About the job

Job summary

This is an exciting and challenging role leading the teams responsible for decision making on export licences for controlled military and dual use goods. 

The Export Control Joint Unit (ECJU) sits within the Department for Business and Trade (DBT). We bring together operational and policy expertise from the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) with advisory teams from Ministry of Defence (MOD) and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). Our mission is to promote global security through strategic export controls and to facilitate responsible exports. 

The Export Control Joint Unit (ECJU) is the licencing authority for export controls in the UK and an integral part of the export control system. Our work includes a wide range of issues including National Security, International Humanitarian Law and Counter-Proliferation. Stakeholders across Whitehall and beyond are interested in our work, including Other Government Department partners, Parliamentarians, Non-Government Organisations, and industry. Outreach and active engagement with interested parties and with business are an essential part of The Export Control Joint Unit's (ECJU’s) remit. 

ECJU is an integral part of the export control system, with a core function of considering applications for export licences. We regulate military and other sensitive exports and dual-use items (goods, software, technology, documents, and diagrams which can be used for both civil and military applications). This is done through a licensing system, ensuring UK exports are consistent with the UK’s national and international obligations and standards.

We are building on our previous success. We deliver a “best in class”, expert and efficient licensing function which is agile and responds to evolving external factors. The Export Control Joint Unit (ECJU) is currently introducing a new IT platform for licence applications called LITE. 

Job description

This role sits within the Operational Command of The Export Control Joint Unit (ECJU). The job holder will work as the Head of Licensing Unit in a complex operational delivery environment. The role involves developing a very good understanding of export control legislation combined with practical problem solving, stakeholder management and strong leadership. 

Reporting to the Head of Operations Grade 6 (G6) you will lead, manage, and develop the Licensing Unit, currently comprising 2 x Senior Executive Officers (SEO), 12 x Higher Executive Officer (HEO) Team Leaders and 18 x Executive Officer (EO) Case Officers.  

You will ensure the delivery of our objectives by fostering an environment of continuous improvement, recognising and rewarding good performance and tackling poor performance. As a visible leader of the Operational Command Senior Leadership Team you will be expected to support, develop and guide the Licensing Unit to its full potential. 

You will have a key role in ensuring the end-to-end licencing process operates efficiently and effectively. You will manage performance and quality assurance so that the processing of, and decisions on, casework are accurate, consistent and timely. You will need to build strong relationships with colleagues in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and Ministry of Defence (MOD) to remove barriers and meet our published performance targets. As Head of the Licensing Unit you will also have a lot of external engagement with exporters both from industry and academia. 

You will ensure particular care is taken with difficult, sensitive or high-profile cases, liaising where necessary with Ministers and senior officials in other government departments to secure prompt decision-making, identifying policy implications on casework and cross-cutting issues that may arise. 

Location and Working Arrangements 

• Given this is a leadership role of operational teams which also requires regular access to classified information frequent travel to London or Darlington will be required. 
• Please be aware that this role can only be worked from within the UK and not overseas.  
• Working arrangements will be available as agreed with the vacancy manager and in line with the requirements of the role. 

Person specification

• The post holder must be comfortable working with a wide range of senior internal and external stakeholders and have excellent relationship management skills. 
• You should have experience working in a customer service environment. 
• You must be a strong and visible leader. 
• You should have experience developing teams and building a supportive culture of continuous improvement. 

• You will have excellent verbal and written communication skills – with the ability to establish personal credibility and act as an advocate on complex issues with a wide range of internal and external audiences. 
• You will be organised and proactive, and able to remain calm under pressure to deliver to often challenging deadlines. 

 

Essential Criteria 

• Experience leading operational teams. 
• Managing a quality service when under time and resource pressures. 
• Is confident when dealing with a diverse range of stakeholders and senior people. 
• Can assess a wide range of information and see emerging issues and trends. 
• Good attention to detail and pragmatic problem-solving skills. 
• Excellent verbal and written skills. 
• Able to work at pace in a complex environment. 
• Having or willing to obtain Developed Vetting (DV) clearance. The successful candidate will be required to undergo Developed Vetting (DV) clearance. 

 

Desirable Criteria 

• Previous knowledge or experience of export controls is desirable, but we will provide appropriate training and support to the successful candidate as required. 
• We particularly wish to encourage applications from candidates with a science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) background and from those who have a background in pragmatic problem solving and client relationship management. 
• Previous experience working with international trade or businesses. 

 

Personal Attributes and Skills 

• Experienced stakeholder relationship management. 

• Organised and proactive, able to remain calm under pressure and to deliver to challenging deadlines. 
• Able to review large amounts of information from various sources, draw connections, extract pertinent information, and summarise conclusions for others. 
• A keen focus on leading and development of teams – building a supportive culture of continuous improvement. 

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, 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 only. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to assessment/interview.   

Vetting 

The requirement for DV is to have been present in the UK for at least 5 of the last 10 years. Failure to meet the residency requirements will result in your security clearance application being rejected.

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 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.

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 developed vetting (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.