Location

London

About the job

About Exports & Inward Investment

The Exports and Inward Investment division is a core part of the Strategy and Private Office Directorate which is responsible for leading the Department’s long-term strategic thinking, delivering important cross-cutting initiatives and ensuring the provision of a high-quality private-office service to Ministers. The Directorate brings together high-performing teams and is tasked with strengthening our strategic thought leadership, supporting the Department to operate across different modes of transport, think about synergies and trade-offs, for example on decarbonisation. The other teams in the Directorate are Private Office, the Strategy Unit and the Skills and Efficiency division.

At the heart of one of the largest infrastructure departments, the Exports and Inward Investment division is a cross-cutting team focusing on what the DfT and Government can do to assist the transport and infrastructure sector in increasing trade, exports and investment. The team was established to provide central expertise and drive a greater focus on exports across the Department as we leave the EU by using a deep, and direct, understanding of the supply chain.

Job description

This is an exciting role that rewards initiative and a can-do attitude. It presents a great opportunity to position the team even more firmly at the heart of this agenda, both in the Department and across Whitehall.

Key Responsibilities

• Exercising an important cross-cutting function in transport- related trade and export promotion, bringing together teams across DfT and working in concert with the International & Trade Policy team, feeding into the international engagement programme and wider international commercial activity. The Deputy Director has a key role on the International Strategy Board.
• Ensuring maximum impact for Her Majesty’s Government by working closely with the Department for International Trade, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy;
• Leading the Department’s preparation for and contribution to the UK’s presence at the Dubai Expo 2020, seeking to ensure the transport and infrastructure sector is well represented and that the Department and the sector see the benefits of DfT’s £3m investment in the UK pavilion;
• Leading the client function for Crossrail International, a relatively new Government-owned company which seeks to leverage the success of that major project to the benefit of UK Plc and the transport sector;
• Demonstrating initiative to work with others to lead high profile projects such as the DfT approach to inward investment and build new relationships, such as those with Her Majesty’s Trade Commissioners.

The team currently consists of 4 staff, with a further two on secondment to Crossrail International in addition to staff within that organisation such as the Acting Managing Director. Given the profile and breadth of the Deputy Director role for Exports and Inward Investment, you will have a great opportunity to promote and lead the DfT Values – Confidence, Excellence and Teamwork – not only in your own team, but also across the whole organisation. You will be committed to building diverse, high-performing teams that nurture talent and opportunity.

We expect all our senior leaders to be:

• Inspiring – about our work and its future
• Confident – in our engagement with others
• Empowering – to allow our teams to Deliver
 

Responsibilities

We are looking for a self-starter who enjoys working with energy and pace and is able to deal flexibly with uncertainty and change in a politicised environment. You are likely to be someone who excels at leading and building a high performing team. You will also be adept at working in partnership with a complex network of stakeholders inside and outside of Government.

It is essential in your supporting statement that you provide evidence and proven examples against each of the selection criteria below as far as you can.

These responses will be further developed and discussed with candidates invited for interview.

Essential Skills and Experience

• Personal impact and stakeholder management skills with the ability to be comfortable and confident in one-to-one scenarios with the most senior stakeholders, e.g. Ministers and the ability to build effective relationships with industry and foster collaborations across organisational boundaries;
• Experience of working in complex environments to set direction and delivering through others. You will need to win other departments’ and teams’ trust, commitment and support;
• Outstanding leadership skills with the ability to inspire teams, build engagement and capability to deliver, keeping those involved focused and committed to delivery and outcomes even when working under scrutiny, and create an inclusive culture;
• Sound judgement to make the right calls on policy substance and negotiating tactics in a complex and highly politicised environment;
• Demonstrable resilience and calmness under pressure, for example when dealing with challenging negotiations and senior stakeholders (e.g. board level)
Desirable:

• Commercial understanding and/or relationships with industry would be an advantage

Benefits

"Being part of our brilliant Civil Service means you will have access to a wide range of fantastic benefits.

This includes:
- a generous annual leave entitlement,
- attractive pension options,
- flexible working,
- good career development opportunities,
- a variety of career paths,
- inclusive working environments and much more to support a healthy work/life balance."

Things you need to know

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check.

Selection process details

To apply for this post, you will need to complete the online application process by no later than 23:55 on Sunday 9th February 2020. You will be asked to submit the following:

1. Some basic, personal information;
2. A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years;
3. A Statement of Suitability (max 1000 words) explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with particular reference to the criteria in the person specification. Please note that the statement of suitability is an important part of your application and is as much the means by which you will be assessed as your CV.

Reasonable adjustment

If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

Contact Government Recruitment Service via [email protected] as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.

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 had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment.

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

Any move to Department for Transport will mean you will no longer be able to carry on claiming childcare vouchers.

A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Nationality requirements

Open to UK, Commonwealth and European Economic Area (EEA) and certain non EEA nationals. Further information on whether you are able to apply is available here.

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code 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.

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity. There is a guaranteed interview scheme (GIS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Apply and further information

Contact point for applicants Job contact : Name :   Trish Marshall Email :   [email protected]   Recruitment team : Email :   [email protected]

Further information

If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact Government Recruitment Services via email: [email protected] If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Click here (https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/) to visit Civil Service Commission