About the job Summary

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 Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) people, people with a disability, and people with gender diverse identities.

Do you have experience of developing innovative policy solutions?

Would you relish the opportunity to work on evolving trade and international policy as it develops?

If so, we are looking for three skilful policy professionals to join our teams, and we would love to hear from you.

Job description

The Department for Transport (DfT) is looking to fill up to three international / trade roles in its central Trade Policy and Maritime Trade & international Policy teams.

The central Trade Policy and Maritime Trade & International Policy Teams’ world is dynamic, fast-moving, and no two days are the same as negotiations progress and we prepare to deliver on the Department’s transport trade policy agenda. This exciting area evolves quickly as trade and international policy develops and new initiatives are identified.
 

Responsibilities

Position 1: Senior Trade Policy Advisor - Central Trade Policy Team (2 posts)

There are two posts in the Americas Team (North, Central and South America, and the Caribbean), split to cover the following policy areas:

• Coordinating DfT Trade Policy across the Americas
• Leading the delivery of DfT objectives and policy positions as HMG progresses FTA negotiations with the USA, Canada and Mexico (working closely with DIT and OGDs)
• Leading the development of DfT objectives and policy positions as HMG negotiates new FTAs with the Americas (e.g. MERCUSOR)
• Leading on protecting and promoting DfT interests as negotiations for other economic and trade partnerships develop
• Developing bilateral transport trade policy interests across the Americas
• Coordinating and leading on the spectrum of DfT’s trade interests across multilateral fora including the G7, G20 and, particular emphasis leading on WTO interests
• Representing DfT at various xWH trade policy groups
• Leading on the Trade Policy team’s stakeholder engagement strategy

Position 2: Senior Maritime Trade Policy Advisor - The Maritime International Trade team (1 post)

• Leading the development of DfT maritime objectives and policy positions as HMG progresses FTA negotiates with the USA, Canada, Mexico and India, including preparations for each negotiating round
• Leading DfT’s approach to maritime sustainability issues in new trade agreements, including our approach to environmental, climate change, and labour issues
• Leading on the Maritime Trade Team’s stakeholder engagement and comms (domestic and international)
• Leading on specific projects that seek to ensure the UK’s maritime trade policy supports DfT’s domestic objectives

Successful candidates will be considered for all roles and will be placed in a team based on their skills and experience demonstrated at assessment.

For further information relating to each specific team, please refer to the relevant role profile, which is attached to the job advert.

You will have the option to be based in our London office attracting the London salary, or in Leeds or Birmingham attracting the National salary.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Working Together

Benefits

Benefits Wording:

Being part of our brilliant Civil Service means you will have access to a wide range of fantastic benefits. We offer generous annual leave, attractive pension options, flexible working, inclusive working environments and much more to support a healthy work/life balance.

Find out more about what it's like working at the Department for Transport.

Things you need to know Security

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

See our vetting charter.

People working with government assets must complete basic personnel security standard checks.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.

We are closely monitoring the situation regarding the coronavirus, and will be following central Government advice as it is issued. There is therefore a risk that recruitment to this post may be subject to change at short notice. In addition, where appropriate, you may be invited to attend a video interview.

Please continue to follow the application process as normal and ensure that you check your emails regularly as all updates from us will be sent to you this way.

How to Apply

For your CV and personal statement, please provide detailed evidence of your experience of the following:

• Working on international or trade policy and/or strategy - supporting the delivery of international trade negotiations, or other forms of major international negotiations.
• Developing relationships and influencing key external partners.
• Working with external teams or organisations to bring together and achieve cross-organisational outcomes or goals.
• Supporting the delivery of international engagement plans.
• Implementing / interpreting international agreements.

The sift is due to take place from the 1st December 2021.

Interviews/assessments are likely to be held w/c 13th December 2021.

We will try to meet the dates set out in the advert. There may be occasions when these dates will change. You will be provided with sufficient notice of the confirmed dates.

If invited to interview, this may consist of a range of question types. These could include questions around behaviours and how you would respond in any situation as well as specific examples of things you have done.

The selection process will be designed specifically for the role. As a result, your assessment could include:

• an interview
• an interview with one or more exercises

You’re encouraged to become familiar with the role profile, as you may be assessed against any of the criteria recorded within.

The Department for Transport alongside other Government Departments recruit using Success Profiles. This means for each role we consider what you will need to demonstrate in order to be successful. This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job, drives up performance and improves diversity and inclusivity.

For further information on Success Profiles visit our Careers website.
Please see attached candidate notes for further information about our recruitment process.

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section

Further Information

To learn more about applying for a role within the Department for Transport, visit the Application Process page of our Careers website.

Before submitting your application, we encourage you to visit our Things You Need to Know page for further information about applying for a role within the Department for Transport and the Civil Service.

Throughout this job advert there are links to the DfT Careers website, which provides you further information to support your application. Should you be unable to access the information on our website, please email [email protected] for assistance.

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

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals from the EU, EEA or Switzerland with settled or pre-settled status or who apply for either status by the deadline of the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals working in the Civil Service
• relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals who have built up the right to work in the Civil Service
• certain family members of the relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals

Further information on nationality requirements

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 equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Apply and further information

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants Job contact : Name :   Marc Jay 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: Visit the Civil Service Commission website at https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk