Switzerland FTA International Policy & Strategy Lead
Department for Business and Trade
Apply before 11:55 pm on Friday 3rd May 2024
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About the job
Job summary
This is an exciting opportunity to join the Department for Business and Trade’s Trade Policy, Implementation and Negotiations Group, responsible for delivering HMG’s Free Trade Agreement negotiations programme. Our aim is to open markets and to promote British trade and investment across the world which is vital for the prosperity of the UK.
The UK launched negotiations for an enhanced FTA with Switzerland in May 2023. As one of the UK’s key trading partners, there is strong political and business appetite for securing an agreement that works for the whole of the UK. With negotiations underway, the role holder will sit in the central Switzerland country team, which is responsible for setting the strategy and delivering the negotiations. The Switzerland country team will sit under the Chief Negotiator for both the Israel and Switzerland negotiations and therefore there may be some requirement to work on Israel negotiations.
The successful applicant will work closely with teams in DBT, across Whitehall and in Switzerland to ensure that key outcomes are delivered through negotiations. They will play a key role as strategy lead for a portfolio of policy areas and lead work to resolve policy issues that might arise from negotiations.
This will be an exciting and rewarding role in an interesting area, where success will be key to the UK’s international relationships and economic opportunities. The role sits within a fast-paced, highly supportive team that is committed to creating an a diverse, high-performing and inclusive atmosphere and supporting personal learning & development.
Job description
Key responsibilities will include:
- Leading work with policy teams in DBT and across Whitehall, to ensure that key negotiating outcomes are identified and delivered and working collaboratively to develop approaches to resolve outstanding issues.
- Representing the Chief Negotiator’s team in technical negotiation sessions with Switzerland. Providing tactical advice and steers to technical leads and reporting back to the Chief and Deputy Chief Negotiators to keep them updated on progress and issues.
- Providing high quality briefing and advice, including to the Chief Negotiator and Ministers, which enables them to make effective decisions concerning the negotiations.
- Where required, supporting and leading business and stakeholder engagement to ensure there is clarity on priorities and impacts of any trade-offs, and working with policy teams to ensure there is a clear message on anticipated outcomes for businesses from the negotiation.
- Being flexible to support emerging negotiation priorities both in the team, and more widely across the directorate.
- Supporting negotiations, including through helping policy teams to prepare for technical sessions and supporting wider comms and engagement during negotiation rounds, and making sure that the approach taken in negotiations is cognisant of the impact on businesses and other stakeholders.
- Strategic planning and project management to prepare for delivery of the negotiations and key milestones across the negotiation.
Person specification
Skills and Experience
Essential Criteria
- Proven interest in trade policy.
- Ability to quickly synthesise complex information and communicate this to diverse audiences.
- Good strategic judgement and the ability to bring together complex information to support decision making.
- The ability to work across different teams in a collaborative way in order to deliver outcomes.
- A proactive approach and the confidence to work with autonomy.
- Flexible and a team player, with the ability to work at pace when needed.
Desirable Criteria
- Experience in trade policy and/or strategy.
- Experience in external engagement.
- Experience working on international trade negotiations or experience having worked with international partners.
Personal Attributes & Skills
The role requires a high level of organisational skills, problem-solving ability and communication skills. The successful candidate should be confident in their ability in these areas:
- Excellent written communication and presentational skills, to quickly distil complex subjects, present issues clearly and succinctly to internal/external audiences.
- An eye for detail.
- Ability to take initiative and problem solve.
- Ability to maintain strong working relationships; influencing and bringing together a wide range of internal and external stakeholders, acting as a representative of DBT.
- A proven ability to organise their time and prioritise work effectively.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Delivering at Pace
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Communicating and Influencing
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 750 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 emaiil 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
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 : Julia Carroll & Rob Whiteway
- Email : Julia.Carroll@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
