help shape the future of the country, and our flexible working practices ensure you can collaborate effectively with our partners. It’s central government, made more accessible to you!
Job description
About the Group
This team sits with the International Finance and Economic Security Group, one of three international groups in the Treasury that are collectively responsible for advising ministers on promoting and protecting the UK’s international economic interests, to ensure the UK thrives in an ever-changing global economy. We do this through works on areas such as spending control on international development, sovereign debt, international climate change, cooperation on Ukraine, economic security, the International Monetary Fund and development finance. We also manage economic relationships with China.
We support the Chancellor and senior officials in building relationships with a wide range of external and international partners and represent the UK in a range of international organisations, such as the G7, the G20 and the International Monetary Fund as well as Multilateral Development Banks.
Our values, policy leadership and international relationships lie at the heart of how we achieve these objectives. The UK and the Treasury has a long history of international coordination and collaboration – we multiply our impact when we act with others, and through influencing others we not only benefit the UK but achieve better results on solutions to global challenges that cannot be accomplished unilaterally. We aim to do that by acting as a constructive partner, providing thought-leadership in addressing complex policy issues and listening to the voices of emerging and developing countries.
We are a friendly, diverse and inclusive Group that invests in learning and career development.
About the Team
The Russia Ukraine and economic security (RUES) team is a relatively new team at the heart of the Treasury’s work to promote and protect the UK’s international economic interests.
The team manages HMT’s contribution to the UK Government’s response to the current conflict in Ukraine and operates as a centre of HMT policy expertise on Russia and Ukraine. This involves working closely with colleagues across Treasury and other Government departments to develop and deliver the Government’s strategies for supporting Ukraine and its economy, to lead the Treasury’s work on Russia and options to put pressure on its economy, and to shape the medium-term strategy to support Ukraine post-conflict.
The team is also responsible for developing policy and engagement on international threats to the UK’s economic security, supporting the UK’s economy to grow in a secure and resilient way. The team works closely with a range of UK government departments and security services, as well as with bilateral international partners and multilateral groups such as the G7.
About the Job
This is a fascinating Deputy Director role, in an evolving policy area, at the forefront of the UK’s economic policy response in an age of geo-political challenge and increasing risk. It requires strong policy leadership and innovative and creative policy thinking, combined with excellent stakeholder skills given the policy work is shared across several teams. The postholder will work particularly closely with teams across the International Group and Economic and Growth teams as well as colleagues across Whitehall particularly Cabinet Office, FCDO and DBT. The postholder will:
- Lead the Russia, Ukraine and economic security team as a diverse, inclusive and resilient team, achieving excellent outputs and managing team resilience through the busy calendar. The new, and evolving nature of the team means capability and capacity building is a core component of the leadership role. Direct line management of two E2s. The DD will play an active role in the International Finance and Economic Security Group Management Team including leading a corporate work stream.
- Develop core understanding of economic policy as it relates to the Russia Ukraine conflict, and wider economic security issues – complex and high priority policy areas of strategic importance to the UK – supporting the development and delivery of the Ukraine and Russia strategies.
- Lead work on prioritisation of international bilateral and multilateral engagement priorities and deliverables on economic security, working closely with FCDO, CO and DBT. This includes attending discussions and negotiations with international partners including at Economic and Financial Dialogues.
- Be the Senior Responsible Owner for an economic deterrence initiative programme, funded under the Integrated Security Fund, overseeing a series of policy, analytical and capability building projects across HMT and DBT.
- Deploy strong networking and negotiation skills to build successful relationships with Cabinet Office, the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office and other Government Departments, and international peers, to further HMT policy priorities and represent UK policy positions in a complex international context.
Candidate Drop-In Session
We will be running a candidate drop-in session for this role on Monday 21st October 10:00am to 10:45am to give you greater insight about the role as well as the chance to learn more about HM Treasury and the recruitment process. If you would like to join us, then use the appropriate link below to join the call at the right time.
Monday 21st October – 10:00 to 10:45 – Click here to join the meeting
If you would like to speak to the hiring manager informally prior to the closing date for applications to find out more about the job, please contact Suzy Kantor (Suzy.Kantor@HMTreasury.gov.uk) or her PA (Chloe.Moffat@HMTreasury.gov.uk). You are also welcome to speak to the current job holder, Katie Fisher.
Person specification
Please review the Candidate FAQ document that is attached to the advert for guidance on how to complete your application.
Required Skills, Experience and Behaviours:
For your application, please send us a CV and a personal statement setting out how you meet the following skills, behaviours and experience. This should be no longer than 1250 words, and include no more than 250 words on each criteria below;
- Experience of operating at a senior level in a complex policy environment and leading policy development at a senior level.
- Ability to build effective partnerships and relationships with domestic and international counterparts to deliver policy.
- Proven capability to engage credibly and influence at a senior level, with officials and stakeholders from a variety of backgrounds.
- Experience of building, managing, and motivating a highly performing team.
