About the job

Job summary

Thank you for your interest in joining the Statistics and Data Division in the Department for Business and Trade (DBT). This is a great place to work – people are enabled and supported to perform to their best and the culture is energetic, collaborative, kind and inclusive with excellent flexible working. We are the UK government department for economic growth. We support businesses to invest, grow and export, creating jobs and opportunities across the country.

The Analysis Group exists to make better policy and to ensure that Ministers and DBT’s leadership can make informed policy and operational decisions, based on the best possible analysis.

As head of trade policy statistics, you will lead a team to help deliver innovative insights, putting strong statistics at the centre of trade policy analysis. It is a critical role in the monitoring of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), including delivering against legal requirements of data exchanges, developing utilisation data and providing analytical support, statistics and insight on trade policy. This role requires lots of cross-collaboration with other analytical teams and policy areas working on trade policy, country leads, communication teams, and officials from other countries.

You will have line management and development of a team of three Senior Statistical Officers, an Assistant Statistician, and a Higher Statistical Officer.

Job description

As the Head of Trade Policy Statistics your main role responsibilities will be to:

• Ensuring statistical content and analysis used in key external communications for FTA briefing, particularly for key milestones (e.g. launch events and committees), are of high quality (Government Statistical Service best practice) and in-keeping with DBT’s ‘single version of the truth’.
• Monitor trade and investment with UK FTA partners using available data sources, and adopting positive examples of good monitoring analysis into the team’s statistical work plan.
• Feed in statistical expertise to requested products, tailoring these to meet audience needs.
• Drive forward the data exchange programme where this relates to implementation; Preference Utilisation Rates (PURs) & Tariff Rate Quotas (TRQs). Lead the analysis of export PURs and standardised dataset.
• Establish PUR analytical expertise by disseminating key briefs and presentations, and implementing the broader analytical plan (i.e. secondary briefs, preference margin analysis, ad hoc queries).
• Develop the FTA dashboard and promote its use, adapting it to meet user needs (e.g. for bespoke monitoring products, factual presentations, briefing).

Person specification

Be (or be willing to become) a badged member of the Government Statistician Group.

Applicants should show knowledge and experience of using statistical techniques to inform policy and/or decision making. Have experience working on analytical projects and delivering solutions and be able to clearly communicate findings from analysis.

Applicants who are not already members of the Government Statistician Group (GSG) will be required to do an online statistical test as part of the application process to join the GSG and a presentation on a pre-prepared question at interview.  

Candidates should have one of the following:

• A first- or second-class honours degree in a numerate subject containing at least 25% taught statistical content (e.g. Statistics, Mathematics, Economics, Sciences, Business Studies, Psychology, Geography or similar).
• A higher degree, e.g. an MSc or PhD, in a subject containing formal statistical training (e.g. Statistics, Mathematics, Economics, Sciences, Business Studies, Psychology, Geography or similar).
• Have worked in a statistical/data science field and are able to demonstrate continuous professional development (via a CPD Log Book) in statistics or data science at the same level as a foundation degree/HND (Level 5).

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.

Please note: If you are already a member of the GSG, you are exempt from sitting the online test. To prevent your application being rejected please email dbtrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as you apply to notify us. Once confirmed you will be moved onto the next stage by our recruitment team.

Personal Attributes & Skills

Analysis Group welcomes a diversity of personality types and thought. We’re looking for dynamic and energised applicants who are comfortable delivering high quality outputs at pace. We are looking for someone who is highly motivated by data and statistics, naturally collaborative and analytically curious, with the ability to establish, build and maintain collaborative and positive relationships. 

You should have strong analytical skills with proficiency using data analysis tools such as Microsoft Excel, and ideally an experience of coding (R or Python) to analyse and disseminate data to meet user needs.

You need to be able to communicate accurate information to technical and non-technical stakeholders. As well as the ability to plan, and manage a varied workload, and to prioritise effectively to meet competing deadlines.

Desirable Criteria

You should have experience of working with large datasets.

Coding experience or building dashboards – in particular the R programming language

An understanding of trade policy and experience of using trade and investment statistics.

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, Ability and Technical skills.

After submission of the first stage of your application you will be invited to complete a Civil Service Numerical Test. If you successfully pass the test, you will be invited to complete the final stage of the application. 

Please complete the online tests as soon as possible (within 24-48 hours is recommended), the closing date for the tests is 23:55 on 05/08/2024. If you fail to complete the online test before the deadline your application will be withdrawn. Guidance for the test will be available when you are invited to take the test. The tests are administered online and accessed via the CS Jobs website.

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 explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role in reference to the essential criteria.

Behaviours and Technical skills are being assessed at both application and at interview.

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.

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process - from the Government Statistician Group competency framework:

• Presenting and Disseminating Data Effectively
• Acquiring Data/Understanding Customer Needs
• Data Analysis

https://gss.civilservice.gov.uk/policy-store/competency-framework-for-the-government-statistician-group-gsg/

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

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.

• A reserve list may be held for a period of 6 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.
• This role may be considered as a secondment opportunity. Please reach out to the hiring manager listed at the bottom of this advert to discuss.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service /Disclosure Scotland/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

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.