Strategy Adviser, Ministerial Strategy
Department for Business and Trade
Apply before 11:55 pm on Sunday 5th May 2024
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About the job
Job summary
We are looking for an enthusiastic and high-performing strategy adviser to join DBT’s Ministerial Strategy Directorate (MSD). MSD sits at the heart of the department and this role provides the opportunity contribute to the delivery of the department’s key priorities.
The successful candidate will help to deliver cross-cutting strategic projects on a wide range of topics across economic policy. They will be required to think strategically, working across DBT (including regular engagement with senior leadership) and other government departments. The team works in a fast-paced environment and the role may adapt based on evolving ministerial priorities.
MSD’s policy and strategy teams address emerging and cross-cutting issues and help DBT take a rigorous and coherent approach to strategic decisions, with a particular focus on economic policy making and growth.
This role is in the Future Trade Policy team, which delivers cross-cutting strategy projects to support DBT’s priorities, with a particular focus on trade policy. We work closely with ministers, senior officials, teams across DBT and other government departments. Examples of our strategy development projects include work on green trade, market-distorting practices, trade digitalisation and growth strategy.
Job description
Responsibilities:
- Producing structured policy analysis on cross-cutting policy questions and tensions to support the development of new strategies and approaches, coordinating with policy and analytical colleagues.
- Developing and communicating policy positions on a wide range of issues to support cross-departmental and cross-HMG discussions, and engagement in international fora.
- Collaborating and influencing across government departments to ensure DBT’s policy priorities are factored into wider policy-making, and to bring together the expertise to develop new strategies and policies.
- Engaging and building relationships with a range of stakeholders, including teams across the department and with other government departments.
Person specification
Essential Criteria
- Ability to see the bigger picture and think strategically.
- Excellent communication and influencing skills.
- Ability to work collaboratively, flexibly and effectively in a team.
- Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple tasks and competing priorities, often to tight deadlines.
- An understanding and appreciation of the requirement to provide timely, honest, objective and impartial advice in the Civil Service.
Desirable Criteria
- Experience working in a policy or strategy role.
- Understanding / knowledge of international trade or economic policy.
- Able to work effectively across departmental boundaries.
Personal Attributes & Skills
We are looking for a self-starter who is comfortable working with multiple stakeholders and in a fast-paced environment. We welcome policy and skills knowledge from a wide range of backgrounds, recognising that subject-specific knowledge will often be developed in the role.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Making Effective Decisions
- Communicating and Influencing
- Delivering at Pace
Benefits
- Learning and development tailored to your role
- An environment with flexible working options
- A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
- A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
We recognise the challenges that people with (multiple) protected characteristics may experience on the job market and in their career progression. 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 we hope to attract applications from underrepresented groups, including ethnic minorities, people with a disability, and people with gender diverse identities
Please refer to the attached candidate pack for further information on our benefits.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
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.
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 Personal Statement. 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
Nationality requirements
Working for the Civil Service
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).
Apply and further information
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : Calum Maclure
- Email : Calum.Maclure@businessandtrade.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : dbtrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Further information
If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with these principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should in the first instance contact DBT by email: Resourcing@businessandtrade.gov.uk.
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive, you can contact the Civil Service Commission, which regulates all Civil Service recruitment.
For further information on bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission please visit their web pages: Click here to visit Civil Service Commission/Complaints
