About the job

Job summary

The newly created Department for Business and Trade (DBT) brings together the business focused functions of the former Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and the Department for International Trade (DIT). Our joint expertise in trade and business provides us with a unique opportunity to unleash the power of UK businesses, reform regulation to reduce burdens and unlock post-Brexit freedoms.   

Job Description  

Let us tell you a little bit about the role… 

As the Head of Engagement and Strategic Adoption, you will strive for everyone at DBT and our partner organisations to be confident users of Digital, Data and Technology (DDaT) products and services, and advocates for DDaT’s values and ways of working. 
 
You will keep the user at the heart of every decision you make while expertly leading your team through a variety of engagement approaches, product marketing tactics and communications channels to increase user adoption of our products and meaningful engagement with our stakeholders. 
 
This is an exciting role, with a plenty of stretch and opportunity to get involved in driving change in this unique and growing organisation. You will coach and lead a talented and driven team of engagement and product adoption professionals, while building lasting networks across DDaT, DBT and other departments. 

This role is available in seven UK locations and can only be worked from within the UK, not overseas. Most DBT employees will be working a hybrid pattern, spending 2-3 days a week (pro rata) in the office on average. Changes to these working arrangements are available in certain circumstances but must be agreed with the vacancy manager and in line with the requirements of the role and can only be discussed with successful candidates. Travel to your primary office location will not be paid for by DBT, but costs for travel to an office which is not your main location will be covered. 

Find out about life at DBT, our benefits and meet the team by watching our recruitment video, visiting our website or reading our blog! 

Job description

Responsibilities     

You will be an experienced Engagement and Business Strategist who can: 

• Lead a dynamic team of 6 engagement and product adoption professionals, providing both line management and task management.
• Set the strategic direction for the team, ensuring it is aligned with DDaT and DBT’s priorities to ensure that plans are delivered against.
• Build and manage innovative solutions for communication within DDaT, providing platforms for a collaborative culture both inside DDaT and beyond.
• Curate and tell DDaT’s stories to create genuine advocates in DDaT’s values and ways of working.
• Increase quality usage of DBT's products and services, while providing measurable results to further understand and meet our user needs.
• Act as Head of Profession for the team, leading on learning and career development. 

Person specification

Essential Skills and Experience    

 You will need to have demonstrable skills and experience of: 

• Leading on strategic campaigns while working towards the bigger picture.
• Identifying and communicating with stakeholders across seniority levels and business areas.
• Working autonomously in an agile and fast paced environment.
• Support change passionately and encouraging engagement.

Desirable Skills and Experience    

These are not necessary but would be ideal if you: 

• Have worked in Digital, Data and Technology previously.
• Have experience of product adoption, communications, events and/or product marketing experience.
• Management experience.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £53,560, Department for Business and Trade contributes £13,224 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

How to Apply   

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.

Sift will take place week commencing: 8th January 2024 

Interviews will take place week commencing: 22nd January 2024 

Please notes these dates are indicative and may be subject to change. 

As part of the application process you will be asked to upload a CV and complete a personal statement outlining your experience, skills and fit for the role. 

At the sift stage for this role, we will assess your CV and personal statement against the essential skills and experience listed above, so please ensure these documents evidence these criteria. Your personal statement must be a maximum of 500 words.  You can use bullet points and subheadings if you prefer. As well as evidencing the criteria you should also touch upon why you're interested in DBT and in this role.   

If we receive a high volume of applications, we will conduct a ‘short sift’ and read one element of your application. For this campaign a short sift would be conducted based on: CV only. 

How We Interview

At the interview stage for this role, you will be asked to demonstrate relevant Behaviours and Strengths from the Success Profiles framework. A role-specific list of these can be found below.  

Applicants successful to interview stage will be asked to deliver a presentation and will be informed on the topic following the sift/ on the day.  

We will assess you against these behaviours during the selection process: 

• Leadership  

• Seeing the Big Picture 

• Communicating and Influencing 

• Working Together 

We will also ask you strength-based questions, which are not listed in the advert. These are short questions that you should provide a natural answer to, therefore they demonstrate your innate strengths.   

This role is full time only. Applicants who wish to work an alternative pattern are welcome to apply however your preferred working pattern may not be available and you should discuss this with the vacancy holder before applying.

Further Information

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

The Department for Business and Trade embraces and values diversity in all forms. We welcome and pride ourselves on the positive impact diversity has on the work we do, and we promote equality of opportunity throughout the organisation.

Harmonised 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.

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. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk

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

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 the DDaT Recruitment team before the closing date to discuss your needs.

Our recruitment process is underpinned by appointment on the basis of fair and open competition and appointment on merit, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles.

The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with these principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should in the first instance contact DBT by email: ddat.recruitment@trade.gov.uk.

If you are not satisfied with the response you receive, you can contact the Civil Service Commission, which regulates all Civil Service recruitment. Click here to download a PDF about the Civil Service Commission/Complaints.

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

For further information and to apply please click the link to direct you to the advertisers website.

Add to all vacancies depending on the level of security clearance required for the roles

Vetting Requirements

SC

All security clearances require you to provide evidence of your UK footprint where you have been physically present in the UK.

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.

If you require SC clearance you will need to provide evidence of the below requirements.

Checks will be made against:

• departmental or company records (personnel files, staff reports, sick leave reports and security records)
• UK criminal records covering both spent and unspent criminal records
• your credit and financial history with a credit reference agency
• Security Services records

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.