About the job

Job summary

If you’re interested in making a difference to people’s lives, the Treasury can offer you an exciting opportunity to influence decision making that affects the whole of the UK. Working at the heart of government, we collaborate across government to promote responsible public spending and drive strong and sustainable economic growth.  

Our work ranges from protecting customers through the regulation of the financial sector, helping to reduce carbon emissions and creating a greener economy, to promoting British trade around the world and supporting people across the country on jobs, growth and more.  

HM Treasury is proud of a diverse and inclusive work environment, committed to fairness and the promotion of equality of opportunity for all. We know that having a range of experiences, ways of working and thinking makes us stronger and better at developing policy that reflects the needs of every community. We embrace different views and experiences and value the new perspective that people from a variety of circumstances bring to the work we do. We welcome applications from candidates who have not previously worked for the Civil Service, mid- and late-career changers with transferrable skills, people from all backgrounds and circumstances regardless of disability, gender, age ethnicity, LGBT+ identity and socio-economic status.  

We are part of the Darlington Economic Campus, a pioneering new cross-government hub which brings people together to play an active role in the most important issues of the day whilst working closer to the communities we serve. The campus provides the opportunity for people from all over the UK to help shape the future of the country, and our flexible working practices ensure you can collaborate effectively with our partners. It’s central government, made more accessible to you! 

Job description

About the Group - Enterprise and Growth Unit

The Enterprise and Growth Unit (EGU) promotes sustainable economic growth and higher productivity for the UK. We provide analysis and advice on enterprise, innovation, private sector investment and a cost-effective transition to a low-carbon economy. The Enterprise and Growth Unit has a varied and exciting agenda and we work closely with a wide variety of other teams across the Treasury.      

We also work alongside other departments and government organisations to ensure that we are thinking creatively, spending wisely, and acting boldly to deliver these goals. These organisations are:   

• the Department for Business and Trade (DBT),  
• the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ),  
• the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA),   
• the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT),  
• the Department for Transport,   
• the Department for Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS),   
• the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA),  
• HM Land Registry, and  
• UK Export Finance  

About the Team - Companies and Economic Security 

Companies and Economic Security (CES) is one of three directorates that form Enterprise and Growth (EGU). Its aim is to manage the impact of economic shocks and risks on companies, sectors, and people to support a resilient and growing economy. To achieve this, the CES team lead HM Treasury’s policy work to maximise access to finance and achieve deleveraging; manage casework on specific companies of strategic importance and coordinate a programme of work with other departments to boost the UK’s economic security and resilience.  The team also leads for HM Treasury on a range of related policies on corporate governance, insolvency, and subsidy control. 

You will lead a team of circa 70 staff, and three Deputy Directors. 

About the Role 

As Director of Companies and Economic Security you will lead the team for HM Treasury on a range of related policies on corporate governance, insolvency, and sector policy; business, trade and culture; and economic security and resilience.

Key Responsibilities: 

1. Promote and develop the growth-enhancing policies of HM Treasury internally and externally and be responsible for delivering strategic business engagement for the organisation.
2. Ensure that economic resilience and security are embedded in the development of economic policy within HM Treasury, leading the development of policy that creates an environment for the UK to respond to economic-based threats to national security and reduces supply chain vulnerabilities.
3. Champion prosperity in the development of economic security and resilience policies across Government, by ensuring proportionality, targeting, and consideration of economic impacts. 
4. Lead policy work on corporate distress and restructuring. Deliver a smooth case-working system for any tailored interventions that the Government wishes to make in strategic companies, and enable a smart approach to sectoral analysis, including advanced manufacturing.
5. Sponsor UK Government Investments and other bodies to manage investments according to government priorities.
6. Be the responsible Spending Director for Department of Business and Trade (DBT), Department of Culture, Media, and Sport (DCMS) and their Arms-Length Bodies (ALBs), ensuring effective spending control is delivered collaboratively, with creative and bold thinking that prioritises growth. Develop and maintain key senior relationships across government.
7. Lead policy work on key business policy issues – including economic strategy and encouraging inward investment.
8. Create an environment that celebrates diversity and inclusion, builds a high performing team focused on continuous improvement and development, and promotes a culture of respect towards colleagues at all levels.

The successful candidate will be required to undergo Developed Vetting (DV).

This role has been designated a reserved post.

Person specification

For your application, please send us a CV (3 pages) and a personal statement setting out how you meet the following criteria. This should be no longer than 1250 words and include no more than 250 words on each criteria below.

This is a high profile and politically sensitive role. 

The successful candidates must be able to clearly demonstrate evidence of the following essential criteria: 

1. Outstanding people leadership skills, with experience of leading high performing, and multidisciplinary teams to deliver at pace in an inclusive way.
2. Sound policy and political judgement and strong strategic vision, with a track record of leading in uncertain and complex political and policy environments.
3. Excellent influencing and interpersonal skills with a proven ability to gain the confidence of and work effectively with senior stakeholders and to work collaboratively across an organisation.
4. Ability to lead effective engagement on behalf of the Treasury with partners across the private sector.
5. Ability to ensure the effective and appropriate use of public funds for the benefit of the UK taxpayer.

 If you would like to speak to the hiring manager (Jessica Glover) informally prior to the closing date for applications to find out more about the job, please contact Mr. Richard Stone at Richard.Stone@hmtreasury.gov.uk.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £97,000, HM Treasury contributes £19,400 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.

Please review the attached role profile for further details of the selection process for this post. 

Recruitment Timeline 

Closing date: 21st January 2024

Shortlisting: w/c 22nd January 2024

Leadership Assessment: w/c 5th and 12th February 2024

Interviews: w/c 23rd and 26th February 2024

This timeline is indicative and may be subject to change. We will inform you if there is a substantial change to the recruitment timeline. 

If your contact details change at any time during the selection process, please ensure you update your Civil Service Jobs Profile.  

Eligibility Statement

A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role in the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government. Checks will be performed as part of pre-employment checks in line with this. Please refer to the Candidate FAQ document attached to the advert for more information.

Individuals appointed to the Treasury Group will be subject to National Security Vetting. To allow for meaningful checks to be carried out applicants will normally need to have lived in the UK for at least 3 out of the past 5 years. A lack of UK residency in itself is not always a bar to security clearance but the Department will need to consider eligibility on a case by case basis using all information that can be obtained following a successful application.

Everyone working with government assets must complete Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) checks. 

For many roles, security clearance is also required. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements of the role before they can be appointed. The level of security clearance required for this role is Developed Vetting (DV). 

Please read the Vetting Charter for information on what to expect during the vetting process and what will be expected from you.  

Many areas of your life may be explored during your vetting journey, and it is important that every individual, regardless of their background and experiences, should feel comfortable going through this personal process, whilst having confidence that it is fair, proportionate, and inclusive.  

These short videos address common concerns and preconceptions which applicants may have about national security vetting.  

If you have questions relating to security clearances, please contact HMTSecurityVetting@hmtreasury.gov.uk

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is developed vetting (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

Open to UK nationals only.

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.