About the job

Job summary

We are recruiting for an Operations Manager for the Ukraine Reconstruction team.  

Following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in March 2022, the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) has played a leading role in enabling UK business to support Ukraine’s reconstruction efforts. 

The Ukraine Reconstruction Team sits within the Construction, Infrastructure and Energy Directorate and has led the department’s work in this area since Autumn 2022. A key focus of the team has been to mobilise and support the UK-Ukraine Infrastructure Taskforce established in the summer 2022 with the intent to support Ukraine’s critical reconstruction needs by mobilising UK private sector expertise.  

The team has led on and delivered high-profile and substantial work across Government and internationally in support of the UK's policy objectives, from events such as the 2023 Ukraine Recovery Conference business engagement event and the business elements of the London hosted Ukraine Recovery Conference itself. It has also developed initiatives such as the London Conference Framework on War Risk Insurance, the launch of the UK-Ukraine TechBridge, Business Bridge Ukraine, and our ongoing Infrastructure Taskforce with the Government of Ukraine, which aims to bring UK business expertise to the reconstruction challenge ahead, as well delivering the largest UK trade mission to a country at war.  

We are at an important point in our work with the Government of Ukraine and UK business. This role offers an exciting opportunity to shape and deliver the department’s involvement in this high priority initiative.

This is an exciting and stretching role, regularly expected to deliver quickly, right at the forefront of the UK’s support for Ukraine. You will be a lynchpin in the team, working closely with the Deputy Director and across the team to deliver a coherent and consistent project and planning service that will enable the team to deliver. You will work with team leads to develop project plans, stress test timelines and provide objective advice on feasibility and operational delivery. You will be responsible for supporting the Deputy Director to prioritise and shape the team’s priorities, as well as the team’s corporate reporting responsibility.  

 This is a complex and ever-changing area so this role would suit an individual seeking a stretching role who is comfortable working with ambiguity. It will provide excellent opportunities to demonstrate operating at an advanced level, enabling substantial personal and professional development.

Job description

• Trusted adviser – You will work directly to the Deputy Director to support their management of the team, prioritising and assigning work according to strategic goals, ensuring effective engagement on behalf of the Deputy Director.  

• Project planning – You will lead on the development and tracking of projects plans across the team, supporting industry, policy, strategy, and comms functions to deliver to their aims.  

• Project management – You will use project delivery methodology and tools to manage workstreams, including creating tools such as dashboards, plans and reports for mini projects and events to monitor delivery and benefits.  

• Corporate – You will lead on corporate governance and resource management including returns for the team, delivering high quality responses to Financial and HR asks and monthly reporting, holding team members to account.  

• Risk and issue management– You will lead on risk and issue management across the team, ensuring risks are monitored and robustly mitigated.   
• Line and team management – This role will have line management responsibility for one HEO but will be expected to work agilely across the team. You will work closely with the senior management team and support the Deputy Director with corporate governance of the delivery plan.

There may be opportunities for overseas travel particularly in support of event delivery.  

Person specification

The ideal candidate will be a confident and enthusiastic team player, with a collaborative and open approach who can support and challenge team leaders. They will be excited about developing engaging project plans and working across a variety of issues.  

They will be proactive and able to clearly summarise and explain complex and multi-faceted issues. They will have the ability to use systems and tools that are ‘fit for purpose’ which will ensure resources and plans are managed effectively and ensure corporate governance is applied in a proportionate and effective way for the team.  They will be comfortable working in an ambiguous environment, showcasing good judgement, and be a considerate and engaging leader who is able to support their team whilst working at pace.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £39,384, Department for Business and Trade contributes £3,938 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 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 will take place 1-2 weeks after candidates have been informed of the sift results. 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. 

As part of your interview, you will be asked short strength based questions followed by questions on the below Civil Service Behaviours: 

• Working together
• Delivering at pace
• Making effective decisions

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.
• 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. 

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

Please note this Post is NOT regulated by the Civil Service Commission. 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.