About the job

Job summary

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.  

HM Treasury is proud of a diverse and inclusive work environment, committed to fairness and the promotion of equality of opportunity for all. We know that having a range of experiences, ways of working and thinking makes us stronger and better at developing policy that reflects the needs of every community. We embrace different views and experiences and value the new perspective that people from a variety of circumstances bring to the work we do. We welcome applications from candidates who have not previously worked for the Civil Service, mid- and late-career changers with transferrable skills, people from all backgrounds and circumstances regardless of disability, gender, age ethnicity, LGBT+ identity and socio-economic status.  

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

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.

Trade Policy Team

The Trade Policy team is responsible for developing and critically challenging the government’s work on trade. The UK now has responsibility for its trade policy for the first time since 1973, and the government has a very ambitious trade agenda.

Tariff policy is a key part of the UK’s trade policy and an exciting area of taxation for the UK. HM Treasury – working closely with the Department for Business and Trade and the rest of government – is responsible for the legislation that sets the tariff rates that apply to imported goods. In doing so, we must consider a range of interests, including those of UK consumers, UK producers, as well as competition, productivity, and the UK’s broader trade interests.

The Trade Policy team prides itself on maintaining and continuously improving a culture that is friendly, welcoming, and inclusive. We are encouraging of each other and our development; and are flexible in our approach and responsibilities. The successful applicant would be expected to positively contribute to the leadership and culture of the team. 

The Role

This post offers an excellent opportunity to play a leading role in shaping and implementing the government’s approach to tariff legislation and policy. It would suit a motivated individual looking for an opportunity to work in a high-profile and fast-paced part of the department, and on a portfolio with a high degree of Ministerial interest, in particular the Financial Secretary to the Treasury and often the Chancellor of the Exchequer. 

You will have overall responsibility for the legislative framework underpinning the UK’s tariff schedule. You will oversee tangible outputs given the regularity of secondary legislation required to implement changes resulting from Free Trade Agreement negotiations to business applications for temporary tariff suspensions. You will have the opportunity to lead longer-term reforms to the UK’s tariff legislation.

Alongside legislation responsibilities, you will also have the opportunity to lead on key aspects of the UK’s tariff and trade policy, advocating Treasury interests in the development of these policies and working proactively across the department and HMG to agree policy positions. Exact responsibilities will depend on our evolving priorities.

Key accountabilities for this role include:

1. You will have responsibility for tariff legislation which is vital in ensuring the UK’s independent tariff regime is flexibly updated, lawful and reflects the government's trade policy. You will lead on managing the pipeline of upcoming tariff policy decisions which require legislation, working closely with the wider Trade Policy team and colleagues across Whitehall (particularly the Department for Business and Trade and HMRC). Longer term work includes broader reform opportunities and identifying ways to improve the efficiency of the tariff legislation process.
2. You will provide support and input on aspects of tariff and trade policy, being mindful of the statutory objectives under the relevant primary legislation and using policies to deliver wider government objectives where possible.
3. Effective leadership and delivery through others, for example, chairing the civil service wide tariff legislation working group. Building and maintaining strong working relationships with key stakeholders both external to HM Treasury e.g. the Department for Business and Trade, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and HMRC, and internal e.g. Treasury Legal Advisors (TLA) and HM Treasury Parliamentary Unit is essential to ensure virtual teams are working towards share goals and legislation is delivered in a timely manner.
4. Providing Senior Civil Servants and Treasury Ministers (in particular the Financial Secretary to the Treasury) with clear recommendations and timely advice. You will lead on the drafting of advice on tariff legislation, including statutory instruments and public notices, working closely with Treasury Legal Advisors. Additionally, you will have the opportunity to feed into wider advice on tariff policy as and when necessary.

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: Bruno Roberts-Dear at Bruno.robertsdear@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.  

The below behaviours will be assessed in your application form: 

1. Working Together – Building and maintaining strong networks to achieve progress on shared objectives, including providing constructive challenge.
2. Seeing the Big Picture – Remain alert to emerging issues and trends which might impact your work area.
3. Delivering at Pace – Regularly monitor your own and team’s work against milestones and act promptly to reassess workloads and priorities when there are conflicting demands to maintain performance.

The lead criterion is: Working Together

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

Candidate Guidance Support Session 
 
We will be running an overview of Success Profiles and the STAR approach; top tips for the application and interview process and an opportunity to ask general questions around our recruitment practices. If you would like to join us, then use the link below to join the call at the right time. 

Thursday 28th March 2024 13:30 - 14:15 

Click here to join the meeting

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £31,710, HM Treasury contributes £8,561 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: 7th April 2024
• Shortlisting: W/C 8th April 2024
• Interviews: W/C 15th April 2024 

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. 

Individuals appointed to the Treasury Group will be subject to National Security Vetting. To allow for meaningful checks to be carried out applicants will normally need to have lived in the UK for at least 3 out of the past 5 years. A lack of UK residency in itself is not always a bar to security clearance but the Department will need to consider eligibility on a case by case basis using all information that can be obtained following a successful application. 

Everyone working with government assets must complete Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) checks.  

For many roles, security clearance is also required. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements of the role before they can be appointed. The level of security clearance required for this role is Security Check (SC)

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.