About the job

Job summary

Do you care about the safety of products and want to protect people and places? Can we use your skills, knowledge and experience to enable UK business to thrive? If the answer is yes, then we would like to hear from you!  

We are the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS), part of the Department for Business & Trade (Previously the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy). We are here for the purpose of making regulation work to deliver real world impact. Regulation is a powerful Government tool to address market failures, influence behaviour and promote positive action. Crafted and delivered well, regulation can be an enabler of growth, innovation and efficiency.  

Since early 2018 we have been building a positive and creative team that enjoys a position of influence and respect within an organisation that continues to grow, most recently with the addition of construction products regulation planned.  

Our primary purpose is to protect people and places from product-related harm, ensuring consumers and businesses can buy and sell products with confidence.  

Further information can be found on our website here   

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles. We embrace diversity and promote equality of opportunity. We are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. There is a guaranteed interview scheme (DCS) for people with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.  

Job description

​​Regulatory Design and Governance is a small team reporting to the Deputy Director for Product and Sectors Regulation. 
 
We play a pivotal part shaping regulation that protects the environment and safety of people and places, supporting OPSS’ growth as a national regulator of products. This covers a breadth of products, from construction to common household goods, over their life-cycle from production to disposal. Many of these new enforcement roles are delivered in partnership with other government departments, adapting government policy to on-the-ground enforcement. Collaborative working across departments and with OPSS colleagues is an essential part of approach, drawing on the expertise of colleagues in enforcement, science and technical, analytical and legal teams.  

​We scrutinise new regulatory functions to make sure they fit with OPSS’s strategic direction, purpose and objectives. We work closely with policy teams across government to ensure we have effective regulatory obligations on business and powers that can deliver government’s policy objectives. We develop and apply the governance framework that underpins adoption of these roles. This includes advising Ministers for the Department of Business and Trade on the suitability, risks and opportunities of delivering new regulatory enforcement roles. Our work is often fast-paced and must adapt to new or changing priorities. 
 
The ideal candidate for this role will be keen to grow their knowledge of regulation and bring a structured approach to problem-solving, with strong interest in tackling new and complex issues in a way that offers pragmatic solutions to regulatory problems. 

​Further information on the team is available on their blog: https://opss.blog.gov.uk/2024/01/09/get-to-know-the-regulatory-design-and-governance-team/  

• ​​Lead thinking and critical analysis to shape, influence and develop new regulatory roles, powers and supporting legislation. This will cover a breadth of product related regulation affecting environmental or socially responsible outcomes, product performance or safety, developed with partners across government. 
• ​Manage OPSS’ approach to new enforcement roles for government departments, ensuring a strong and influential relationship with departmental partners, providing advice and robust scrutiny of candidate regulatory roles, and working in line with required governance, including overseeing agreement of memorandum of understanding. 
• ​Provide analytical support to colleagues to structure problems, build evidence and identify pragmatic options that improve OPSS’ regulatory effectiveness. 
• ​Lead advice, briefings and submissions for Ministers and OPSS leadership, and respond to parliamentary business where relevant. 
• ​Develop and improve OPSS’ range of regulatory tools, powers and strategy, to ensure a suite of effective and proportionate regulatory powers, working collaboratively with enforcement, legal and policy colleagues. 
• ​Support wider Departmental and civil-service policy objectives, including playing an active role in supporting cross-office initiatives, such as wellbeing, learning and development. 
• ​Provide structured and supportive line management, and positive contributions to the growth and development of the team. 

Person specification

Personal Attributes & Skills 

• ​​Collaborative, supportive, and motivating approach to leadership, able to develop and maintain productive working relationships with a broad range of partners. 
• ​Flexible approach to managing projects, ranging from leadership of cross-office teams to independent work, setting clear milestones and delivering against agreed timescales. 
• ​Demonstrable ability to critically assess regulatory powers, real-world use and needs, and interpret relevant legislation. 
• ​Practised policy development, analysis and problem-solving skills, able to use a range of approaches to structure and present problems, identify, assess and appraise policy options, drawing on relevant evidence. 
• ​Clear and persuasive communication skills, able to explain complex issues clearly, engage with feedback and work collaboratively to build consensus, including engaging with senior colleagues and Ministers.​ 

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £53,560, Department for Business and Trade contributes £14,462 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. 

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. 

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.  

As part of your interview, you will be asked to deliver a short oral presentation, details will be provided prior to your interview.

In the event of a large number of applicants, an initial short sift will be conducted on the Personal Statement Only. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to assessment/interview.   

Candidates who are judged to be a near miss at interview may be offered a post at the grade below the one advertised.

Location and working arrangements 

This role is available in three (London, Teddington and Birmingham) UK locations and can only be worked from within the UK, not overseas. Most DBT employees will be working a hybrid pattern, spending 2-3 days a week (pro rata) in the office on average. Changes to these working arrangements are available in certain circumstances but must be agreed with the vacancy manager and in line with the requirements of the role and can only be discussed with successful candidates. 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 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.  

Our recruitment process is underpinned by the principle of appointment on the basis of fair and open competition and appointment on merit, as outlined in the Civil Service Commissioners’ Recruitment Principles.   

If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with these principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should in the first instance contact DBT by email: Resourcing@businessandtrade.gov.uk.    

If you are not satisfied with the response you receive, you can contact the Civil Service Commission, which regulates all Civil Service recruitment.   

For further information on bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission please visit their web pages:  Click https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Complaints_Handling_Procedure-AUGUST-2018.docx.pdf to visit Civil Service Commission/Complaints 

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.