About the job

Job summary

The Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA) is the UK’s independent regulator that oversees the relationship between large supermarkets and their direct groceries suppliers. The GCA is a partner organisation of the Department for Business and Trade. 

The GCA ensures that the 14 largest supermarkets treat their direct suppliers lawfully and fairly, investigates issues affecting the sector and arbitrates in disputes. The dynamic groceries sector has faced many challenges over the past few years, including supply chain issues as we exited the pandemic and inflation. The GCA team regularly interacts with supermarkets to ensure they treat suppliers fairly, despite these challenges. This is an exciting time to join the team and make a real difference for suppliers. 

We are an organisation of around 8 people and are looking for someone who can work effectively in a small team and is happy to work flexibly to support their colleagues in times of high activity across a range of different tasks. 

You will sit in the GCA’s communications team, made up of a Stakeholder Engagement and Communications Manager (Senior Executive Officer) and Senior Engagement and Communications Manager (Grade 7).

The GCA is located in a modern office building in Canary Wharf with easy access to public transport and excellent cycle-to-work facilities. The GCA supports flexible working practices and would consider substantial part-time or job share working arrangements. The GCA is committed to providing staff with learning and development opportunities.  

Appointment Term 

The GCA cannot directly employ staff. 

If the successful candidate is currently employed by another government department/public body one of the following options will apply:  

• Secondment directly from their home department/organisation to the GCA on level transfer or promotion for 2 years (with a possible option to extend by agreement) on their existing departmental pay scales, terms & conditions. This will be subject to agreement of the home department/organisation  
• If agreement cannot be reached with the home department/organisation, a two-year fixed term appointment or loan (subject to agreement of the home department) to Department for Business and Trade (DBT) and secondment for two years from there to the GCA

If the successful candidate is not currently a civil or public servant, the following will apply: 

• A two-year fixed term appointment to DBT and secondment for two years from DBT to the GCA, with a possible option to extend by agreement

Job description

This 2-year secondment (with possibility of extension) offers you the opportunity to develop your communications and stakeholder engagement skills, whilst also contributing to policy development and operational delivery in one of the UK’s most important economic sectors. 

The role has a flexible remit, including opportunities to gain experience in broad range of tasks, including: 

• Communications: Supporting and drafting content for the website, newsletters, social media and the GCA’s annual supplier survey campaign to contribute to the delivery of the organisation’s communications plan.   

• Stakeholder engagement: Monitoring the GCA’s shared inbox and anonymous reporting platform. Drafting responses to enquiries from suppliers and others as part of the GCA’s strategic engagement with stakeholders. Representing the GCA by attending meetings with suppliers and retailers, trade events and conferences.   

• Event and meetings planning: Supporting event planning for the GCA’s annual conference, managing the relationship with external providers. Leading the planning of other meetings and events throughout the year, which involves managing the Adjudicator’s diary, drafting briefing notes and speeches, logistics planning and the strategic development of themes and agendas to further the GCA’s objectives.  

• Policy and project development support: Supporting the GCA to deliver against its priorities on a range of fast-moving projects and retailer engagement.  

• Other tasks: Other tasks to support the wider team, which may include logistical support, media monitoring, record management during any arbitrations or investigations and drafting content for the annual report.

Person specification

Essential Criteria 

• The ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences, tailoring communications appropriately and securing buy-in to ideas.  
• Good interpersonal skills and ability to engage with a range of stakeholders. 
• Good administrative, planning and organisational skills, including the ability to manage several competing priorities. 
• Good attention to detail.

Personal Attributes & Skills  

• We are looking for an organised team player who wants to work in a varied role supporting the day-to-day activities of a small and busy organisation.  
• We welcome applications from people who bring transferable skills from other fields or sectors.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £32,858, Department for Business and Trade contributes £8,871 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 (750 words) explaining your motivation for applying for this role and 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 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 on the Personal Stement. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to assessment/interview

Existing Civil Servants and applicants from accredited NDPBs are eligible to apply, but will only be considered on loan basis (Civil Servants) or secondment (accredited NDPBs). Prior agreement to be released on a loan basis must be obtained before commencing the application process. In the case of Civil Servants, the terms of the loan will be agreed between the home and host department and the Civil Servant. This includes grade on return.

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.