About the job

Job summary

The Department for Business and Trade is offering the right candidate the chance to make their mark and help continue to build a highly skilled external affairs function in Central Government. 

Partnership and advocacy with our stakeholders are core to developing and delivering our policies, and building trust in our work. DBT stakeholders include businesses, business representative bodies, exporters and investors, NGOs and a range of sector, regional and international opinion-formers. We work across the UK and internationally through our networks and overseas posts. 

You’ll work on campaigns that promote growth through exporting, encourage investment, promote trade deals and/or help create the best environment for businesses to start up and flourish. 

You will provide professional external affairs advice working confidently with a broad range of people within the Department and across, and beyond, Whitehall. You will understand the Department’s business objectives and define external affairs priorities to meet them. You will build relationships, influence and collaborate with stakeholders to further communications objectives and be part of a team that builds advocacy for our vision, policy direction and promotional campaigns. 

Job description

You will support the Deputy Head and Head of External Affairs and lead projects to: 

• Develop insights and map the stakeholder landscape, deepening the Department’s understanding of the issues, policies, campaigns and views of key stakeholders and using that intelligence to inform external narratives, working closely with strategic communications colleagues. 
• Devise and manage strategic stakeholder engagement and enhance the reputation of the Department to promote collaboration and advocacy in support of our communications objectives 
• Build trusted relationships and a network of professional contacts especially with stakeholders’ communications and external affairs counterparts. 
• Support and advise on high profile Ministerial and Senior Official events, forums and roundtables. 
• Generate creative content and messages for stakeholders to disseminate through their channels and networks. You will work with policy, press office, digital and marketing teams to deliver content through multiple DBT channels. 
• Establish systems and processes to coordinate and share stakeholder data and intelligence. 
• Monitor, evaluate and report on the effectiveness of external affairs activities. 
• Contribute to the Government Communications Service and spread best practice across the department, raising understanding of External Affairs. 

Person specification

Essential criteria 

• Proven experience of managing external affairs or advocacy-led communication campaigns 
• Ability to work with influential and high-profile businesses and stakeholders understanding their priorities, issues and attitudes 
• Evidence of communicating with and influencing both senior internal and external stakeholders, through a range of channels. 
• Strong organisational and planning skills, ability to prioritise and to deliver exceptional communications outcomes 
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills including managing meetings and leading on actions 
• Excellent skills in collaboration to bring internal and external stakeholders alongside to co-develop projects, often delivering through others 
• A broad understanding and interest in communications from news management and social media to developing creative and insightful content with and for stakeholders.

Desirable criteria  

• Experience of line managing a team to deliver performance objectives  
• An understanding of working with Ministers and officials

Personal attributes & skills 

The successful candidate will be a strong manager with excellent influencing and networking skills. You will have a working understanding of evaluation and insight and be fully versed in communications planning approaches. Your ability to think strategically and deliver the highest quality work, at pace, will enable you to hit the ground running.

You will have experience of managing and implementing significant external / public affairs campaigns and delivering the highest quality work. You will be used to delivering projects, generating and implementing creative ideas, developing content (particularly digital communication) and have an excellent understanding of communication operating principles. You will have excellent influencing and stakeholder management skills. 

We are looking for someone who is enthusiastic and creative, driven by achieving outcomes through building relationships that achieve shared agendas and collaboration. You will always maximise communications opportunities and work well with internal and external stakeholders to deliver them. You will be very organised and have excellent planning skills, with absolute attention to detail.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £39,384, Department for Business and Trade contributes £10,633 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. 

After the closing date 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 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.
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.

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.   

Location and working arrangements 

This role is available in seven 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 /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 

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 

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.