About the job

Job summary

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) develops policy, negotiates trade agreements for the UK, and promotes UK trade and investment around the world. This role presents an exciting opportunity to work on an important area of Government policy as the UK develops and implements its new independent trade policy following EU exit.

The role is based in the Investment Policy team which sits in the Trade Policy, Implementation and Negotiations Group. The Group has strategic oversight for Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations which the UK has commenced with other countries and has lead responsibility for policy in areas covered within FTAs, such as trade in goods, services, and investment, including leading negotiations.

The Investment team develops UK trade policy on investment, leading negotiations on investment content for free trade agreements (FTA), standalone investment agreements, and in multilateral organisations, such as the World Trade Organisation. Our goal is to improve rules and open markets for UK investors, supporting the growth and success of UK businesses. 

This is a fast paced and exciting area of trade policy with significant levels of Ministerial, Whitehall and international exposure, and we have an ambitious programme of trade negotiations.

This post will play a key role in support of this objective by contributing to the development of negotiating positions to be taken by the UK for the investment chapter of FTA negotiations and being an active member of one negotiating team. There will also be opportunities to help shape and advise on overall policy approaches. The postholders will work with a wide range of stakeholders, including other Government departments, UK overseas Posts, the business and legal communities and officials from other governments and international institutions.  

Job description

In this role, you will work on:  

Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations – support preparation for negotiation of investment chapters in FTAs, working with Government departments, analysts and external stakeholders to develop negotiating positions; and participate in negotiations, including eventually leading on specific provisions.    

Investment policy development – maintain overview of the team’s core policy and treaty text for investment liberalisation treaty provisions and the associated briefing for negotiators; provide advice to team members on these issues, to ensure consistency of approach across all negotiations.   

Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs) – provide advice across Government and to senior management on questions that arise in relation to the UK’s BITs.   

Briefing and PQs – lead on requests for briefing on investment treaty policy issues and provide draft responses to parliamentary questions.  

While this role does not have formal line management responsibilities, the postholders may act as task managers for other team members in some aspects of the roles.  

Our team is vibrant, hardworking, and collaborative. We value diversity and recognise the importance of professional and personal growth. Whilst knowledge of trade policy or international negotiations would be useful, the team places a high value on a learning culture, and we will support you to build your trade expertise.  

Some overseas travel may be required.  

Person specification

Essential Criteria: 

• Confident in the analysis and interpretation of information and data, including making robust conclusions and recommendations from a wide range of sources.   
• Strong ability to work collaboratively within and across teams, building and maintaining long lasting working relationships, and excellent stakeholder engagement skills.   
• Confident written and oral communicator, able to persuade or influence others.   
• Able to work quickly and manage conflicting priorities.  

Desirable Criteria: 

• Experience or knowledge of trade policy   
• Experience or knowledge of international policy work  

Personal Attributes and Skills: 

• You will have excellent communications skills, both written and oral, and will be confident in presenting your views and ideas to senior managers.  
• You will have strong analytical skills, able to develop evidence-based policy proposals and comfortable working with detailed and complex issues.  
• You will be confident working across different teams, as well as working with and influencing colleagues in other Government departments, other governments, and international institutions.   
• You will have a track record demonstrating personal impact and taking personal responsibility for supporting workstreams to deliver high quality outcomes, often at pace.  

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.

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.

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.

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 otherwiseleave 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.