About the job

Job summary

The UK believes in open markets and fair competition where all countries are treated fairly in the global trading system and businesses can compete based on merit. However, UK businesses are facing increasing challenges from Market Distorting Practices (MDPs) such as harmful industrial subsidies, and economic coercion from third countries.

MDPs are defined by the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) as: “Support or action by, or on behalf of, governments, that distort markets and result in detrimental impacts on other states and businesses.”

We are seeking a Senior Strategy Adviser to help shape our response to MDPs.

Acting to address these practices is a priority for the UK Government to ensure free and fair trade, maintain the integrity and sustainability of the rules-based multilateral trading system, and support UK businesses.

The UK is playing a leading role in addressing MDPs, with DBT seeking to mitigate the negative impacts resulting from their increasing, systematic, and endemic use by states.

The MDP team within the Department for Business and Trade (DBT), is developing the UK’s understanding of the incidence, magnitude and impacts of these practices, including their role and impacts on key UK sectors/businesses, as well as identifying new and innovative ways to address these challenges.

This will include improving our evidence base, looking at the domestic tools available to us, exploring opportunities to work with UK businesses in this space and leading strategy projects.

This role plays a critical role in helping to develop our approach to MDPs. It will provide ample opportunities for variety, development and stretch, and be equally rewarding, sitting at the heart of some of the most interesting geopolitical and economic challenges of our time, with potentially far-reaching real-world impacts.

We strongly encourage applications from people with diverse skills, perspectives, and backgrounds to bring real strength to our team and the wider department.

Job description

Our work on MDPs involves extensive cross-departmental engagement, at all levels – coordinating with relevant policy and geographic teams within DBT, and ensuring this work is appropriately situated within/alongside other relevant cross-HMG workstreams (e.g., country strategies, the Cabinet Office’s economic statecraft initiative).

As Senior Strategy Adviser, your key responsibilities will include:

• Oversee project management and delivery of MDPs policy and strategy work.

• Building relationships across Government and leading engagement with key departments – in particular, HM Treasury and Cabinet Office.

• Drive forward evidence-based development of UK trade policy/trade defence on MDPs.

• Implementation and further development of DBT’s international MDP strategy, including engagement with partners/stakeholders.

• Manage relationships with internal teams and co-ordinate work across DBT, working closely with economist/analytical/legal teams, as required.

• Support senior managers and Ministers, providing briefing and advice where needed.

• Provide effective line management and direction to 2 x SEOs, building capability, and helping create a diverse and inclusive team.

You will need to be flexible to take on new workstreams and projects as required, including potentially on economic coercion.

Person specification

Essential criteria

• Experience working in a policy role.
• Ability to communicate and influence effectively.

Desirable criteria 

• Knowledge and experience of trade policy.
• Experience working on cross-cutting areas of policy.
• Line management experience.

Personal attributes & skills

• Flexible in approach and willing to take on new workstreams or projects.
• Able to identify, evidence and analyse policy options with authority, drawing upon experts as appropriate.
• See the big picture, able to identify links and opportunities in a fast-moving policy area.
• Collaborative with the ability to form effective working relationships across DBT/Whitehall.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £53,560, Department for Business and Trade contributes £14,461 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 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, 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 no more than 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.   

In the event of a large number of applicants, an initial short sift will be conducted on the Personal Statement. 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 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.  

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

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.