About the job

Job summary

You do not need any prior knowledge or experience of international trade or of specific trade analysis techniques to apply for these roles. We have comprehensive training programmes to bring you up to speed. 

This is an exciting time to join the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) as we promote British trade and investment across the world. This important work is vital to UK prosperity. Trade analysts in DBT ensure that ministers and other senior leaders can make informed policy and operational decisions, based on the best possible data, evidence and analysis.  

You would join the Trade Agreements Analysis team. This is a diverse and multi-disciplinary team which strongly values inclusion, professional development and high-quality impactful analysis. We work in a very high profile policy area so you can expect the analysis you produce to reach and directly influence the most senior decision-makers in government at the highest level.  

This role is in a team that monitors and evaluates the UK’s free trade agreements (FTAs) once they have entered into force. The team does this by:  

• Developing and harnessing a range of data and evidence sources and applying a diverse set of methods including statistical analysis, econometrics, modelling, business surveys, and qualitative research techniques.  
• Making use of established international best practice trade analysis techniques. 
• Breaking new ground on innovative new techniques with the potential to deliver powerful new insights, including new projects aiming to gain insights from previously inaccessible UK trade datasets.  
• Working closely with policy and operational teams involved in implementing and negotiating the department's FTAs to understand their impacts, improve their implementation and, where useful, adapt the department’s future approach, all helping to maximise the benefits of these FTAs.

Job description

In this role, you will set a vision for the use of economic theory, modelling and econometric techniques to monitor and evaluate the UK’s FTAs. You will work collaboratively with a multidisciplinary team including economists, statisticians and social researchers to deliver your vision as part of a wider FTA monitoring and evaluation programme. This will include ongoing monitoring activity and long-term impact evaluation. Under your leadership, the team will design, test and deliver innovative analysis, making the most of existing and new data sources.  Your team will use analytical tools and evidence to ‘tell the story’ of FTA impacts in ways that land with policy and operational teams and is useful to them.  

You will be responsible for the economic analysis underpinning the UK’s first published ex-post analysis on the impacts of FTAs, establishing precedent and setting best practice in the area.  

Your work will cater to a growing interest in the effective implementation of newly negotiated FTAs and their longer term impacts, both within the department and from Parliament and other stakeholders. This may involve complex challenges as you gain support for work that includes difficult messages. Your leadership and vision, combined with your ability to influence and persuade across the department and beyond, will be crucial to your success. 

• Delivering monitoring analysis of the department’s FTAs that are already in force to support and shape implementation, and to help maximise their benefits 
• Developing a robust approach to evaluating FTAs using economic modelling and econometrics, including developing innovative approaches using new datasets 
• Setting a vision and direction for the department on FTA monitoring and evaluation, including using your leadership skills to secure buy-in from non-analyst seniors 
• Effectively communicating to a range of non-analyst audiences, including translating complex economic analysis into non-technical understandable and accessible language, and conveying key implications to decision-makers succinctly and effectively  
• Leadership and coordination of work from other analysts (including statisticians and social researchers) to support monitoring and evaluation planning and delivery 
• Line management of one Fast Stream economist and matrix management on specific projects of up to two other junior analysts 

Person specification

Essential Criteria 

• Knowledge and understanding of economic theory, modelling and econometrics 
• Ability to apply theory and economic analytical techniques to generate insights from data to inform and influence organisational decision-making, and demonstrated experience of this 
• Ability to set and deliver a credible and compelling vision for impactful economic analysis that meets stakeholder needs, ability to secure buy-in among analysts and non-analysts for your vision, and demonstrated experience of this 
• Ability to present and communicate complex analysis clearly and in an impactful way, including conveying its key implications, and demonstrated experience of this 
• A great communicator with the ability to influence and persuade across a wide range of stakeholders

You must also meet the eligibility requirements to become a member of the Government Economic Service (GES) and be willing to undertake the accreditation process as part of your application, if you are not already a GES member. More details on eligibility requirements and the accreditation process are provided below. 

Desirable Criteria  

Ideally, you will have experience in, and a strong track record of, successfully designing and managing complex multi-year monitoring and evaluation programmes (whether in government, the private or third sector, or in an academic setting), but this is not essential in order to apply. 

A strong track record of delivering ex-post analysis to demonstrate policy impacts, and of working collaboratively in multidisciplinary teams.  

Coding experience – in particular the R programming language. If you do not have experience of using R, do not let this put you off applying as we have comprehensive training programmes to bring you up to speed and you will learn on-the-job through overseeing and delivering analytical projects.   

Note that you do not need any prior knowledge or experience of international trade or of specific trade analysis techniques to apply for these roles. We have comprehensive training programmes to bring you up to speed. 

Personal Attributes & Skills 

We are looking for someone who is: 

• Highly motivated to develop and deliver a compelling analytical vision
• Naturally collaborative and delivery focused
• Analytically curious and an innovative analytical thinker

You combine strong analytical skills with strong leadership skills and an ability to set a vision and deliver on it. You foresee and overcome obstacles, bringing on board internal and external stakeholders. You can think innovatively, shaping analysis to address policy questions and uncover impacts. You can inspire others to do the same.  

You can successfully work collaboratively within and across teams of analysts and non-analysts. You are a great communicator with the ability to influence and persuade. You should be able to work effectively in a multidisciplinary team of economists, statisticians and social researchers.

Government Economic Service (GES) eligibility requirements and accreditation process 

Applicants for this role must be a member of the GES or be prepared to become a member of the GES via the application process.  

Civil Servants who are currently a member of a government analytical profession will retain their professional membership in this role.   

Applicants without a current GES membership will be considered for accreditation to the GES as part of the recruitment process.   

This means you must meet the academic entry requirements for the GES which is: 

• have a first or upper second-class honours degree in economics (or international equivalent), or a postgraduate degree in economics. If it is a joint degree, at least 50% of the course modules must be in economics. 
• have studied both macroeconomics and microeconomics. 

It also means you must pass an assessment at interview based on the GES Technical Framework at the “Level 3 – Expert (G7)” level. (Note that applicants who are already GES members will also face the same assessment at interview and cannot be offered the job if they do not pass it.) The framework is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ges-technical-framework-2022  

The GES Technical Framework is broken down into 3 core areas of technical competency: 

1. Application of Knowledge 
2. Analysis of Data 
3. Effective Communication

 The assessment of GES technical skills at interview will take the form of a short presentation by the candidate followed by questions from the interview panel. All 3 of the GES Technical Framework’s core areas of technical competency will be assessed via this candidate presentation and interview panel questions. You will be provided with a question in advance of the interview and asked to prepare a presentation of a specific length addressing this question. Candidates invited to interview will be given full instructions on the presentation being used.  

More information on the Civil Service behaviours are available here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5b27cf2240f0b634b469fb1a/CS_Behaviours_2018.pdf  

More information on the Civil Service “Success Profiles” recruitment framework is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/success-profiles and here: 

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 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 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 CV only. 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/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

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.