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.
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.