About the job

Job summary

Are you interested in playing a lead role in influencing and shaping the landscape for UK domestic services regulation which is a key contributor to UK economic growth? 

This is an exciting opportunity to lead analysis that shapes policy that will have a significant bearing on the future of UK service provisions, through high quality analysis and strategic leadership. This role will suit someone interested in working in a fast-paced and dynamic environment, adept at working with colleagues across Government to deliver high quality analysis to underpin policy development. 

About DBT 

The Department for Business and Trade is the department for economic growth. We support businesses to invest, grow and export, creating jobs and opportunities across the country. 

Our responsibilities: 

1. Redraw our rules to ensure businesses thrive, markets are competitive, and consumers are protected.
2. Secure investment from UK and international businesses.
3. Advise, support, and promote British businesses to grow and export.
4. Open up new markets for businesses by removing barriers and striking trade deals.
5. Promote free trade, economic security and resilient supply chains.

The Policy Context

The EU, Services & Trade Directorate leads on the UK-EU services & investment relationship, including on cross-border trade in services, investment, and mobility. It also leads on domestic services regulation which includes recognition of professional qualifications and regulated professions. This policy aims to ensure people are sufficiently qualified for their jobs and are able to have their qualifications recognised in the workplace. The Directorate is also responsible for the provision of services regulations, that exist to protect UK businesses and consumer rights by ensuring that the regulation of services activity is proportionate and justified in the public interest. The Directorate also leads on the policy development and implementation of services trade sanctions. 

The Team 

The EU, Services & Trade Analysis Team is part of a wider multi-disciplinary team of analysts where social researchers, operational researchers, statisticians and economists work together to ensure policies are based on sound evidence. They work closely with analysts and policymakers across DBT and Government, including No.10, FCDO (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office), HMT (His Majesty's Treasury) and Cabinet Office. The team is very friendly and inclusive, placing a high priority on individuals’ development and well-being. 

Job description

Working in a supportive and friendly multi-disciplinary team, the job holder will be the analytical lead for the domestic regulatory landscape for services, as well as leading projects across the wider trade in services portfolio. 

The role sits within a G6 (Grade 6) team of 10 analysts of mixed professions. The main activities and responsibilities of the post holder will include: 

1. Leading analysis relating to the recognition of professional qualifications (RPQ), ensuring the UK labour force has the skills needed where quality and standards are maintained.
2. Developing novel data collection to support effective monitoring and evaluation of interventions and providing analysis in support of recent policy changes implemented through the Professional Qualifications Act.
3. Working closely with policy and legal colleagues to support reform of the Provision of Services Regulations – a key pillar of how services markets operate. Analysis will support ongoing reform of provision of services regulation.
4. Responsibility for line managing one HEO (Higher Executive Officer) or SEO (Senior Executive Officer) equivalent in the role.

Person specification

Essential Criteria 

• The post holder will provide leadership for their analytical responsibilities as well as being a team player able to work closely with policy and legal colleagues to deliver robust analysis to support policy development. 
• The post holder will have excellent communication skills, comfortable in working with diverse stakeholders and will enjoy using their analytical expertise to help shape policy development. 
• The post holder will have an understanding and appreciation of the role of different analytical professions and an appetite to work across professional boundaries would be important.  

Desirable Criteria  

• A knowledge of regulatory frameworks, trade data and the services sector would be helpful but is not essential as training will be provided.

Personal Attributes & Skills 

We are looking for individuals that are comfortable working within a constantly evolving environment, who can adapt and prioritise, supporting others within their line management chain to do the same. 

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, 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 2 years are explained. The CV should not exceed more than 2 x A4 pages. 
• A Personal Statement of up to 500 words, explaining how you consider your technical skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role in reference to the essential criteria.

After the closing date 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 Personal Statement only. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

Applicants who want to apply to the GSG will be required to do an online statistical test. Once you have submitted your application and the application has closed, you will be emailed during standard working hours inviting you to complete the GSS online multiple choice test. This is a timed test and must be completed within 48 hours for you to be considered for the next stage of the process. You are encouraged to try the test attached to the advert before attempting the real test. Please ensure you inform us ahead of the test if you require any reasonable adjustments to be considered. If you are an existing member of the GSG you will not be required to do the online test.

In advance of the interview, if you are not an existing member of the Government Social Research (GSR) profession, you will be required to undertake a 45 minute online written “knowledge test”. This test will be supervised and conducted online over MSTeams and involve you responding to a range of exam questions to test your technical knowledge of social research and statistical methods.
In the interview, we will also assess your technical social research skills by asking you to present on a pre-prepared research topic which will be given to you in advance, for up to 10 minutes. An additional technical question will also be asked as part of the interview.
All technical questions will be based on the grade specific skills and knowledge required for the GSR profession set out in the GSR framework – a copy which can be obtained from the link further below.

Please note: If you are already a member of the GSG, GES, GSR or GORS, you are exempt from sitting the test. To prevent your application being rejected please email resourcing@businessandtrade.gov.uk as soon as you submit an application to notify us, please include the campaign number in the email title and your membership number. Once confirmed you will be moved onto the next stage by our recruitment team.

As part of your interview, you will be asked to deliver a short presentation, details will be provided prior to your interview.

At interview you will be assessed on the following technical skills relating to the membership your application is being processed against -

• Government Social Research: Technical skills, analysis & interpretation Click Here
• Government Statistician Group: Presenting and disseminating data effectively Click Here
• Government Operational Research Service: Knowledge and application of Operational Research skills and techniques Click Here      
• Government Economics Service: Application of economics knowledge Click Here

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.     

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.