About the job

Job summary

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) is the UK’s international trade department. Our Vision is to champion open and fair global trading that drives growth, creates better jobs and higher wages, and improves living standards in this country and around the world. The Department brings together policy and operational expertise to break down barriers to trade and investment in markets across the world. 

The Tariffs, Imports, Professions and Strategy team leads on several high-profile areas, including developing the UK’s domestic and multilateral tariff policy framework and implementation plans. The Tariff Policy Delivery team sits within TIPS and is vital to delivering the UK’s independent trade policy, working with policy and operational colleagues to ensure the UK’s trade policy is applied at the Border. The team also work closely with DBT’s Digital team to support the development of the Tariff Application Platform (TAP) which is the UK’s database for holding all tariff policy data. 

We are advertising for a permanent HEO role in the team to support the operational delivery of tariff and trade policies. This includes implementing tariff policy for all Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), trade remedies, disputes, tariffs and suspensions. The successful candidate will need to operationalise tariff and trade policies into the TAP system directly, taking responsibility for ensuring data is uploaded in a timely and accurate manner. 

The successful candidate will need to be able to work with teams across Government to agree the optimal way of delivering policy, including working closely with HMRC operational and technical experts. The role will build a strong grip on tariff issues and the ability to support policy owners with operationalising tariff policies at the Border.  

You will need to be able to develop a strong working relationship with policy teams within DBT and across other Government departments, as well as with the DBT digital team (DDaT). You will work with DDaT colleagues to build and develop the TAP system to best meet policy colleagues’ outcomes. You should be able to articulate the department’s position robustly and ensure DBT’s interests are credibly represented in cross Whitehall meetings. A key part of the role will be to support the development in training, guidance and upskilling materials for the TAP system. 

Comprehensive training would be given on how trade policy operates and how to use the digital systems for those with no previous experience of trade policy, though a background in an operational role would be advantageous. 

Job description

Key Accountabilities

• Develop expertise in how to operationalise tariff and trade policy, and develop a deep understanding of goods classification, commodity code structures, and a range of trade measures.
• Work closely with colleagues in policy, operational, and digital teams from Other Government Departments across Whitehall and use your operational knowledge of tariff/trade delivery to guide delivery and determine the best method of implementation in customs and tariff systems. 
• Update the Tariff Application Platform (TAP) system directly with tariff and trade policy data in order to ensure operational delivery at the UK Border. 
• Work closely with Digital colleagues to support development of training/upskilling materials related to the TAP system. This will include drafting guidance, running training sessions and supporting the onboarding of colleagues across Government onto the TAP system itself. 

Person specification

Essential Criteria 

• Comfortable with delivering at pace and working in an environment which often has challenging deadlines 
• Ability to manage multiple work streams and switch between them as priorities change and evolve 
• Experience working with data including using large datasets in Excel 
• Ability to work as part of a team and on your own initiative 

DBT has a comprehensive trade policy training and development programme which is available to all new and existing staff members. 

Desirable Criteria  

• Evidence of building effective working relationships with internal stakeholders across Government 
• Experience working with tariff and/or trade data 
• Attention to detail to produce high-quality and accurate work 
• An interest in international trade and the internal workings of government. 

Personal Attributes & Skills

The Tariff Policy Delivery Advisor role is an operational delivery role that requires strong technical ability as well as working closely with policy, digital and other operational colleagues across Government. This makes it an exciting area to work in and a great place to develop knowledge of both operations and policy. The successful candidate will be reliable, approachable, and detail orientated in order to deliver on the UK’s trade policy ambitions. 

The team often work at pace to challenging timelines, reflecting the ever-changing nature of policy development. The successful candidate should be adaptable, flexible and able to operate in uncertainty with resilience. 

We are inclusive

We are fully committed to being an inclusive employer and ensuring equal opportunities. We are keen to make our workforce as diverse as possible and recognise how important inclusivity is to achieve the best outcomes. We hope to attract applications from all underrepresented groups. 

We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation if required to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform crucial job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. 

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 of 500 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.

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 CV only. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to assessment/interview. 

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

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 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.