About the job

Job summary

We are seeking a dynamic and motivated individual to join our unique Negotiations Coherence team as an Engagement Adviser. Our team works across DBT, Whitehall and beyond to ensure that the UK achieves the best outcomes in trade negotiations – a key priority for the Secretary of State for Business and Trade.  

Working in the stakeholder engagement team within Negotiations Coherence, you will join an expert team comprising of one G7 deputy head, two SEOs and a Policy Officer. You will focus on how we engage stakeholders strategically throughout the FTA lifecycle to ensure that UK business and industry views are considered throughout our trade negotiations and policy development.  

In addition to the coordination, internal briefing, and delivery elements of our forums, you will also gather feedback from across the directorate to help develop best practice guidance on stakeholder engagement for colleagues. You will also ensure that robust procedures are in place to protect confidentiality in engagement. 

The role will be suited to a self-starter who wants to work across a broad range of high priority engagements, at an exciting time for the UK’s independent trade policy. You will have significant exposure to different areas of the organisation, opportunities for ownership and delivery of solutions, as well as close working with seniors. 

The Negotiations Coherence team sits within the Trade Policy, Implementation and Negotiations Group. We have excellent visibility across not only our group but the wider department, and you will build a network of experts across trade policy and delivery. 

You will join our expert, agile, and supportive team that takes pride in ensuring that the UK’s trade policy operates effectively, innovatively, and strategically. 

Job description

The post holder will: 

• Work closely with negotiations and policy teams to deliver meaningful Ministerial and Senior Official engagement at the right times throughout our FTA programme.  
• Work across the department to join up with wider Ministerial priorities, including trade agreement utilisation, market access strategy, and broader domestic business engagement.  
• Lead the secretariat functions of the key forums managed by Negotiations Coherence (with the support of a Policy Officer).  
• Maintain relationships with key external stakeholders on trade policy matters. 
• Support the team in ensuring that robust procedures are in place to manage confidential engagement with key stakeholders. 
• Contribute to discussions on continuous improvement on our engagement strategy, including novel ways to leverage engagement to inform and secure UK aims. 

Person specification

Skills and Experience

Essential Criteria 

• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and balance competing priorities, including short-term problem solving and longer-term strategic work. 
• A strong communicator – both orally and in written products. 
• A natural relationship builder who can leverage contacts to progress and resolve issues. 
• A collaborative approach to teamwork, with the ability to be flexible, proactive, and adaptable. 
• A strategic thinker, with the ability to relate individual work streams to the Department’s wider strategic priorities with sound understanding of wider contexts.

Desirable Criteria  

• Experience of working with UK business and industry. 
• Knowledge of trade policy and trade negotiations. 

Personal Attributes & Skills 

We are looking for someone who: 

• Is organised, with a pragmatic approach to issues. 
• Is a strong strategic thinker. 
• Enjoys a fast pace and diversity in their role. 

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £32,858, Department for Business and Trade contributes £8,871 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 750 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. 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 and 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.

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

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.