About the job

Job summary

Drop In

You can find out about us and get more information about the role by attending one of our drop-in sessions. You will have the opportunity to talk to people doing the job and ask any questions, including about the recruitment process from application to interview through to offer. You can join the session on 9th January 2024 from 14:00 - 15:00 at any point throughout the hour by clicking on the link - Click here to join the meeting

As an Economic Adviser, you will act as a trusted authority on trade remedies-related analysis and your knowledge and skills will be needed throughout our investigations. We will look to you to deliver high quality analysis at pace, communicate your findings influentially and promote best practice. Employing a combination of methods, both quantitative and qualitative, you will lead on analytical aspects of trade remedies investigations and draw out conclusions based on information gathered. This work will underpin our evidence-based recommendations. Your expert insights will guide the most senior decision-makers.

The team consists of three units, each unit reporting to the Chief Economist. You will report to a head of unit and may have line management responsibility for one or more Senior Executive Officers (SEO) or Higher Executive Officers (HEO). You will demonstrate good use of data and evidence, provide constructive feedback and help build capability across the organisation. The precise scope of your role and areas of responsibility will be tailored depending on skillset and background.

As well as being comfortable finding creative solutions to problems, you will need to be a natural, engaging communicator who is able to simplify complex issues for non-expert audiences. For much of your time, you will be working with other analysts, investigators, lawyers and policy colleagues.

You will also work as part of an investigation case team, providing analytical insight from case initiation through to a recommendation to the Secretary of State at the Department for International Trade. The work involved as part of an investigation may include tailoring questionnaires to meet case-specific requirements; reviewing responses and triangulating lines of enquiry with other data you have researched; identifying and engaging with industry stakeholders to capture evidence of the impact of proposed remedies.

As a member of the team, you will lead on undertaking the Economic Interest Test within an investigation. This will involve gathering data from a range of sources and considering the impact of a proposed trade remedy measure across a range of factors.

You will help to produce an evidence-based recommendation for the Secretary of State at the Department for International Trade on whether the measure is in the economic interest of the UK. For examples of recent Economic Interest Tests, see the Welded Tubes and Pipes Final Determination and Wire Rod Final Determination.

Job description

Your main responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

• Leading on analytical aspects of investigations and reviews by providing expert advice to colleagues and other stakeholders.
• Using a range of tools and techniques to produce the analysis and evidence needed for effective and informed operational decision-making – including literature reviews, quantitative and qualitative analysis – ensuring that your work is practical, targeted and clearly draws out the policy conclusions.
• Communicating your analysis effectively through written, oral, and visual presentation.
• Working collaboratively with other analysts to build and set appropriate standards and approaches for use of evidence and to evaluate risks.
• Managing team workstreams and building capability within the team, supporting the development of junior colleagues and setting clear priorities and direction for the team.
• Working towards meeting strategic objectives and supporting colleagues on training and development.

Person specification

We are looking for an enthusiastic and ambitious analyst with effective communications skills, an eye for capitalising on opportunities and a commitment to deliver for the organisation. You will need to be self-aware and keen to use feedback to help you learn and develop as a professional. In this role, you will work collaboratively, building effective working relationships with both internal and external stakeholders from the start.

You will be expected to build and demonstrate expert knowledge of analysis needed for trade remedy investigations. You should be able to apply analytical methodologies to complex situations and advocate evidence-based decision-making. You will need to be able to assess the strengths and limitations of alternative approaches, weigh up different pieces of evidence and draw out salient issues and inferences, while taking account of uncertainty

Essential criteria: 

• A degree at 2.1 (or above) or a higher degree in Economics and be able to demonstrate relevant current experience in your career as a professional economist.
• You will need to be an existing member of the Government Economic Service (GES) or willing to undertake membership within 12 months of appointment.
• An ability to undertake analysis to provide evidence-based recommendations, using quantitative and qualitative analysis to influence and challenge in a fast-moving policy and operational context.
• An ability to communicate analysis to non-specialists, so that the evidence is understood and used appropriately to support policy advice and decision-making.
• Highly developed interpersonal skills, with the credibility and ability to build excellent collaborative relationships with key internal and external stakeholders in a diverse internationally focused area of work.
• An ability to take ownership of and lead on analytical work streams, with effective planning and prioritisation skills and the ability to work flexibly and handle high-profile cases.
• An ability to motivate, inspire and guide teams, setting direction and demonstrating commitment to development and progression.

Desirable criteria : 

• Interest in, or knowledge of, trade policy, trade data and operating in an international trade context.
• Some knowledge of international trade and trade remedies in the WTO and/or EU context.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £55,392, Trade Remedies Authority contributes £14,955 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, Experience and Technical skills.

Apply

To apply, you will need to complete a CV and a personal statement. Your CV (up to two-pages) should set out well as your employment history, to demonstrate how you meet the requirement of the role. Your personal statement (maximum 500 words) should provide detailed evidence demonstrating how your experience, skills and attributes meet the requirements for the role. Our guide for candidates provides more useful information (link). You will be assessed at G7 level against the Technical Framework. Refer to the GES Technical Framework (link).

Shortlist

The panel will consider your application against the essential and desirable criteria for the role.  Shortlisted candidates will be invited to  interview.

Interview   

The interview assessment will consist of a presentation, a technical skills exercise (GES), strength and behavioural-based   interview.  We use Civil Service Success Profiles (link) to interview for our roles. The behaviours that you will be assessed against at interview are Making Effective  Decisions, Leadership, Communicating and Influencing and Delivering at Pace.

Interviews will be held remotely via MS teams. 

Offers

We will notify candidates of their outcome as soon as possible after the interview. 

Expected Timeline

Drop in session: 9th January 2024 14:00 - 15:00 Click here to join the meeting

Closing date: 21st January 2024

Shortlist: w/c 22nd January 2024

Interviews: w/c 5th February 2024

Offers : w/c 12th February 2024

Further Information

A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.

Any move to the Trade remedies Authority from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk

Reasonable Adjustment

If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes. 

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should: 

Contact Government Recruitment Service via TRArecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs. 

Complete the ‘Assistance required’ section in the ‘Additional requirements’ page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.

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.

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 had their employment continued. Any applicant’s 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.

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. 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.