About the job

Job summary

If you’re interested in making a difference to people’s lives, the Treasury can offer you an exciting opportunity to influence decision making that affects the whole of the UK. Working at the heart of government, we collaborate across government to promote responsible public spending and drive strong and sustainable economic growth.  

Our work ranges from protecting customers through the regulation of the financial sector, helping to reduce carbon emissions and creating a greener economy, to promoting British trade around the world and supporting people across the country on jobs, growth and more.  

HM Treasury is proud of a diverse and inclusive work environment, committed to fairness and the promotion of equality of opportunity for all. We know that having a range of experiences, ways of working and thinking makes us stronger and better at developing policy that reflects the needs of every community. We embrace different views and experiences and value the new perspective that people from a variety of circumstances bring to the work we do. We welcome applications from candidates who have not previously worked for the Civil Service, mid- and late-career changers with transferrable skills, people from all backgrounds and circumstances regardless of disability, gender, age ethnicity, LGBT+ identity and socio-economic status.  

We are part of the Darlington Economic Campus, a pioneering new cross-government policy making hub which brings people together to play an active role in the most important issues of the day whilst working closer to the communities we serve. The campus provides the opportunity for people from all over the UK to help shape the future of the country, and our flexible working practices ensure you can collaborate effectively with our partners. It’s central government, made more accessible to you! 

Job description

Enterprise and Growth Unit

The Enterprise and Growth Unit (EGU) promotes sustainable economic growth and higher productivity for the UK. We provide analysis and advice on enterprise, innovation, private sector investment and a cost-effective transition to a low-carbon economy. The Enterprise and Growth Unit has a varied and exciting agenda and we work closely with a wide variety of other teams across the Treasury.   

We also work alongside other departments and government organisations to ensure that we are thinking creatively, spending wisely, and acting boldly to deliver these goals. These organisations are: 

• the Department for Business and Trade, 
• the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, 
• the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs,  
• the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, 
• the Department for Transport,
• the Department for Culture, Media & Sport,  

• the Competition and Markets Authority, 
• HM Land Registry, and 
• UK Export Finance

About the team

The Growth, Productivity and Infrastructure Team is a friendly team of around 20 policy advisers and economists which sits at the heart of the Treasury’s economics ministry function. 

• We take a strategic overview of growth policy, coordinating across HMT, especially at Budget and Spring Statement.
• We act as a source of new insights, including through proactive engagement with business and academia.
• We lead for HMT on key growth-focused policy areas including the government’s infrastructure strategy, how to facilitate infrastructure delivery, employment policy and migration policy.
• Lastly, we have a deep and up-to-date understanding of the evidence base on productivity, which we use to advise on policy, and produce analytical projects on the UK’s growth constraints.

The team as a whole, have a friendly, supportive and collaborative culture, with a strong commitment to wellbeing and professional development.