- Understanding and knowledge of international economic and foreign policy issues.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Communicating and Influencing
- Leadership
- Making Effective Decisions
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Working Together
Benefits
- 25 days’ annual leave (rising to 30 after 5 years), plus 8 public holidays and the King's birthday (unless you have a legacy arrangement as an existing Civil Servant)
- Flexible working patterns (part-time, job-share, condensed hours)
- Generous parental and adoption leave package.
- A Civil Service Pension which provides an attractive pension, benefits for dependants and average employer contributions of 28%
- Onsite restaurant and coffee bar. The London office also offers a gym, showers and prayer room
- Access to a cycle-to-work salary sacrifice scheme, season ticket advances and payroll giving
- Access to a retail discounts and cashback site
- A Rental Deposit Advance Scheme to help meet the total costs of deposits for privately rented homes
- A range of active staff networks, based around interests and diversity
Flexible Working Arrangements
HM Treasury views flexible working as essential in enabling us to recruit and retain talented people, ensuring that they can enjoy a long-lasting career with us. All employees have the right to apply for flexible working and there are a range of options available including; part-time, compressed hours and job sharing. Additionally, we operate flexitime systems, allowing employees the flexibility to adjust their working patterns throughout the week which is subject to operational needs and line management approval.
At HM Treasury we have an incredibly broad remit; our work touches every citizen of the country. So, it’s important our employees come from the widest possible range of backgrounds, bringing us the widest possible range of perspectives and ways of thinking. We are committed to ensuring that all staff can realise their potential and achieve a healthy work-life balance.
HM Treasury operates an office based working approach across all Treasury sites - Darlington, London, and Norwich, and along with the rest of the Civil Service, has an expectation of a minimum of 60% attendance in the office, along with working remotely. This blended working approach allows you to work collaboratively, meet stakeholders face to face, support others and promotes a healthy work life balance (please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas). Some roles will not be suitable for Hybrid Working. Similarly, Hybrid Working will not suit everyone’s circumstances. Arrangements will be discussed and agreed with the successful candidate(s) and subject to regular review. All our offices have been recently modernised and designed to collaborate and connect with colleagues as well as desk and quiet space to allow a range of ways to work.
Given the nature of the role, it will involve frequent in-person meetings and above average amount of time spent in the office. The role will also include frequent, regular travel to London to attend in-person meetings.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
Recruitment Timeline
- Closing date: Sunday 27th October 23:55
- Shortlisting: w/c 28th October
- Leadership Assessment: w/c 4th November
- Interviews: w/c 11th and 18th November
This timeline is indicative and may be subject to change. We will inform you if there is a substantial change to the recruitment timeline.
If your contact details change at any time during the selection process, please ensure you update your Civil Service Jobs Profile.
Please note that only applications submitted through Civil Service Jobs will be accepted.
Leadership Assessment
If you are shortlisted, you will be asked to take part in a staff engagement panel exercise. This assessment will not result in a pass or fail decision. Rather, it is designed to support the panel's decision making and highlight areas for the panel to explore further at interview.
Interview
At interview, you will be assessed on your experience and the behaviours noted in the role profile. Prior to your interview, we will contact you about a task that the interview panel would like you to complete as part of the assessment. The exact details will be communicated to you nearer the time.
Eligibility Statement
A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role in the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government. Checks will be performed as part of pre-employment checks in line with this. Please refer to the Candidate FAQ document attached to the advert for more information.
Everyone working with government assets must complete Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) checks. Additionally, individuals appointed to the Treasury group will be subject to National Security Vetting. The level of security vetting required for this role is Developed Vetting, however candidates will join HM Treasury on Security Check clearance in the first instance.
To allow for meaningful checks to be carried out, applicants typically need to have lived in the UK for the past 10 years. In exceptional circumstances, a lack of residency would not be a bar to security clearance however the Department will need to consider eligibility on a case by case basis once the advert closing date has passed.
Please read the Vetting Charter for information on what to expect during the vetting process and what will be expected from you. Many areas of your life may be explored during your vetting journey, and it is important that every individual, regardless of their background and experiences, should feel comfortable going through this personal process, whilst having confidence that it is fair, proportionate, and inclusive.
These short videos address common concerns and preconceptions which applicants may have about national security vetting. If you have questions relating to security clearances, please contact HMTSecurityVetting@hmtreasury.gov.uk
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
As part of accepting this role you will be agreeing to the expected assignment duration set out above. This will not result in a contractual change to your terms and conditions. Please note this is an expectation only, it is not something which is written into your terms and conditions or indeed which the employing organisation or you are bound by. It will depend on your personal circumstances at a particular time and business needs, for example, would not preclude any absence like family friendly leave. It is nonetheless an important expectation, which is why we ask you to confirm you agree to the assignment duration set out above.
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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 : Suzy Kantor
- Email : suzy.kantor@hmtreasury.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : hrrecruitment@hmtreasury.gov.uk