About the job

Job summary

We are looking for dynamic candidates to apply for two highly important roles in the International Strategy and Engagement Directorate Asia Team. These are stretching and exciting positions which involve working with our overseas teams across His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner (HMTC) regions focussed on South Asia and Asia Pacific (APAC). The roles provide the post holders the chance to gain exposure and contribute to real-world outcomes in operational business delivery and policy.

As Deputy Head for one of these two geographical areas, you will ensure overseas teams are able to navigate DBT and Whitehall to help drive trade and investment priorities across their HMTC region, as well as supporting DBT’s role in delivery of the Indo-Pacific elements of the Government’s Integrated Review. This role offers the successful candidate a great opportunity to develop skills and expertise working in a strategic role across a high priority geographical region, at the interface of trade, investment, economics, and foreign policy. 

These roles work across Whitehall developing critical relationships to support overseas colleagues. Post holders will advise Ministers and other senior stakeholders on critical trade promotion matters on geographical areas, drawing in input from both teams in HQ and in the overseas network. 

Job description

This is an exciting and varied role, which will give you unparalleled access to the DBT senior leadership teams across either one of two Asia regions, as well as gain exposure to operational, policy and commercial outcomes that are shaped by that region’s Regional Trade Plan. The APAC region is economically dominated by India but also covers other markets such as Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. The Asia Pacific region covers 14 markets, including Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, The ASEAN countries and Australia and New Zealand.  

You will be expected to provide strategic oversight and support maintenance of governance structures for the region, including the regional senior board. You will champion DBT priorities of the region across Whitehall including on strategic policy priorities and major visits.   

You should establish and maintain productive working relationships with internal stakeholders within the department, including with the overseas network, Free Trade Agreement negotiations, Bilateral Trade Relations and sector colleagues to ensure a one DBT approach towards trade and investment in the region.  

The coordination of Ministerial and senior official briefing requests, correspondence and visits both inbound and outbound (liaising with the visits team) are key elements of the role. This includes coordinating DBT’s input to VVIP visits as well as preparing high-quality advice and briefings for Ministers and the Permanent Secretary for a range of internal and external meetings. 

Line Management: One HEO for South Asia and one HEO for Asia Pacific  

Due the anticipated interest and applications for this role we have decided to hold an open session instead of facilitating individual calls. 

Bob Manning (Head of APSANS), Simon Brown (Head of APAC) and Neil Gordon (Head of South Asia), will be running a 30 mins session on 16 January at 10:30 to talk about the role and to answer questions. Please contact neil.gordon@businessandtrade.gov.uk if you would like to join. 

Person specification

Essential Criteria: 

• Ability to work flexibly with others to the changing demands of a team 
• Proactive, dynamic approach to work
• Strong written and oral communication skills 

Desirable Criteria:

• Experience of stakeholder management
• International experience 
• Some knowledge or experience of trade and investment or foreign policy  

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £39,384, Department for Business and Trade contributes £10,643 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.

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 500 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.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 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.

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.