About the job

Job summary

The Prime Minister’s Trade Envoys undertake a critical and leading role in supporting HMG to deliver trade & investment opportunities in emerging and developed markets.  DBT Ministers view the Trade Envoy programme as an important component in supporting them, to develop high level bilateral relationships with their respective markets which offer opportunities to UK companies.   

The role sits within the International Engagement & Protocol Unit within DBT’s International Strategy & Engagement Directorate. Relationship Managers work across DBT and wider Government to deliver strategic, coordinated activity for the PM’s Trade Envoys in support of HMG’s trade and investment agenda. 

The successful candidate will be responsible for providing a private office type function to PM’s Trade Envoys. You will develop bespoke programme plans, identifying activity which supports their markets’ objectives. You will work closely with colleagues posted in the designated Trade Envoy overseas’ markets, as well as colleagues across DBT, including sector teams, Trade Policy, UK Export Finance, and wider Whitehall (FCDO) for each of the Trade Envoys in your allocated geographically based portfolio. 

Job description

The role would ideally suit a self-starter looking to acquire the benefits of a private office style role (i.e. upwards management, resilience, broader understanding and regular exposure to many teams across Government) while still retaining the intellectual challenge of leading on the delivery of individual pieces of work. 

Develop strong relationships with the Trade Envoys, ensuring regular contact is made and that they have a clear point of contact within the Department. 

Lead development of a strong programme of activity for the Trade Envoys (including both UK & overseas engagement), to ensure that they are proactively, effectively and broadly deployed in support of trade and investment objectives, including those shared with other Government departments. 
 
Ensure Trade Envoys contribute towards commercial wins, support HMG strategic targets or campaigns. 
 
Contribute effectively towards reporting on the network and ensure accurate and timely contributions towards a narrative of success, both quantitative and qualitative. 
 
Work with cross-Government colleagues to support Trade Envoys, maximise their impact and raise awareness (inc via social media) of the positive elements of the TE Programme. 
 
Deliver a high-quality service, manage Trade Envoy expectations and ensure they feel valued. Provide updates and briefings to Trade Envoys on DBT and wider HMG priorities this includes arranging sectoral roundtables and one-to-one meetings with Ministers where appropriate. 

Ensure that financial management and corporate governance is maintained. Trade Envoy spend is accurately forecasted with potential overspends highlighted, ensuring that activity delivers best value for public expenditure. Ensure that Trade Envoys operate within agreed HMG financial regulations. 
 
Build strong working relationships with relevant sector leads across DBT and wider HMG to ensure they are fully integrated into the planning process for Trade Envoy activities. 

Person specification

Essential Criteria 

• Strong relationship management skills with the ability to engage with stakeholders across the Department, FCDO and business. 
• Demonstrate confidence in taking forward a portfolio of work. 
• Excellent communication and organisational skills  
• Ability to work flexibly, under pressure. 

Desirable Criteria  

• Ability to take the initiative, problem solving and developing networks. 
• Understanding of the overseas network and International Trade & Investment 

Personal Attributes & Skills

The role would ideally suit a self-starter looking to acquire the benefits of a private office style role (i.e. upwards management, resilience, broader understanding and regular exposure to many teams across Government) while still retaining the intellectual challenge of leading on the delivery of individual pieces of work. 
 
The candidate will need to demonstrate confidence in taking forward a Trade Envoy portfolio of work, which will also require excellent interpersonal skills to be able to engage with credibility, together with sound judgement to manage relationships with the Trade Envoys’ and other senior stakeholders. 
 
The ability to work flexibly with others in a busy environment and excellent time management skills in order to keep various work-streams running to sometimes demanding deadlines simultaneously, so would suit someone with strong organisational skills.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £32,858, Department for Business and Trade contributes £8,872 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:    

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 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 CV Only. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to assessment/interview.   

Location and working arrangements 

This role is available in seven UK locations, Primary Location will be London and can only be worked from within the UK, not overseas Travel to your primary office location will not be paid for by DBT, but costs for travel to an office which is not your main location will be covered.   

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.