2 x Europe Policy Advisers Manchester, England
Job description
Details
Reference number
Salary
Job grade
Senior Executive Officer
Contract type
Loan
Secondment
Length of employment
Business area
Type of role
Policy
Strategy
Working pattern
Number of jobs available
Contents
Location
About the job
Benefits
Things you need to know
Apply and further information
Location
About the job
Job summary
Whilst DCMS is advertising this vacancy, the successful candidate(s) may ultimately be appointed to the newly created Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT)
These are important roles in the Euro-Atlantic team within DCMS’s International Strategy Division. The EU has an extensive regulatory and legislative programme on digital and tech. Decisions made in Brussels and other European capitals, have a direct impact on UK citizens, businesses, and on our international digital and tech priorities. How we engage and influence matters to the UK. This is an opportunity to play a key role in driving DCMS’ engagement with the EU and member states. You will have the opportunity to work across priority international projects in digital and tech policy and progress our engagement with the EU as well as member states and other European partners. There is also the opportunity to work on wider team priorities such as US engagement, and at times engage with DCMS’ broader portfolio on culture, media, and sport. Recent work in the team includes working toward digital deliverables for the UK-France summit, supporting an innovation and tech event in Brussels and organising policy roundtables with Czech counterparts.
These roles are a good fit for individuals seeking to develop strategic thinking and their international experience, whether through international engagement or cross-cutting strategic thinking. You will get to grips with priority policy areas, cooperating effectively with others, and thinking critically and strategically to determine how best to deliver DCMS objectives. Successful candidates will lead a variety of work streams that will involve significant cross-government working, as well as close collaboration with DCMS policy teams, with exposure to the overseas network, senior civil servants, and increasingly Ministers. The work will be fast-paced - you should be resilient in managing a varied workload and changing priorities. The Euro-Atlantic Team is a great and supportive team. We help each other and prioritise wellbeing.
International travel may be occasionally required as part of these roles.
Job description
- Lead on priority projects and progressing DCMS’ priority relationships with EU institutions and European bilateral partners, through working closely with policy teams across DCMS’ digital and tech priorities.
- Support the development and delivery of DCMS’ digital and tech engagement strategy with the EU, including through engaging and working closely with EU member states.
- Develop strong relationships across government (including with the overseas network) and beyond in order to advance DCMS policy priorities.
- Coordinate and deliver well-targeted ministerial and senior official engagement (e.g. through visits and events).
- Be flexible in providing support as needed to deliver other priorities in the wider Euro-Atlantic team outside of Europe engagement.
- Coordinate across DCMS teams to ensure EU and member state engagement is coherent and well-aligned.
- Develop, analyse and share in-depth knowledge of European policy on digital and tech, including to analyse trends and emerging legislative priorities. Provide strategic engagement advice to policy teams on their EU and European equities.
- Play an active role in the team, wider division and Directorate, contributing to a diverse and inclusive culture that delivers excellence and prioritises kindness.
Person specification
The ideal candidate would have the following key skills and experience:
Essential requirements:
- Take responsibility for delivering timely and quality results with focus and drive, while managing competing priorities under pressure.
- Ability to look across a range of projects, priorities and risks, beyond those immediately obvious.
- Strong written and oral communication skills, including the ability to influence others, building trust and explaining complex issues in a clear and consistent manner.
- Ability to process complex information and assess different evidence sources, to make effective decisions, considering implications in clear and compelling recommendations.
Desirable skills:
- International working - experience of engaging international stakeholders, such as embassies and Governments, and international organisations, or of working in international environments with a wide range of stakeholders.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Communicating and Influencing
- Delivering at Pace
- Making Effective Decisions
Benefits
DCMS values its staff and offers a wide range of benefits to everyone who works here. We’re committed to developing talent, and supporting colleagues to have great careers in our department. To support with that, some of the benefits we offer include:
- Flexible working arrangements and hybrid working - DCMS staff work on a flexible basis with time spent in offices, and time spent working from home.
- 26.5 days annual leave on entry, increasing to 31.5 days after 5 years’ service.
- A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
- 3 days of paid volunteering leave.
- Up to 9 months maternity leave on full pay + generous paternity and adoption leave.
- Staff reward and recognition bonuses that operate throughout the year.
- Occupational sick pay.
- Active and engaged staff networks to join including the LGBT+, Ethnic Diversity, Mental Health and Wellbeing and Gender Equality Networks.
- Exceptional learning and development opportunities that you can explore alongside your day to day work.
- Season ticket loan, cycle to work scheme and much more!
Terms and conditions at SCS grades will vary. Those applying for SCS roles should refer to the candidate information pack for more information on terms and conditions.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
Application process:
To apply for this post, please complete the application no later than 09:00 on Monday 27th February 2023 via the Civil Service Jobs portal:
- 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. Please refer to all essential requirements.
- A Statement of Suitability (750 words) setting out your interest in the role, and explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to all the essential requirements. You may also choose to reference the desirable skills listed.
For the shortlist, we will assess your experience and select applicants demonstrating the best fit for the role by considering the evidence provided in your application.
In the event of a large number of applicants, applications will only be sifted on the statement of suitability. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.
Should you encounter any issues with your online application please get in touch with: [email protected]
The interview:
The interview process will assess behaviours and strengths and include a presentation.
The behaviours to be tested at interview are:
- Communicating and Influencing
- Delivering at Pace
- Making Effective Decisions
You will not be made aware of the strengths being assessed prior to your interview.
As part of your interview, you may be asked to deliver a short oral presentation. Full details of this, including the topic, and whether or not you will need to use visual aids, will be sent to you prior to your interview.
In most cases interviews will take place remotely via Google Meet video call. However please refer to the Candidate Information Pack to confirm the interview approach.
For indicative sift and interview dates please refer to the attached Candidate Information Pack.
Further Information
A reserve list may be held for a period of 6 months from which further appointments can be made.
Any move to DCMS from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk
If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.
In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service/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 [email protected] stating the job reference number in the subject heading.
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 [email protected]
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 had their employment continued. Any applicant’s 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.
This role is full time only. Applicants who wish to work an alternative pattern are welcome to apply however your preferred working pattern may not be available and you should discuss this with the vacancy holder before applying.
DCMS has a London and a National pay scale. For more information on this, including the circumstances in which each pay scale will apply, please see the ‘Information for Applicants’ document.
If you choose to join on a loan basis, prior agreement to be released on loan must be obtained before commencing the application process. In the case of Civil Servants, the terms of the loan will be agreed between the home and host department and the Civil Servant. This includes grade on return.
Location
This role can be based in Manchester, Darlington or Belfast. The hub locations are displayed on the job advert. Not all hub locations have confirmed office space yet - successful applicants will be expected to work remotely until this becomes available.
Reasonable Adjustment
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, please:
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. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or a verbal test rather than a written one.
Alternatively, contact the Government Recruitment Service via [email protected] as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
Accessibility
If you are experiencing accessibility difficulties with any of the attachments, please contact us. Contact details can be found in the 'contact point for applicants' section of the job advert.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
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) (opens in a new window)
- 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
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 :
Recruitment team :
Further information
If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and you wish to make a complaint, you should contact ([email protected]) in the first instance.
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission at: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/recruitment/civilservicerecruitmentcomplaints/
