About the job

Job summary

The role will have responsibility for building effective relationships and working collaboratively with a broad range of stakeholders (technical and policy specialists in HMRC, operational colleagues, lawyers, statisticians, economists, HM Treasury (HMT) policy partners), while tackling challenging timescales to ensure successful policy outcomes. ​

You will also work with a wide range of global businesses such as Royal Mail Group and fast parcel operators, where an understanding of their priorities and how they operate will be crucial to how you work.​

It also includes responsibility for leading HMRC’s policy development to support delivery of the Single Trade Window (STW), a flagship government programme, vital to the objectives of the Border Strategy 2025 and intended to significantly reduce barriers to trade. This includes developing policy to ensure that government maximises the opportunities of a STW and working with the STW programme to ensure that opportunities are delivered.  ​

The role also involves carrying out a ‘first principles’ review of our approach to Safety and Security declarations policy as part of a Target Operating Model for the border. This is a key strategic piece of work with high stakeholder and Ministerial interest. It requires deft and diplomatic handling of both internal and external stakeholders and working closely with Home Office and Cabinet Office who have key interests in this area. ​

Job description

Key Responsibilities ​

• Implementing the new safety and security policy approach, working with partners across HMRC and Border Force to get the systems delivered on time and operations implemented appropriately. ​
• Leading policy development for parcel and post movements into Northern Ireland in line with the Windsor Framework agreement for movements from Great Britain to Northern Ireland. This is a sensitive and complex area of policy making which needs to balance UK and EU objectives, NI business and consumer interests to allow the team to practical solutions for the fast parcel and postal sector.  ​
• Design and develop postal policy reforms for exports, and lead on customs policy reforms that impact Royal Mail Group functions and the postal landscape.  ​
• Driving forward policy initiatives in the e-commerce arena, in particular reviewing and updating customs arrangements in this area to ensure they meet HMRC and business needs. ​
• Tackling policy development across a range of areas to ensure that problems are resolved and improvements made in the post-EU exit environment.​

Key Interactions​

• ​Leadership and management of three G6 led teams. ​
• Working closely with HMT’s policy partners​
• Other Government Departments​
• Key internal and external stakeholders. ​
• Other parts of B&T and wider HMRC to ensure policy objectives are delivered and implemented. ​
• Working as part of the CP&S senior leadership team to manage the Directorate and make CP&S a great place to work. ​

Person specification

The role would suit an experienced policy leader and strategic thinker who is able to operate confidently both across Whitehall and within HMRC, notably with delivery teams to oversee successful delivery and implementation across the range of policies.​

The successful applicant will need to demonstrate relevant experience and effective delivery of the following essential criteria.​

Essential Criteria:​

• Excellent policy making skills. ​
• Ability to think strategically and creatively across a range of priorities to solve complex problems and shape and influence strategic agendas. ​
• A strong ability to influence at all levels, and to work collaboratively with a wide range of stakeholders to develop creative and innovative policy solutions.  ​
• Experience of leading and managing teams, delegating responsibility and supporting and coaching individuals to develop and grow in their roles. ​
• Sound judgement and the ability to lead teams to develop innovative solutions to complex issues. ​
• Excellent written and oral briefing skills, with the ability to confidently and concisely brief seniors and ministers. ​

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £75,000, HM Revenue and Customs contributes £20,250 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

Application:​

To apply for this post, you will need to complete an online application by submitting the following:​

• A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years.​
• A Statement of Suitability explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the criteria in the person specification.​

Your CV and Statement of Suitability should reflect your most relevant and recent skills and experience in relation to the role. Therefore, we recommend that each document is no more than two A4 pages long. ​

By not submitting a CV and a Statement of Suitability will mean we only have limited information to assess your application against the person specification. Please ensure both documents contain your full name.​

If you encounter any issues with your application or don’t receive an acknowledgement within 48 hours, please contact Sarah Hawes at scs.resourcing@hmrc.gov.uk ​

Shortlist​

An application pre-sift will be conducted by the SCS Recruitment Team followed by an in-depth review by the Vacancy Holder and Panel.​

The panel will assess and select applicants who demonstrate the best fit with the role by considering the evidence provided against the criteria set out in the Person Specification. Failure to address any or all of these may affect your application. The closing date for applications is Monday 10th June 2024 and a shortlist decision is expected to be made on week commencing 17th June 2024. All candidates will be notified of the outcome shortly afterwards.​

All shortlisted candidates will be offered an opportunity to have an informal conversation with the vacancy holder, Alex Pienaar. This is not an assessment phase but is an opportunity for each candidate to gain greater insight into the context of the role. This is optional, but highly recommended.​

Disability Confidence Scheme (DCS)​

Candidates applying under the Disability Confidence Scheme are guaranteed an interview if they meet the minimum criteria outlined in the person specification. ​

This scheme works in conjunction with the Great Place to Work for Veterans, for former members of the armed services, and the Redeployment Interview Scheme for existing Civil Servants at risk of redundancy. Each scheme works in the same way.​

Use of Data​

As part of the recruitment process, we may share your data and assessment results internally with our SCS Talent team. ​

This will provide insight into how to support your development and wider talent management, should you be successful in your application. ​

If you do not want your data to be shared, please email Sarah Hawes at scs.resourcing@hmrc.gov.uk ​

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 counter-terrorist 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.