About the job

Job summary

We are looking for two experienced policy advisers to shape and maintain the subsidy control regime – an important part of the UK’s post-Brexit regulatory framework. 

A subsidy is where a public authority provides support to a business, usually to promote a certain positive outcome such as the creation of jobs or the greening of an industry. Without controls though, subsidies could give an unfair advantage to some business over their competitors. 

The subsidy control regime enables public authorities to design and deliver subsidies that are tailored to their local needs and that drive economic growth, while minimising distortion to UK competition and investment and protecting our international obligations. This supports our goals of supporting British businesses to grow, ensuring markets are competitive, securing investment and promoting free trade. 

The regime is a critical part to the Government’s response to some of the biggest challenges facing the UK, from net zero to supply chain resilience, and from levelling up to supporting advanced manufacturing. 

As a G7 Senior Policy Adviser, you will be a key part of a strong team of policy professionals who are collectively responsible for ensuring the effective operation of this new regime. You won’t need experience of subsidy control or competition policy – we’ll provide all the knowledge and training you’ll need. 

But you will bring curiosity, analytical skills and the ability to simplify complex ideas to busy and sometimes sceptical external contacts. You’ll know how to solve problems and how to persuade. You don’t need to be an economist or a lawyer, but you will be interested in how politics, economics and the law intersect. 

You’ll get to work on a wide range of projects, from advising on multi-million pound government interventions, to reviewing the functioning of the Subsidy Control Act, liaising with regulators, feeding in to trade negotiations and presenting to local government bodies. 

For more information on subsidy control please visit :   

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/subsidy-control-regime  

Job description

We are looking to fill two roles: the first will work on the underlying policy and legislation for the regime, advising and developing solutions to novel or tricky problems as well as carrying out engagement and outreach activities across the public sector.

The second role will be responsible for guiding Public Authorities through the subsidy process, including helping them to design strong and compliant subsidy measures.  

 Tasks may include:  

• Providing support and guidance to public authorities on specific subsidy control cases.
• Working with analysts and external stakeholders to understand the effectiveness of the new regime, identifying opportunities to improve and future-proof where feasible.   
• Delivering an outreach programme to up-skill public authorities on subsidy control obligations.  
• Building productive relationships with key stakeholders across public authorities and beyond to share best practice and identify and resolve issues with the regime.  
• Drafting briefings, correspondence and decision papers for ministers and senior officials.   
• Proving expert input into international negotiations on subsidy control and working with the FCDO on issues arising from the subsidy control chapter of the Trade and Co-operation Agreement with the EU.   
• Drafting statutory guidance and preparing new legislation (where required).  
• Line management of one or more other members of staff. 

The exact mix of responsibilities for each successful candidate will depend on the needs of the team as well as the background and skills of the successful candidates.    

Some UK travel may be required.

Person specification

Essential Criteria 

You will be: 

• An experienced policy professional who is comfortable dealing with complex policy concepts navigating ambiguity and developing intelligent risk-based arguments as appropriate.  
• An excellent communicator (both in writing and orally) with an ability to clearly and credibly explain complex concepts to non-expert audiences.   
• Willing to become familiar with the relevant legislation and guidance in a short period of time, and to be able to give considered advice on this basis. 

Desirable Criteria
 
Previous knowledge of subsidy control or state aid policy would be an advantage.  

Personal Attributes & Skills 

You will be: 

• Comfortable operating with a diverse range of stakeholders including ministers, industry experts, international counterparts, and a range of different public authorities.   
• A real team player who will look out for your colleagues and work together to achieve the best outcome for the team. 
• A solutions-focused person who enjoy policy problem-solving. 

Please be aware that this role can only be worked from within the UK and not overseas.  

If your office location is London, you will be eligible to receive London weighting. 

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £53,560, Department for Business and Trade contributes £14,488 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 (no more than 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.

It is likely that the sift will take place one week after the closing date and interviews two weeks after the closing date, though this is subject to change.

Sift will be conducted on the CV and personal statement.

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. 

Interviews will be conducted on the basis of behaviour and strength-based questions.

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 and 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.