About the job

Job summary

DBT is seeking additional International Trade Advisers for the Midlands England Region, one based in the East Midlands one in the West Midlands.

International Trade Advisers are expected to develop long-term relationships with businesses and help them build effective export strategies to achieve commercial success overseas.     

Advisers must therefore have wide-ranging, senior level business experience in exporting, excellent commercial acumen and a desire to share knowledge and experience with growing companies.

Experience of providing a consultative approach to solving issues and influencing decision makers is highly desirable in this role.     

The government has ambitious goals for British exporters so the role will suit professionals motivated by, and with a strong track record of, exceeding challenging targets.     

Advisers will be supported by the DBT’s range of products and services, the DBT’s worldwide network and the department’s team-based culture.  

Job description

• Identify and engage with businesses with the best growth potential for help with export activities   
• To facilitate a holistic analysis of the business to gain an in-depth understanding of its current performance and potential for export growth.  To assist clients to prioritise issues and identify potential courses of action.   
• To act as strategic coach and mentor to clients to support them in developing their own long-term International Trade operations   
• To assist clients in selecting appropriate support services that meet the agreed needs, from the full range of private and public sector providers including other elements of DBT’s Export Support Services.    
• To work with stakeholders and partners to maximise the impact of export support services identifying and overcoming barriers    
• Accurate and timely recording and reporting within the DBT’s CRM

Person specification

Essential criteria 

• Knowledge of the export process. International market development including the setting up of sales channels, (agents and distributors, licensing, knowledge transfer and collaboration).     
• Influencing and selling - able to express ideas clearly, both verbally, face-to-face, by telephone, and in written communications and actively listen to others logically and accurately.    
• An ability to develop and maintain relationships with client companies and other partner organisations and stakeholders with a focus on client service.   
• Analytical thinking and problem solving - able to accomplish the goal by efficiently establishing an appropriate course of action for self and others.   
• Planning and organising – able to manage and organise a work schedule which requires attention to detail with paperwork as well as managing a sizeable portfolio of clients.  

Desirable criteria  

• Experience of providing a consultative approach to solving issues and influencing decision makers.     
• Knowledge/Experience of Licensing, Technology Transfer and IPR issues.  
• Knowledge/Experience of working in emerging markets.   
• Languages   
• Experience of working overseas      

Personal Attributes & Skills 

• Interpersonal sensitivity and quickly able to establish rapport with clients and colleagues.   
• Team player, actively participates in a team but also self-reliant and disciplined to work on own initiative.   
• Flexibility and openness.   
• Positive outlook.   
• Drive and determination.  
• Effective in identifying problems, seeking pertinent data and recognising important information to solve complex problems and deal with new issues.   
• Actively influences events, rather than passively accepts them, sees opportunities and acts on them and originates action. 

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £39,384, Department for Business and Trade contributes £10,633 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.

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.

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.

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.   

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

Location and working arrangements

The role will be based in either Nottingham or Birmingham. You will be asked to express a location preference during the application process.  

Please be aware that this role can only be worked from within the UK and not overseas.  

Informal hybrid working arrangements will be available as agreed with the vacancy manager and in line with the requirements of the role. 

Most DBT employees will be working a hybrid pattern, spending 2-3 days a week (pro rata) in an office, on average. If your office location is London, you will be eligible to receive London weighting.

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.
• 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.  .
• 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

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. 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.