About the job

Job summary

The Consumer and Competition Policy (CCP) Directorate is at the heart of the Government’s growth agenda. What we do affects businesses, consumers and the overall economy. Getting it right is therefore critically important. The Directorate aims to be evidence-driven, engaged, collaborative, innovative and influential. We have a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion. 

Within CCP, the Subsidy Control team is responsible for implementing the Subsidy Control Act 2022. A subsidy is where a public authority provides support to a business in a way that gives them advantage over a competitor. Without controls, subsidies could give an unfair advantage to some businesses over their competitors. 

The Subsidy Control Act provides the framework for the new, UK-wide subsidy control regime, enabling public authorities to design and deliver subsidies that are tailored to their local needs and that drive economic growth, while minimising distortion to UK competition and investment and protecting our international obligations. This supports our goals of supporting British businesses to grow, ensuring markets are competitive, securing investment and promoting free trade. 

For more information on subsidy control please visit:  

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/subsidy-control-regime 

The successful candidate will be responsible for leading a small team covering subsidy control casework and international policy.  

Through the casework function we provide support and guidance to public authorities on subsidy control compliance, helping these authorities to recognise and fulfil their obligations and thereby minimising the risk of challenge. This work involves working with policy-makers right across government as well as working with the Devolved Administrations and other public bodies. Our international function works closely with partners across government to promote the value of subsidy control internationally and to address international subsidy control risks. This includes advising on subsidy control chapters in free trade agreements, which are a Departmental and HMG priority.  

This a great time to join the team, with a real opportunity to help shape the new regime.  

Job description

 Key accountabilities will include: 

• Setting strategic direction across the casework and international portfolios, ensuring we have a coherent approach that reflects wider government objectives; 
• Developing your team, ensuring all team members have the requisite skills and knowledge for their role, that work produced is of a high standard and that they have access to opportunities to develop new skills; 
• Being a visible and engaged leader within the wider Subsidy Control Team and CCP directorate, seeking opportunities to add value and improve team effectiveness and wellbeing;    
• Leading and troubleshooting on more complex casework cases; this will involve balancing political, legal and practical considerations and navigating a range of different stakeholder perspectives;  
• Leading the Subsidy Control international portfolio. This will include overseeing subsidy control input into Free Trade Agreements and leading on bilateral engagement with the EU;   
• Building productive working relationships with colleagues across government, the Devolved Administrations and beyond; leveraging those relationships successfully to secure effective outcomes;  
• Working closely with other G6-led teams and key stakeholders to identify and implement improvements to how the subsidy control regime operates.   

Our team works flexibly to respond to changing demands and priorities and therefore responsibilities may change over time. 

The Subsidy Control Team is based across several sites around the UK.  Some UK travel to meet up with team members and stakeholders will be required. 

Person specification

Essential criteria

The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate a firm understanding of policy-making processes and an ability to work with complex legislation. 

Desirable criteria  

Prior knowledge of Subsidy Control (or State Aid) would be a strong advantage.   

 Personal attributes & skills 

In addition to strong policy-making skills and an ability to work with legislation, the successful candidate will be: 

• An excellent people manager, capable of effectively resolving issues and getting the best from their team. 
• A pragmatic and determined problem-solver, who can balance differing strategic objectives and de-escalate potential conflicts. 
• A skilled communicator, who presents well in writing and in-person. An ability to break down technical content for a non-technical audience, including for ministers, is key.   
• Good at building and maintaining strong working relationships and influence with a range of stakeholders.  

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £64,432, Department for Business and Trade contributes £17,396 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.

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.

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, 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, explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role in reference to the person specification and essential criteria.   

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 behaviour-based questions and to deliver a short oral presentation, details will be provided prior to your interview.  

This role is available in seven UK locations and can only be worked from within the UK, not overseas. Most DBT employees will be working a hybrid pattern, spending 2-3 days a week (pro rata) in the office on average. Changes to these working arrangements are available in certain circumstances but must be agreed with the vacancy manager and in line with the requirements of the role and can only be discussed with successful candidates. Travel to your primary office location will not be paid for by DBT, but costs for travel to an office which is not your main location will be covered.   

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

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.