About the roles

We are hiring for two HEO posts in the Infrastructure Strategy branch of GPI, both leading on high-profile and influential aspects of the Treasury’s work on infrastructure. Policy Advisor – UK Infrastructure Bank This role will support and lead elements of HMT’s ownership and sponsorship of the UK Infrastructure Bank (UKIB). One of the major growth interventions of the government, the UKIB was launched in June 2021, with £22bn of financial capacity,  and is an arms-length body of HMT. It partners with the private sector and local government to increase infrastructure investment to help deliver net zero and promote economic growth across the regions and nations of the United Kingdom. It is focussed on supporting new technology, creating new markets and generating private investment into riskier projects which have the potential to jump start progress towards the Government’s core objectives. This is an exciting time to join the team as UKIB becomes more established and is developing and growing into its role, and playing a central role in helping to deliver the government’s net zero and levelling up ambitions. The postholder will play a key role in ensuring that the Bank is delivering on HMT’s priorities and objectives, and in preparing for and responding to the upcoming Spending Review and election, including the opportunity to significantly influence and shape the future of the Bank. Key Accountabilities The postholder will play a key role in sponsoring the UK Infrastructure Bank, leading and developing our accountability of the £22bn institution. They will have the opportunity to develop expertise on infrastructure finance, government spending and finance issues and will build and manage key relationships with stakeholders (including seniors) across the department and government. Key accountabilities for this role include: 1. Lead on spending issues for the sponsorship of the UK Infrastructure Bank, including the setting of UKIB’s budgets ,working closely with HMT Finance and HMT’s Spending team. This will include the approval of UKIB’s annual Business Plan and supporting the Main and Supplementary Estimate process for UKIB. 2. Leading on pipeline and project oversight of UKIB, including UKIB’s investment strategy and providing an interface with wider policy teams to the Bank. This includes providing support on monitoring the UK Guarantee Scheme (which guarantees £1.8bn of finance for infrastructure projects across the UK). 3. Developing expertise on issues relating to the UK Infrastructure Bank, such as their policy impact, scope of the Bank’s remit, their day to day operations and helping to develop new market products, including on finance and policy issues, and dealing with any problems and queries as they arise. 4. Support the sponsorship function within HMT, ensuring that the Bank’s activities are aligned to HMT’s priorities and policy objectives. This is likely to include work on the branch’s wider priorities including ensuring effective governance of UKIB, and the broader role of the Bank in supporting private finance into the UK’s economic infrastructure. 5. Build and manage relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders – including the UKIB, UK Government Investments (UKGI) and supporting senior HMT staff and ministers in overseeing the operation of the Bank and influencing its strategic direction. 6. Work flexibly across the Infrastructure Strategy branch, supporting and leading on broader elements of the branch’s work as the need arises. Policy Advisor – Infrastructure Delivery Delivering high quality infrastructure is crucial for boosting economic growth and productivity across the UK, and is an essential foundation for increasing energy security, transitioning to net zero and supporting levelling up. The UK plans to invest over £775 billion in infrastructure over the next 10 years. However, there is continuing evidence that complex planning processes, slow decision-making, and low productivity in the construction sector is slowing down delivery of key infrastructure projects. . There are a number of complex reasons for this and government has already taken steps to address this, including major reforms to speed up the planning system for major infrastructure projects and investing improving skills across the construction sector (which represents an estimated 9% of GDP to the UK economy and employs over 2.6 million people). However, there is much more to do to improve the UK’s delivery of infrastructure and this role is at the heart of HM Treasury’s economic and finance ministry objectives on a key Chancellor and government priority. Key accountabilities Infrastructure delivery is an area of high importance to the government. The postholder will play a key role in addressing and resolving barriers that prevent effective delivery across the UK and ensuring HMT priorities are delivered across government. This includes supporting work ahead of fiscal events. Key accountabilities for this role include: Lead on construction sector policy – advising ministers on key issues for the sector, briefing them ahead of meetings with senior stakeholders and representing HMT at cross-government and industry meetings, working closely with the Infrastructure Projects Authority and the Department for Business and Trade. Support policy work on the planning system – working closely with the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (as well as infrastructure departments across government), support work to improve the planning system, including the government’s ongoing reforms to the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) regime, and identifying and supporting policy development for new policy interventions. Lead on wider infrastructure delivery work – given the cross-cutting nature of infrastructure delivery, the team often leads and supports a wide range of delivery issues. For example, the team has previously undertaken work on inflation, migration, skills, decarbonisation and governance. Develop expertise in infrastructure delivery policy – including on the construction sector and how the UK compares internationally, key issues across the planning system as well as wider infrastructure sectors and delivery issues. Build and manage relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders – including with teams across HMT, other government departments, key industry stakeholders such as the Construction Leadership Council, and supporting senior HMT staff and ministers on infrastructure delivery issues. Work flexibility across the Infrastructure Strategy branch, supporting and leading on broader elements of the branch’s work as the need arises. For both roles you will also be encouraged to participate in cross Treasury activities and projects, to help build a more positive, collaborative and inclusive working environment. Candidate Drop-In Session    We will be running a candidate drop-in session for this role to give you greater insight about the role as well as the chance to learn more about HM Treasury and the recruitment process. If you would like to join us, then use the appropriate link below to join the call at the right time.  9th February 12:30 - 13:30 Click here to join the meeting If you would like to speak to the hiring manager informally prior to the closing date for applications to find out more about the job, please contact Katy Phillips (katy.phillips@HMTREasury.gov.uk)

Person specification

We are looking for the below skills, experience and behaviours and we will ask you to demonstrate these in your application form. Please review the Candidate FAQ document that is attached to the advert for guidance on how to complete your application form.  

1. Working Together –An ability to understand a variety of perspectives and building strong working relationships with a wide range of colleagues across different teams and institutions, and effectively using these to progress key priorities.
2. Delivering at Pace – ability to manage multiple competing pieces of work and deliver against both short term and long term priorities.
3. Making Effective Decisions – Ability to analyse a range of information and evaluate evidence to make decisions, understanding others’ needs and expectation.

The lead criterion is: : Working Together –An ability to understand a variety of perspectives and building strong working relationships with a wide range of colleagues across different teams and institutions, and effectively using these to progress key priorities

If we receive large volumes of applications, we will conduct an initial sift on the lead criterion only.

Candidate Guidance Support Session 
 
We will be running an overview of Success Profiles and the STAR approach; top tips for the application and interview process and an opportunity to ask general questions around our recruitment practices. If you would like to join us, then use the link below to join the call at the right time. 

6th February 5:00 – 5:45

Click here to join the meeting

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £31,710, HM Treasury contributes £8,561 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.

Recruitment Timeline 

Closing date: 18th February 2024 

Shortlisting: w/c 19th February 2024

Interviews:  w/c 26th February 2024

This timeline is indicative and may be subject to change. We will inform you if there is a substantial change to the recruitment timeline. 

If your contact details change at any time during the selection process, please ensure you update your Civil Service Jobs Profile.  

Eligibility Statement

A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role in the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government. Checks will be performed as part of pre-employment checks in line with this. Please refer to the Candidate FAQ document attached to the advert for more information.

Individuals appointed to the Treasury Group will be subject to National Security Vetting. To allow for meaningful checks to be carried out applicants will normally need to have lived in the UK for at least 3 out of the past 5 years. A lack of UK residency in itself is not always a bar to security clearance but the Department will need to consider eligibility on a case by case basis using all information that can be obtained following a successful application.

Everyone working with government assets must complete Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) checks. 

For many roles, security clearance is also required. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements of the role before they can be appointed. The level of security clearance required for this role is Security Check (SC)

Please read the Vetting Charter for information on what to expect during the vetting process and what will be expected from you.  

Many areas of your life may be explored during your vetting journey, and it is important that every individual, regardless of their background and experiences, should feel comfortable going through this personal process, whilst having confidence that it is fair, proportionate, and inclusive.  

These short videos address common concerns and preconceptions which applicants may have about national security vetting.  

If you have questions relating to security clearances, please contact HMTSecurityVetting@hmtreasury.gov.uk

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

Security

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.