About the job

Job summary

About HM Treasury

If you’re interested in making a difference to people’s lives, the Treasury can offer you an exciting opportunity to influence decision making that affects the whole of the UK. Working at the heart of government, we collaborate across government to promote responsible public spending and drive strong and sustainable economic growth.  

Our work ranges from protecting customers through the regulation of the financial sector, helping to reduce carbon emissions and creating a greener economy, to promoting British trade around the world and supporting people across the country on jobs, growth and more.  

We are part of the Darlington Economic Campus, a pioneering new cross-government hub which brings people together to play an active role in the most important issues of the day whilst working closer to the communities we serve. The campus provides the opportunity for people from all over the UK to help shape the future of the country, and our flexible working practices ensure you can collaborate effectively with our partners. It’s central government, made more accessible to you! 

Job description

About the Group - International Group

Do you want to advise ministers on promoting and protecting the UK’s economy and its competitiveness internationally in a fast-changing environment?  If so, read on!

International Group provides opportunities to work on areas including - spending control on international development, trade policy, climate change, health, cooperation on Ukraine, economic security, financial sanctions and tackling illicit finance.  We also manage economic relationships with Europe, US, China and other advanced economies and emerging markets.

We build relationships with external and international partners and represent the UK in a range of international groupings and institutions, including the G7, the G20, the International Monetary Fund and at some of the Multilateral Development Banks. We also analyse international comparisons and the wider global economic context, including for fiscal events.  Although international travel is an important part of some roles, it is not required for every role in the group and will be specified if required.  

About the Team - The Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI)

OFSI sits within HM Treasury, has been operational since March 2016 and in its first six years quickly established itself as a world-leader in financial sanctions, a key area of financial, foreign and national security policy. It remains front and centre of an unprecedented financial sanctions response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. 

HM Treasury implements financial sanctions in the UK, and OFSI fulfils this role on its behalf. It leads on the implementation of UN and UK financial sanctions and domestic terrorist asset freezing, providing a high-quality service to the private and charitable sectors, and guidance to help them follow the law. It works closely with law enforcement, intelligence agencies and strategic policy colleagues across Whitehall and beyond to help ensure that financial sanctions are accurately understood, implemented and enforced. OFSI has important partner relationships in the regulated financial services sector, the primary implementers of financial sanctions, and is an integral part of the sanctions community worldwide. 

Robust enforcement of financial sanctions helps to maintain the integrity of and confidence in the UK financial sector, a priority for the Prime Minister and the Chancellor. We have strong powers, including to impose monetary penalties, and are in the front line in the fight against this serious crime. 

OFSI is a diverse and dynamic team of over 130 people, from a variety of backgrounds and professions. We offer an outstanding environment to broaden your experience and develop new skills, whilst working on some of the highest profile international issues the UK faces. We strongly support a good work-life balance and flexible working is actively encouraged.

You can read more about OFSI on our gov.uk page here: https://www.gov.uk/ofsi.

Communications, Engagement and International Team (CEI)

CEI is a welcoming, inclusive team acting as the face of OFSI domestically and internationally. We collaborate as a close-knit team to ensure we maximise the impact of our respective and overlapping portfolios and to ensure the effective implementation of the financial sanctions regime. We offer exciting, stretching and varied roles that work closely with seniors and stakeholders across government, the UK and internationally.

The Strategic Communications & Parliamentary Engagement branch leads on OFSI’s communications, sanctions guidance and parliamentary engagement. This means the team is constantly looking for innovative ways, including by working with our international partners such as the US and EU, to get OFSI’s messages to the public, industry and press. By translating OFSI’s policy and UK legislation into guidance which our stakeholders can rely on, the team maximises compliance with UK sanctions. The team co-ordinates OFSI’s engagement with Parliament and monitors MPs’ interest in sanctions – as well as identifying proactive engagement opportunities, we centrally co-ordinate OFSI’s response to parliamentary processes such as select committee inquiries.

About the Job

This role offers proactive individuals the opportunity to work in a high-profile role across HM Treasury, OFSI and Whitehall. The successful candidates will a have fascinating, diverse and high-profile portfolio, with opportunities to work closely with seniors, ministerial offices and Press Office. 

The specific split of portfolios will be agreed based on the candidates’ interests and skills. One of the HEO’s will have line management responsibilities for one range C, but day-to-day task management of the range C will be split between the roles. 

