Contents Location About the job Benefits Things you need to know Apply and further information Location Belfast, Birmingham, Cardiff, Darlington, Edinburgh, London, Salford 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. This role sits within the Trade Defence Strategy team of the Trade Defence Directorate, in the Economic Security and Trade Relations (ESTR) Group. The Trade Defence Directorate works to grow the economy sustainably by protecting UK businesses from unfair foreign trading practices and economic and geopolitical shocks, and supporting them to meet their trade sanctions obligations. The Trade Defence Strategy team has been formed in order to look across Trade Defence as a whole, with a specific focus on identifying where trade defence tools could be brought to bear across key strategic sectors in the UK. This includes analysing areas of vulnerability and placing that analysis within a better understanding of the geo-political context and considering therefore how we should be using and adapting our current system. This will require close working with teams across DBT both in trade policy and business sector teams, as well as many different teams across Whitehall. This specific role is a varied SEO role working on policy development and implementation of the UKs overall approach to Trade Defence. This will include analysing and understanding both the current international context and the specific context of the UK economy, and then developing policy options aligned with the UKs upcoming Industrial and Trade Strategies. This will include whether the UKs current suite of trade defence levers needs to be expanded or amended. The SEO will be responsible for developing policy advice and related project plans, as well as engaging with related xWH initiatives such as the China Audit and Trade and Industrial Strategies, and inputting into briefing for regular meetings both internal to DBT and across Government. Job description This role will require the successful candidate to work with the incoming Trade Defence Strategy G7 on policy development and project management required for analysing the UKs approach to Trade Defence. This will mean working with other DBT and cross-HMG policy and sector teams, as well as with analysts and legal to assess possible policy options. The SEO will need to work independently with these colleagues beyond their team to gather expert input into these options, while retaining awareness of the wider picture. As part of this, the SEO will be responsible for managing internal stakeholders and planning for senior discussions on different issues, as well as liaising with external stakeholders as needed. As well as policy development, the SEO will be expected to project plan the delivery of advice, decisions and even potential legislative pathways, ensuring that legal and economic analysis is planned and commissioned in a timely way. The role will also require the successful candidate to build relationships across Whitehall / public sector organisations (e.g., Cabinet Office, HM Treasury and the Trade Remedies Authority). This role will involve the following key accountabilities: Leading policy analysis for the Trade Defence Strategy team on options for amending the UKs trade defence approach. Commissioning and reviewing work from policy teams that own particular trade defence levers that form part of the UK trade defence toolkit, as well as from analysts and legal teams. Drafting policy advice for seniors and ministers on UK trade defence options, and briefings for external engagement with business and international partners. Planning the UK approach to international engagement on the UKs trade defence approach, including with the EU, US and other partners. You may be required to work flexibly across the broader trade defence team on priority projects as the need arises, at a time of potential change to our policy and strategy priorities. Person specification Essential Criteria Seeing the Big Picture You will be able to draw the link between your teams work on the technical trade policy considerations and the wider political, economic and geopolitical context. Building strong stakeholder relationships You will be able to brief and work with Ministers effectively. You will be able to quickly build a strong working relationship with new colleagues, working inclusively and as a team player to identify common ground and work in the interests of your wider team and the department as well as Ministerial priorities. Making effective decisions You are able to develop evidence-based proposals or strategies, and you will be able to distil complex information into clear advice for decision-makers and stakeholders. Desirable Criteria Experience of trade defence and/or wider trade policy would be considered desirable. Policy experience on working on strategy would be considered desirable. Personal Attributes & Skills The ideal candidate should be proactive, enthusiastic and a team player. Whilst the successful candidate will have defined responsibilities they should be willing to work flexibly across the team, to support key work as necessary. Behaviours We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process: Seeing the Big Picture Communicating and Influencing Making Effective Decisions Delivering at Pace Benefits Alongside your salary of £41,156, Department for Business and Trade contributes £11,922 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides. 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 This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience. 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.grscabinetoffice.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. 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.grscabinetoffice.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.grscabinetoffice.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 Infodisclosurescotland.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 accessniani.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 Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment. Security Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window). See our vetting charter (opens in a new window). People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks. Nationality requirements This job is broadly open to the following groups: UK nationals nationals of the Republic of Ireland nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window) nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020 Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window) Working for the Civil Service The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants. 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). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy. Diversity and Inclusion The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window). Apply and further information This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative. The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window). Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records. Contact point for applicants Job contact : Name : Alex Keeler Email : alexander.keelerbusinessandtrade.gov.uk Recruitment team Email : dbtrecruitment.grscabinetoffice.gov.uk Further information Our recruitment process is underpinned by the principle of appointment on the basis of fair and open competition and appointment on merit, as outlined in the Civil Service Commissioners Recruitment Principles. 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: Resourcingbusinessandtrade.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 Attachments DBT candidate pack July 2024.pptx Opens in new window (pdf, 1737kB) DBT T&Cs 19092023 Opens in new window (doc, 46kB) Share this page Print Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn GMail