About the job

Job summary

This is an exciting time to join the newly-created Smarter Regulation Directorate in the Department for Business and Trade. It was formed following the recent merger of the Better Regulation Executive and Brexit Opportunities Unit within the Competition, Markets, and Regulatory Reform Group. Its mission is to work to ensure that the UK’s regulatory approach is proportionate, targeted, transparent and optimised to support innovation and maximise growth, delivering better outcomes for the economy and society. 

We are a friendly and inclusive directorate with a range of exciting policies. Our work underpins the government’s ambitions to reform the regulatory agenda. It’s ambitious, high-profile and of significant interest to the Secretary of State, Ministers and senior officials across government.  

This advert is for three G7 roles across the Smarter Regulation Directorate.  

We are recruiting for a role in the Regulatory Engagement and Operations team, leading on reviews of regulators duties, developing an understanding of current duties and identifying potential areas where these could be strengthened​. The role will also lead on landscape mapping of the largest regulators and duties​. 

Another role in the Better Regulation Framework (BRF) team. The BRF helps ensure that new regulations are proportionate and that there is robust evidence to justify any necessary costs to business, consumers, and wider impacts. The role is to lead on sponsorship of the Regulatory Policy Committee, external engagement on the BRF, and policy work for how key elements of the BRF could be applied to regulators. 

We are also recruiting for a role in the Policy Reform team. The team works with all departments across Whitehall to drive the ambition and delivery of regulatory reform opportunities to facilitate business growth. This post-holder will be responsible for a specific portfolio and will support departments in policy development and delivery. 

Job description

The Smarter Regulation Directorate is seeking dynamic and enthusiastic individuals to lead on policy development. The roles offer significant policy and strategy leadership, with excellent exposure to Ministers and opportunities to work with a wide range of stakeholders, including at very senior levels, across government, regulators and externally. 

All roles will involve line management of one SEO, but this may be subject to change and will be considered on a case-by-case basis.  

For the Regulatory Engagement and Operations team role, you will: 

• Lead reviews of regulator duties, developing an understanding of current duties and identifying potential areas where these could be strengthened​. 
• Conduct landscape mapping of the largest regulators and duties​. 
• Work to support development of impactful policy options to bring consistency and performance management, entrenching Smarter Regulation principles into regulators, including innovation, alternatives and risk​. 
• Work across Whitehall with other government departments to understand shared regulatory challenges and how they interact with the regulators that they sponsor. 

For the Better Regulation Framework (BRF) team role, you will: 

• Lead on Regulatory Policy Committee (RPC) Sponsorship – including governance, appointments, management of government’s relationship with the RPC Chair and members, including response to public policy positions expressed by the RPC, regular briefings for Ministers and senior officials for meetings with the RPC and Chair. 
• Lead on external engagement for the newly reformed BRF – including proactive and reactive communications with stakeholders on the reforms, including policy advice. 
• Lead on complex policy work for how key elements of the BRF could be applied to regulators. This includes development and implementation of policy options and reactive and pro-active engagement with key senior stakeholders around these. 

For the Policy Reform team role, you will: 

• Be responsible for key policy themes of the Smarter Regulation Programme, working across Whitehall to drive delivery and progress and supporting departments in delivering ambitious plans for both Retained EU Law and wider domestic regulatory reform. This may involve independently challenging departmental policy and analysis and providing advice on feasibility and announcement of key reforms. 
• Build collaborative relationships with policy colleagues across the Department for Business and Trade, Cabinet Office, and Number 10, government departments and regulators.  
• Work across government and closely with Ministers to deliver regular announcements on regulatory reform opportunities. This will include supporting Ministers with external business engagement and internal ministerial meetings and work closely across the team and with Private Office to update Ministers on progress of the programme.

Person specification

Personal Attributes & Skills

• Can demonstrate excellent interpersonal skills and professionalism, showing genuine care for the team and other colleagues, creating an inclusive working environment and a clear commitment to civil service values and high standards.  
• Can demonstrate leadership skills in managing and taking responsibility for policy through ambiguity, change, and periods of high demand and challenge. 
• Can work independently on complex policy areas, and enjoys autonomy, taking the initiative to make sense of and drive forward work in an area where the political landscape is evolving. 
• Ability to understand a wider government perspective on developments to ensure policy is relevant and ensure plans reflect wider strategic priorities. 
• Demonstrates excellent commitment to management, promoting and undertaking learning and development and contributing to wider team leadership.  
• Excellent written and presentation skills. 

Essential Criteria 

• Excellent policy skills, with the ability to effectively compile, understand, analyse and present evidence, to arrive at options identifying clear pros, cons and recommendations. 
• Ability to quickly get to grips with a situation and problem-solve at pace. 
• Can adapt and deliver efficiently and effectively, even when working with uncertainty and ambiguity. 
• Understanding the political, economic and societal landscape and use good judgement to arrive at deliverable solutions. 
• Ability to work collaboratively within and across teams and to build and maintain relationships across the Department, across government, and with external stakeholders. 
• Strong written and oral communication skills. 

Desirable Criteria  

• Experience and understanding of regulators, key regulated sectors, and/or regulatory issues. 
• Experience in line management. 
• For the Regulatory Engagement and operational role experience of working on a Bill or legislation is desirable. 

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 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 of up to 750 words, outlining your eligibility for the role.

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. 

In the event of a large number of applicants, an initial short sift will be conducted based on personal statements only. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to assessment/interview.  

As part of your interview, you will be asked to deliver a short oral presentation, details will be provided prior to your interview. 

The role will be based in either Darlington, London or a DBT regional office. You will be asked to express a location preference during the application process.

Reasonable travel between DBT offices for in-person meetings, including with Ministers and external stakeholders, is part of all roles. 

Candidates who are judged to be a near miss at interview may be offered a post at the grade below the one advertised.

Please note: We plan to hold one or two information sessions for all potential applicants to join, including time for Q&A. If you would be interested in joining one of these then please email clare.bayley@businessandtrade.gov.uk 

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 

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.