Key responsibilities include: 

1. Develop and deliver effective communications plans and products – includes producing and quality assuring high quality communications, including for OFSI GOV.UK and LinkedIn pages, crucial for maintaining transparency, promoting compliance, and shaping public perception of OFSI over time.
2. Lead the development and delivery of sanctions guidance – involves producing and updating OFSI’s portfolio of digestible industry and public guidance, working with industry partners, cross-Government and international partners. In the past this included communications and guidance on the Oil Price Cap on Russian oil, the maritime sector, Arts/ High Value Dealers and charities.
3. Lead the development and delivery of key workstreams including:
   1. OFSI’s Parliamentary Engagement Programme – close collaboration with FCDO and various HM Treasury teams to formulate recommendations on engagement to ensure OFSI's goals and achievements are effectively communicated to Parliamentarians.
   2. Lead on responding to sanctions-related press queries – working closely with HM Treasury press office and OFSI teams, formulate responses to press queries which effectively communicate and reflect the government’s position on key policy and operational issues.
   3. Lead the co-ordination and development of OFSI’s Annual Review – working across HM Treasury, lead and produce the Annual Review, OFSI’s flagship publication to communicate OFSI’s operations and successes to the public.
4. Work autonomously and proactively on projects – these can include a range of projects, including producing high quality webinars, managing cross-OFSI commissions and finding new and innovative ways to engage with the public.
5. Provide excellent line and/or task management to one range C – support the wider leadership of the branch by acting as a leadership role model; support a team culture based on innovation and inclusion; and help the team transition to new priorities during a period of change. 

The position would suit someone with ambition and drive with experience and/or a strong interest in:

• Communications and stakeholder management
• Parliamentary affairs
• Co-ordination and project management
• Achieving concrete deliverables

Desirable criteria (not essential):

• Communications / press office experience
• Knowledge of sanctions 

Candidate Drop-In Session – Microsoft Teams 
 
The hiring manager will be running a candidate drop-in session for this role to give you greater insight about the role as well as the chance to learn more about HM Treasury and ask any questions you may have. If you would like to join us, then use the link below to join the call at the right time.  

Friday 26th July at 12:00: Join the meeting now

If you would like to speak to the hiring manager informally prior to the closing date for applications to find out more about the job, please contact Jason Watson (jason.watson@hmtreasury.gov.uk).

Person specification

We are looking for the below skills, experience and behaviours and we will ask you to demonstrate these in your application form. Please review the Candidate FAQ document that is attached to the advert for guidance on how to complete your application form.  

1. Proven ability to communicate to a high standard with a variety of stakeholders, with an understanding on how to develop and simplify messages, nurture relationships and manage divergent views professionally and diplomatically. (Communicating and influencing)
2. Ability to analyse, draft and develop complex documentation such as guidance and parliamentary evidence, working with others internally, across government and with a variety of stakeholders, to manage views and reach a mutual conclusion beneficial to the policy aim. (Working Together)
3. Experience of delivering projects on time and to the required standard to tight deadlines: using initiative, identifying clear objectives and outcomes as well as meeting milestones and managing any setbacks, and ensuring a balance between proactive project work and reactive tasks to meet immediate and longer-term deadlines. (Delivering at Pace)

The lead criterion is: Communicating and influencing.

If we receive large volumes of applications, we will conduct an initial sift on the lead criterion only.

Candidate Guidance Support Session - Microsoft Teams

We will be running an overview of Success Profiles and the STAR approach including top tips for the application and interview process and an opportunity to ask general questions around our recruitment practices. Please note that this session is not role specific, so we will be unable to answer specific questions about roles we are advertising. If you would like to join us, please use the link below to join the call at the right time.

Thursday 1st August at 12:30: Join the meeting now

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £31,710, HM Treasury contributes £8,878 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.

Recruitment Timeline 

Closing date: 11 August

Shortlisting: w/c 12 August

Interviews:  w/c 26 August

This timeline is indicative and may be subject to change. We will inform you if there is a substantial change to the recruitment timeline. 

If your contact details change at any time during the selection process, please ensure you update your Civil Service Jobs Profile. 

Please note that only applications submitted through Civil Service Jobs will be accepted.

Eligibility Statement  

A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role in the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government. Checks will be performed as part of pre-employment checks in line with this. Please refer to the Candidate FAQ document attached to the advert for more information. 

Everyone working with government assets must complete Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) checks. Additionally, individuals appointed to the Treasury group will be subject to National Security Vetting. The level of security vetting required for this role is Security Check (SC).  

To allow for meaningful checks to be carried out, applicants will need to have lived in the UK for at least 3 out of the past 5 years. In exceptional circumstances, a lack of residency would not be a bar to security clearance however the Department will need to consider eligibility on a case by case basis once the advert closing date has passed. 

Please read the Vetting Charter for information on what to expect during the vetting process and what will be expected from you.  Many areas of your life may be explored during your vetting journey, and it is important that every individual, regardless of their background and experiences, should feel comfortable going through this personal process, whilst having confidence that it is fair, proportionate, and inclusive.  

These short videos address common concerns and preconceptions which applicants may have about national security vetting.  If you have questions relating to security clearances, please contact HMTSecurityVetting@hmtreasury.gov.uk

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

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.