About the job

Job summary

Export Control Joint Unit (ECJU) is part of the Trading Systems Directorate. We bring together operational and policy expertise from DIT with advisory teams from Ministry of Defence and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. Our mission is to promote global security through strategic export controls and to facilitate responsible exports. 

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. 

The ECJU Helpdesk Team is responsible for acting as industry’s point of contact for export control enquiries via a helpline and an email in box. They also currently assist in the processing of export licence applications, ensuring they are processed accurately and efficiently, and that they are routed to the correct specialists within ECJU. 

Job description

This role will be a part of our Help Desk team whose primary responsibilities are outlined in this job description, however as we are in a period of transition to our new licencing platform will primarily be supporting both internal and external users with this.  

You will do this by working closely with the project team and operational teams to triage system support queries. You will need to develop a good understanding of the licencing process to aid you in this as well as having a good understanding of the development process.  

You will contribute to aiding in the onboarding of new exporters to the LITE system.  

This role will aid in the transition to a business-as-usual function along with the other members of help desk.  

You will have daily contact with exporters both by telephone and in writing.

You will need to have confident telephone manner and good written skills.

You must be able to communicate with a variety of stakeholders in different ways depending on the situation. 

You will have regular contact with colleagues throughout ECJU. This role requires the effective management of information provided by exporters, finding the right information from ECJU colleagues to respond to exporter queries and drafting sometimes detailed written responses to incoming queries. 

You will need to be able to analyse documents and decide whether they have been completed to the required standard or if they should be returned for amendments and for further information to be added. 

The work in this job role requires you to develop a good understanding of UK export controls.

Sometimes, you may need to deliver a short presentation to exporters about making export licence applications. 

You will need to be able to judge the needs of business as outlined in DBT’s’ objectives alongside our role as part of a regulatory arm of Government. You will also need to deal with difficult situations such as exporters wanting decisions before they are ready to be made. 

You will need to demonstrate effective time management and prioritisation skills to complete your work to meet our targets. You will also be required to undertake work on ECJU’s databases, to help exporters with their Open Licence Returns if they are having difficulty submitting their responses and will also help with processing Denial Notifications Checks quickly and accurately on receipt, to help meet the ECJU target turnaround times. 

There are no Line Management responsibilities attached to this role. 

Person specification

Essential criteria 

• Experience of dealing with external customers in industry. 
• Experience of dealing with written correspondence and managing a busy email box. 
• Being fully IT literate.
• Experience of working on a telephone helpline. 

Desirable criteria 

• Experience in working in a client facing environment. 
• Knowledge of export related content and information. 
• Has a strong interest in promoting trade and business growth within the UK. 

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £27,329, Department for Business and Trade contributes £7,378 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 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 500 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 Personal Statement. 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/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.