About the job

Job summary

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) is the department for economic growth. We support businesses to invest, grow and export, creating jobs and opportunities across the country. It has five main tasks: to redraw our rules to ensure businesses thrive, markets are competitive and consumers are protected; to secure investment from UK and international businesses; to advise, support, and promote British businesses to grow and export; to open up new markets for businesses by removing barriers and striking trade deals; and to promote free trade, economic security and resilient supply chains.  

The department has a vibrant analytical community which brings together economic modelling, policy analysis and financial insight to create a framework designed to help British businesses flourish in the global 21st century marketplace. Robust analysis underpins the department’s activities, providing critical insights to shape strategic development. The International Strategy Analysis (ISA) team is at the heart of co-ordinating the way analytical teams support the department’s evidence and research needs across DBT’s international overseas network. 

In 2023 the Integrated Review Refresh included a commitment to launching the Economic Deterrence Initiative (EDI), which provided support to boost economic measures to respond to and deter hostile acts. The EDI is part of the Integrated Security Fund (ISF), which also incorporates the existing Conflict, Stability and Security Fund (CSSF) and the National Cyber Programme (NCP). The EDI is organised into two ‘impacts’ over two years.

1. Impact 1 is focused on improving sanctions implementation and enforcement. It has a total allocation of £35 million across two years (FY23/24 and FY24/25). DBT is a significant part of this, with the creation of the Office of Trade Sanctions Implementation (OTSI).
2. Impact 2 is broader, and will focus on ensuring that HMG is prepared for future scenarios where we may need to use economic tools to deter and respond to hostile acts. It has a total allocation of £15 million for one year (FY24/25).

This post will work directly on the delivery of programmes which work towards these objectives as part of the impact 2 strand.

If you are looking to work in a fast-paced, dynamic and challenging environment, can think creatively about developing influential analysis, and are adept at supporting colleagues across Government and overseas to deliver high-quality analysis to support operational decision making, then this will be a great opportunity for you.

Job description

As part of DBT’s work taking forward programmes in the economic deterrence initiative, the post holder will be expected to lead projects being taken forward by ISA as part of this programme to understand where businesses are dependent on exports on specific markets. This includes a project to understand how businesses make adaptions when faced with a shock in the trading environment, and a project to understand the types of businesses who depend on exports to certain markets.

In addition, the post holder will be expected to develop a broad understanding of the wider evidence base in the EDI area, and to support the identification of synergies to maximise the impact of the analysis.

• Leadership - Lead work programmes to build the Department’s understanding of economic security threats. This will require taking forward a vision for what the projects will achieve, and ensuring that other teams work effectively with us to achieve shared objectives.
• Communication – ensuring outputs from the economic deterrence initiative workstreams and broader China analysis are being clearly communicated and are having impact with policy colleagues.
• Project management – delivering projects which require input from a broad range of stakeholders, including external consultancies and other Government Departments.

Person specification

Skills and Experience

Essential criteria

• Strong analytical experience, with breadth and depth of experience of undertaking economic analysis. Ability to analyse large data sets and draw conclusions from incomplete or contrasting evidence.  
• A proven ability to independently lead large analytical projects in a complex environment, with the ability to apply project management techniques. Ability to see how the results of the analysis fit with DIT departmental objectives and wider Government agenda.  
• Ability to deliver high impact analysis to tight and changing deadlines, focusing on what matters most to inform decisions and prioritising between many competing tasks. Ability to use forward planning and good judgment to identify risks and issues and where to make trade-offs to address them. 

Desirable criteria

• Experience of analysing macroeconomic trends. 
• Experience in excel, R and other technical software.
• Experience working closely with policy colleagues.

Personal specification

• Strong leadership, communication and collaboration skills, working within and across teams and departments.  
• Ability to communicate the results of analytical work to non-analysts and confidence to engage with senior stakeholders to ensure that decision-making process is underpinned by robust analysis and evidence.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £39,384, Department for Business and Trade contributes £10,633 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, Experience and Technical skills.

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 3 years are explained. The CV should not exceed more than 2 x A4 pages.
• A Personal Statement of up to 500 words explaining your suitability for the role, with particular reference to the ‘About You’ section of the Job Profile.

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 lead behaviour (Leadership). Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to assessment/interview. 

At interview candidates will be assessed on Technical skills and Behaviours.

As part of your interview, you will be asked to deliver a presentation which will assess Technical Skills. Details will be provided prior to your 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

Current Civil Servants (all contract types) will need to ensure that they are still employed as a civil servant at the point of starting in the relevant new post. If their contract ends (e.g. end of FTA contract or resignation) at any point during the recruitment/onboarding process for the advertised role, they will no longer be eligible and may be withdrawn.

• 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.  
• 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.

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

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.   

For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the following page https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/demystifying-vetting

Feedback

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.