About the job

Job summary

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) brings together business expertise and world-class trade negotiators under the vision of making the UK the best place to start and grow a business – driving growth, increasing jobs, and raising wages and living standards. 

The EU Hub is a friendly unit which sits within the EUST (EU, Services and Trade) Directorate. EUST acts as voice for UK business interests in the UK-EU economic relationship, including work to boost UK-EU Services trade and investment. The EU Hub oversees and coordinates the department’s EU priorities ensuring they align with overall departmental objectives to drive economic growth, support business and boost trade. The EU Hub performs a cross-cutting policy, strategy and coordination function. Our team collaborates extensively with other policy teams in DBT, cross-government partners such as FCDO, Posts, HMT and other government departments as well as with external stakeholders.  

The EU is the UK’s biggest trading partner and the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) is the framework for our trading relationship securing tariff-free trade with the EU and enabling cooperation on various areas of interest. We also work closely with the EU on wider political challenges such as economic security and the transition to a green economy.

There are six exciting HEO opportunities within different sub-teams to take on interesting, varied and demanding portfolios: 

• You could play a key role in developing DBT’s strategy to work with the EU in an ever-changing global context and ensure that UK trade and business interests are represented in Brussels and at Post in EU Member States.  
• You might work more closely on our EU professional services strategy or secure an effective implementation of DBT-owned Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) chapters including ensuring that the Level Playing Field (LPF) provisions allow open and fair competition with EU businesses.  
• You could support strategic decision-making on EU issues by providing the secretariat for our senior-level EU Forum and helping to build a community of EU practitioners across the department.  
• You might organise UK-EU engagement opportunities to support the delivery of DBT’s EU priorities working with colleagues across the department and with our overseas networks to support Senior Officials and Ministers on EU engagements. 

Job description

These roles cover fast paced and exciting policy areas with a high degree of ministerial interest. No prior knowledge is required, other than a wider understanding of the UK’s relationship with the EU. Successful candidates will need to demonstrate a willingness and ability to quickly develop expertise and work flexibly across competing priorities.   

We are an inclusive team with team members currently based in Birmingham, Salford, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Belfast and London. We place a strong emphasis on professional and personal development and wellbeing. We accommodate flexible or part-time working arrangements and encourage all staff members to make a corporate contribution to the wider directorate. A reserve list may be created from this campaign, providing opportunities at HEO level across the EUST directorate. 

There are 6 roles available across the team and successful candidates will be allocated to the roles which best match their interests and profile.  

These roles sit within the EU Hub within the strategy, engagement and coordination sub-teams.  

Successful candidates could:    

• Strategically drive and coordinate the department’s wider work on EU related policies including identifying and reviewing priorities, scenario planning and horizon-scanning. 
• Lead policy work on strategic policy files to enable effective cooperation on areas of UK-EU shared interests. 
• Coordinate DBT’s equities in the Level Playing Field (LPF) or Services, Investment and Digital Trade (SID) titles of the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) and represent the UK interests within the TCA Committee structures. 
• Drive DBT objectives at UK-EU TCA Committee level, this includes leading the team’s secretariat function for the Services, Investment and Digital Trade Specialised Committee. 
• Provide high-quality secretariat support to DBT’s EU Forum, chaired by our Director-General.  
• Support the EU Hub’s work building a community of DBT EU practitioners through the development and delivery of a new internal communications plan. 
• Lead on briefing and visit preparations for DBT Ministers and senior leaders’ engagement with the European Union and EU Member States. 
• Represent DBT business and trade interests in cross-government fora and at meetings with external stakeholders. 
• Establish strong working relationships, support engagement and, where needed, build new connections, with analysts, lawyers, other Government departments, businesses and trade associations. 
• Provide high-quality advice to Ministers and/or Senior Civil Servants to support decision-making and policy delivery.   

There will also be opportunities to be involved in other workstreams, and the role can be shaped to fit your personal interests and development objectives. 

Civil Service Behaviours:  

• Seeing the bigger picture, 
• Making effective decisions, 
• Communicating and influencing, 
• Delivering at pace 

Person specification

Essential Criteria 

• Have experience working collaboratively across a range of stakeholders, demonstrating strong communication skills and successful tailoring of approach to deliver outcomes. 
• Confident written and oral communication skills with the ability to communicate with colleagues and external stakeholders at all levels. 
• Excellent organisational skills and the ability to prioritise workload. 
• Ability to work at pace, remaining flexible and adaptable to successfully deliver priorities in a fast-moving environment. 
• A problem-solving outlook, with an ability to think strategically and quickly learn about new and complex policy areas. 
• A keen interest of the wider political context and how our work sits within it. 
• A self-starter with an enthusiasm for working on EU matters and the ability to think strategically and work collaboratively with teams in DBT and the rest of government and external stakeholders. 
• Successful candidates must have passed a Security Check or be prepared to achieve clearance ahead of starting the role.  

Desirable Criteria  

• Knowledge or experience of working with the EU or on EU policy.  
• Knowledge or experience of strategy, engagement and/or governance work.  
• Knowledge or experience of trade policy.

Personal Attributes & Skills 

• We are looking for a candidate who has a genuine passion and enthusiasm to pursue a career in policy and will need to be willing and able to quickly develop expertise and specialism in the subject matter.  
• The role will suit individuals who are strong team players who are comfortable working with a wide range of stakeholders and across a variety of subject areas. 
• You should be comfortable working in a fast-paced environment and be able to prioritise between competing demands, balancing the needs of the team and other stakeholders. 
• You should have a keen eye for detail and ability to see the bigger picture.  
• You should be enthusiastic to contribute to an open and inclusive team culture.  

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £32,858, Department for Business and Trade contributes £8,871 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. 

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 ensure 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 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.   

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.