About the job

Job summary

Following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in March 2022, the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) has played a leading role in enabling UK business to support Ukraine’s reconstruction efforts.  

The Ukraine Reconstruction Team was established to lead the department’s work in this area. Since its inception, the team has led on and delivered high-profile and substantial work across Whitehall and internationally in support of HMG’s policy objectives, from business engagement events and to the Ukraine Recovery Conference, one of HMG’s top diplomatic moments in 2023. It has also developed initiatives such as the London Conference Framework on War Risk Insurance, the launch of the UK-Ukraine TechBridge, Business Bridge Ukraine, and our ongoing Infrastructure Taskforce with the Government of Ukraine, which aims to bring UK business expertise to the reconstruction challenge ahead. 

The UK-Ukraine TechBridge is a flagship initiative for the UK and was announced by the Prime Minister at the Ukraine Recovery Conference 2023. The UK-Ukraine TechBridge was conceived to support the Ukrainian tech sector and ensure its resilience so it can contribute effectively to Ukraine’s economic recovery. The TechBridge is doing this by bringing together the UK and Ukrainian tech ecosystems to collaborate, deliver mutually beneficial commercial opportunities, develop skills and talent, support innovation, and act as a channel for tech initiatives between the two. It is run in partnership with the Government of Ukraine.  

This is an exciting, fast paced, and challenging role which will involve supporting the planning and delivery of appropriate projects and activities under the TechBridge banner. The role will require the management of relationships with a range of public and private sector stakeholders across the UK and Ukraine. The TechBridge team is a joint unit, led by DBT and comprised of staff from both DBT and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).  

While it is not necessary to be a tech expert for this role, you will have the opportunity to deepen your understanding of tech and of Ukraine. You will also build expertise in commercial issues, especially trade, investment, business environment and technology innovation.    

You can read more about the UK-Ukraine TechBridge here: https://www.ukukrainetechbridge.org/ 

Job description

The role will be responsible for:   

• Managing stakeholders in industry from the UK and Ukraine, and providing support to external communication and engagement.
• Identifying and delivering projects to maximise opportunities between the UK and Ukraine’s tech ecosystems.
• Providing secretariat support for the TechBridge working groups and the ministerially-chaired Industry Steering Board.
• Reporting on performance to TechBridge governance bodies, such as to the working groups and the Industry Steering Board. 
• Coordinating on business engagement across government.
• Other activities as determined during development and ongoing review of TechBridge.

Person specification

Essential Criteria 

• Good communication skills   
• Effective relationship building skills
• Strong organisational skills  
• Ability to be flexible and work to a degree of ambiguity

Desirable Criteria  

• Project delivery experience 
• Experience of engaging internationally
• Experience of engaging with industry or experience working in a business-facing role

Personal Attributes & Skills 

This is a complex and ever-changing area so this role would suit an individual seeking a stretching role. It will provide excellent opportunities to demonstrate skills in stakeholder management and delivering against tight deadlines in a business-facing environment. 

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, 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.

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.

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.

In the event of a large number of applicants, an initial short sift will be conducted on the CV. 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, details will be provided prior to your 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.    

For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the following page https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/demystifying-vetting

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

Please note this Post is NOT regulated by the Civil Service Commission. 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.