About the job

Job summary

Delivery Focused   

The Trade and Investment Negotiations - Goods (TING) directorate plays a pivotal role in coordinating trade interests and leading the UK government's policies for manufactured goods. We deliver and implement trade policy and agreements which reflect the needs of UK businesses, so that exporters can be successful and competitive internationally, whether with Europe or the rest of the world.  

Expert and Insightful   

The directorate is focused on harnessing skills & data to develop and deliver trade policy that works for UK businesses. We achieve this by sharing our leading-edge expertise, brilliant analysis, upskilling colleagues across the department, and using our cross-Government insights to solve complex problems. Our directorate is comprised of experts in policy, analysis and international trade, plus a dedicated strategic delivery team.  

Inclusive and Flexible   

Our directorate is a great place to work and develop your career, while acquiring new skills through a range of learning and development opportunities. Our directorate takes inclusiveness and diversity seriously and respects difference, as championed by our diversity and inclusion group. Wellbeing and work-life balance is also made a top priority, as well as ensuring that the directorate is open and friendly. 

This is a stretching G7 leadership position at the centre of the directorate, responsible for leading the directorate’s corporate strategy, Senior Management Team (SMT) governance and business management, which underpins the priority policy work. In this role you will work closely with the director and SMT to set corporate strategy and drive forward the vision for the directorate. Effective leadership and people management is essential; you will lead a team of four, with additional matrix management of three Executive Assistants. 

This role provides a great insight into the workings of a vibrant directorate at the heart of business and trade policy, making it a brilliant role for anyone considering senior leadership roles in the future. 

Job description

• Working closely with the SMT, you will be responsible for leading a multi-disciplinary team that drives forward the directorate’s corporate responsibilities and make it a great place to work.  
• You will build strong relationships with the director to understand their priorities and vision for the directorate and be a trusted advisor on corporate priorities and strategic delivery.  
• You will lead the team to manage and progress vital strategy and governance, including resourcing, business planning, risk management, directorate performance, and monthly reporting on priority projects to the Director General-led delivery board.    
• You will lead cross-cutting people policies including recruitment, retention, induction and reward. This is likely to include working with SMT on the annual ‘People Survey’, directorate days and staff events, and ensuring the directorate’s corporate workstreams have maximum impact. 
• You will have line management responsibilities for two SEOs and leadership responsibilities for a further two HEOs. You will also have oversight of the work of three Executive Assistants who support SMT and policy teams. You will develop the skills and capability within the team to ensure a high-quality service to SMT and the wider directorate.  
• You will develop strong relationships with other teams in DBT, including HR, Finance and our DG’s office, to make sure the directorate has strong links and influence in key corporate teams in DBT. Your team will help TING play an active role in the wider department, contributing to the One DBT vision.  

Person specification

Essential criteria 

• Leadership: You’ll inspire and motivate your team to be fully engaged in their work and dedicated to their role. You’ll be comfortable leading through periods of ambiguity, and in setting an inclusive culture.   
• Communicating and influencing: You will use your excellent stakeholder management skills, building partnerships quickly and effectively. You will have the ability to adapt your communication style to influence and suit your target audience, and be comfortable engaging credibly with senior colleagues.  
• Deliver at pace: You will be able to organise and lead a team to deliver a high-quality service across a range of priorities, managing any competing priorities.  
• Seeing the big picture: You will build a strong understanding of the overall objectives of the department, group and directorate, using this knowledge to shape the workstreams your team delivers. 

Personal Attributes & Skills 

Your success is your team’s success – so management and leadership skills are important. We’re looking for someone who invests in their people, providing direction, coaching and support to bring out the best in the team.   

You’ll be able to see the big picture, weigh up the pros and cons, and confidently advise seniors on strategic direction, identifying solutions that work for the directorate.  

You’ll need to be highly organised and able to work at pace to manage multiple priorities.   

An eye for detail is also needed, to make sure the directorate, SMT and others in the department are provided with a top-quality service. And brilliant interpersonal skills, including confidence in engaging with and influencing people at all grades to problem solve and create connections.  

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £53,560, Department for Business and Trade contributes £14,461 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths 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. 

After the closing date 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. 

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.   

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.   

Following the sift stage of the campaign and before the interview stage, all short-listed candidates will be invited to attend a short meeting and have a structured discussion with relevant SCS.

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. 

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 

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.