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 Regulated Professions Policy (RPP) team is a friendly unit which sits within the TINS (Trade and Investment Negotiations, Services) Directorate. We are responsible for overseeing and implementing the legislative framework governing the way in which overseas qualifications are recognised in the UK. Recognition of professional qualifications is a crucial lever for DBT to remove barriers to business and so we contribute to a number of DBT and ministerial priorities. The RPP team perform a central policy and strategy role, developing and implementing a recognition of professional qualifications (RPQ) strategic framework for HMG to support and facilitate broader Government initiatives around growth, the labour market and deregulation. Our team collaborates extensively with other policy teams in DBT, with external organisations and other departments in central government.

There are four exciting HEO opportunities within the team to take on interesting, varied and demanding portfolios. You would play a key role in regulated professions policy development, delivery of legislative programmes, maintaining digital platforms, stakeholder engagement and implementation work. These roles include overseeing implementation of the Professional Qualifications Act 2022, delivering the UK’s domestic Growth Agenda, implementing the RPQ provisions of Free Trade Agreements and leading engagement with international partners on RPQ matters.

This is a fast paced and exciting area of policy which has a high degree of ministerial interest and stakeholder involvement. No prior knowledge of the subject field is required, other than the digital role which requires a minimum level of digital expertise. Successful candidates will need to demonstrate a willingness and ability to quickly develop expertise and work flexibly across competing priorities. 

We are a friendly and inclusive team with team members currently based in Birmingham, Manchester, Cardiff, Edinburgh and London. We  place a strong emphasis on personal development and supporting each other to develop in-depth expertise in policy development, legislation, international trade issues, effective cross-Whitehall working and leadership. We are happy to accommodate flexible or part time working arrangements. We also encourage all staff members to make a corporate contribution to the wider directorate.

Job description

There are 4 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 Domestic Regulated Professions Policy team, the Legislative Frameworks team, the Digital Platforms & Partnerships team, Stakeholder Engagement team, and the International Implementation team.

Successful candidates could:

• Lead policy work to oversee and coordinate the implementation of the Professional Qualifications Act 2022. This would include designing a future strategy and producing a monitoring and evaluation process assessing the implementation of the PQ Act and its impact.
• Support the UK's domestic Growth Agenda via strategy development for domestic regulated professions in post-EU legislative framework.
• Lead on maintaining and supporting the Regulated Professions Register on GOV.UK. This will include contract and budget management and overseeing the transfer of the service to a new digital hosting platform.
• Lead on the implementation of the professional qualifications provisions of the UK’s international agreements, with a particular focus on the UK’s RPQ Agreement with Switzerland. This will include leading engagement with international partners.
• Analyse complex and varying sources of evidence and data to inform policy options.
• Establish strong working relationships, support engagement and, where needed, build new connections, with analysts, lawyers, other Government departments, the Devolved Administrations, businesses and regulators.
• 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.

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 a high 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 quickly learn a new and complex policy area.
• A keen understanding of the wider political context and how our work sits within it.
• A self-starter with an enthusiasm for digital products and the ability to work with digital team, external developers while keeping users fully engaged and onboard with online digital services.

Desirable Criteria

• Knowledge or experience of designing and delivering Government policy.
• Knowledge or experience of the process for making secondary legislation.
• Knowledge or experience of labour market or trade policy.
• Knowledge or experience of contract and budget management

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 have a good understanding of digital technology and be passionate about delivering an excellent digital service.

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 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:    

1. 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.
2. A Personal Statement of up to 750 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  

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.