About the job

Job summary

Background 

The CPTPP team is responsible for ensuring the UK plays its full role as a member of the Comprehensive and Progressive agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), one of the largest free trade areas in the world.

The team leads UK engagement in CPTPP Ministerial level and Senior Official level meetings and the work to prepare for that, ensuring we play an active role as a signatory of CPTPP. This includes through participating in the General Review of the agreement and in Trade Committees and contributing to work on future CPTPP accessions. The team also leads on implementation of the UK’s CPTPP accession, which includes managing our approach to public and stakeholder engagement, including all public communications, as well as the work to finalise the UK’s accession and achieve formal Party status.

We are a friendly and inclusive team, leading a fast-paced, dynamic and international-focused project.

Job description

We are looking for a driven candidate to support on UK delivery of this key plurilateral trade agreement. We expect this role to lead on the team’s strategic approach to communications and stakeholder engagement. However, we would also like to identify candidates who could apply their skills to the strategy and negotiations side of the team’s work and so would welcome applicants with a range of skillsets, as long as they meet the essential criteria.

This role would be ideal for you if you have a strong interest in international affairs, enjoy managing others, and are keen to work on a high profile and fast-moving project.

You will likely be managing one SEO and one HEO. There will also be opportunities to deputise for your line manager. 

Job description

The exact nature of your role will depend on business need but is likely to include the following elements. Although in the description below these are primarily comms and engagement focussed, we are also interested in identifying candidates who could apply their skills to the strategy and negotiations side of the team’s work, and so would encourage applications from those with a range of skillsets and interests, as long as they meet the essential criteria listed below:

• Lead the development and delivery of the UK’s long-term strategic approach to communications and stakeholder engagement for the UK’s accession to, and membership of, the CPTPP. 
• Manage senior relationships across DBT and HMG with key stakeholders including communications, analytical, policy and engagement teams. 
• Lead briefing with Ministers and senior stakeholders on communications and engagement approaches and activity relating to the UK’s accession to and membership of the CPTPP. 
• Work with colleagues across DBT and HMG to lead the development of the UK’s public communications narrative on accession to and membership of the CPTPP. 
• Contribute across the team to a range of activities related to finalisation of the UK’s accession to CPTPP and our strategic approach to membership.
• Manage the SEO-led delivery of Senior Official and Ministerial stakeholder engagement events, deputising for the Senior and Deputy Senior Official at business and public facing engagements where necessary. 
• Set strategic direction and manage an HEO-led briefing hub which coordinates responses to all external correspondence relating to the UK’s accession to and membership of the CPTPP. 

Person specification

Essential Criteria 

• Experience of working in a fast-paced team to deliver high-quality outcomes, while demonstrating an ability to solve complex problems.
• Effective communication and engagement skills, with demonstrated ability to communicate complex concepts clearly with a range of stakeholders.
• Proven track record in providing strong leadership and bringing others along with you. 
• Ability to develop and maintain professional relationships with a range of colleagues across an organisation and beyond, and collaborate with these stakeholders to share information, resources and support.  

Desirable Criteria  

• Experience of communication and engagement work in a trade context. 
• Experience working on international issues, including international negotiations.

Personal Attributes & Skills 

You will be a confident, kind and enthusiastic person who is keen to contribute their skills and experience to a high-performing team.  You will be an empowering manager, seeking out development opportunities for members of your team and supporting them where appropriate.  You will also look for ways to contribute to corporate team initiatives and to the wider Directorate. 

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 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.

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. 

As part of your interview, you will be asked to deliver a short oral presentation, this will be under the behaviour of 'Seeing the Big Picture'.

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.