About the job

Job summary

About OPSS

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, 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 2019 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 the regulation of construction products planned for 2022.

Our mission: To be a trusted product regulator for the UK.

Our goal: To be a leader of good regulatory practice and a champion of local regulation.

Further information can be found on our website:

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/office-for-product-safety-and-standards

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 (GIS) for people with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

We are Inclusive

We are fully committed to being an inclusive employer and ensuring equal opportunities. We are keen to make our workforce as diverse as possible and recognise how important inclusivity is to achieve the best outcomes. We hope to attract applications from all underrepresented groups.

We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform crucial job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

We now use this: “Our primary purpose is to protect people and places from product-related harm, ensuring consumers and businesses can buy and sell products with confidence.”

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 safety of people and places across a huge range of products, from construction to common household goods, and that protects our environment through the life-cycle of goods from production to disposal. Collaborative working is an essential part of our approach, drawing on the expertise of colleagues in enforcement, science and technical, analytical and legislation roles. We scrutinise new regulatory functions to make sure they fit with OPSS’s strategic direction, purpose and objectives. 

The team works in collaboration across government by providing regulatory expertise to other departments and their policy teams.  We work with policy teams to ensure that we have effective regulatory obligations and powers in place in order to support the policy objectives, and the team is responsible for the ongoing development of a governance framework to underpin these activities. Our work is often fast-paced and must adapt to new or changing priorities. 

The role provides the unique opportunity for the ideal candidate to not only make an impact in OPSS by supporting the ongoing development of OPSS’ impact as a regulator, but also to support wider government priorities by providing regulatory expertise to other departments.  The ideal candidate will bring a structured approach to problem-solving and strong interest in tackling new and complex issues in a way that offers pragmatic solutions to regulatory problems.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Support policy thinking and critical analysis to shape, influence and develop new regulatory roles, powers and supporting legislation. This will include DBT’s own regulations as well as enforcement roles for Other Government Departments (OGDs).

2. Contribute towards ministerial advice to DBT Ministers on OPSS’ work for other departments.

3. Manage OPSS’ approach to new enforcement roles for OGDs, ensuring a strong and influential relationship with OGD partners, providing advice and robust scrutiny of candidate regulatory roles, and contributing to the development of Memorandums of Understanding with the OGDs,

4. Provide policy and analytical support to colleagues, working collaboratively to continually improve OPSS’ regulatory effectiveness, adopting a structured, evidenced and pragmatic approach to problem solving.

5. Develop written research, analysis, and advice, including responding to parliamentary business where relevant.

6. Develop and improve OPSS’ analysis of regulatory tools, powers and strategy, to ensure a suite of effective and proportionate regulatory powers, working collaboratively with delivery, legal and policy colleagues.

7. Support wider DBT and civil-service policy objectives, including playing an active role in supporting cross-office initiatives, such as well-being, learning and development.

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/

Person specification

Personal attributes & skills 

Skills & experience

• Open and collaborative way of working, able to develop and maintain productive working relationships with a broad range of partners.

• Programme management skills, and the ability to work independently.

• The ability to critically assess regulatory powers, real-world use and needs, and interpret relevant legislation.

• To have analysis and problem-solving skills, able to use a range of approaches to structure and present problems, identify, assess and appraise options, drawing on relevant evidence.

• Able to explain complex issues clearly, engage with feedback and work collaboratively to build consensus, including engaging with senior colleagues.

• Leading meetings, running workshops or other collaborative events

Location preference for the role. 

Hybrid worker

The role will be based in Birmingham/London and Teddington. You will be asked to express a location preference during the application process.  

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

Informal hybrid working arrangements will be available as agreed with the vacancy manager and in line with the requirements of the role. 

Most DBT employees will be working a hybrid pattern, spending 2-3 days a week (pro rata) in an office, on average. If your office location is London, you will be eligible to receive London weighting. 

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 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:    

• A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Provide employment history that relates to the essential criteria of the Person specification, 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 of the Person specification.   

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.   

A presentation will be required of candidates at interview.

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 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. 

Feedback

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.