Job description
This is an exciting time to join the Department for International Trade (DIT). The work we do has a real impact on jobs and growth across the United Kingdom. Our mission is to help businesses export, drive inward and outward investment, negotiate market access and trade deals, and to advocate free trade. We are an international department based in 108 countries, and we work closely with our colleagues worldwide. Working in DIT you will have the opportunity to shape the UK’s international trade agenda for years to come.
Our team is part of the Global Trade & Delivery Directorate in DIT, responsible for influencing global rules and managing the UK's relationship with the WTO and other multilateral fora, using the UK’s independent voice to advocate for and reform the rules based international system. To do that effectively, we need clearly articulated strategic priorities, policy positions and the capability to deliver Visits and Events that support UK objectives.
This is a high-profile position heading up a Visits and Events team that is responsible for the delivery of Ministerial and senior official engagements at the WTO, G7, G20 and other multilateral fora, and leading the project management and delivery of set-piece stakeholder events to further our multilateral trade policy and strategy development.
The role manages a team that owns planning and delivery of all WTO/Multilateral Ministerial and Senior visits and events. You will own the overall engagement planning function to support Ministers and seniors with forward planning and ensuring visits/events are tailored to requirements, alongside meeting our WTO/Multilateral strategic objectives.
You will work closely with Ministerial and senior official offices, strategic engagement leads and policy teams across Whitehall and the UK Mission to the WTO (UKMIS) to own the end to end delivery of Visits and Events. You will work across teams to develop the strategic objectives and corresponding programme delivery - this will include overall coordination of visit/event preparation and delivery, programme fine detail, coordination of the briefing pack, and effectively marshalling inputs and senior clearances to ensure timely delivery.
You will also own the end to end project management and delivery of set-piece stakeholder events such as conferences with key stakeholders from business, academia and other international governments.
This is a new role so the exact portfolio is subject to change in line with business need as the new function evolves. This is an influential role within a new function, working closely with G6 team leads and Deputy Director.
Job description
- Lead a team in the end-to-end planning and delivery of WTO/Multilateral Visit and Events to drive forward UK objectives.
- Own and manage the relationship with Ministerial and senior official offices in terms of setting out the forward look of engagement and strategic objectives and delivering high quality, impactful and strategic Ministerial and senior engagements tailored to requirements.
- Work closely with WTO/M strategic engagement leads for WTO, G7, G20 and other for a to develop the strategic objectives and programme to support delivery of the visit/event.
- Lead coordination of all visit preparation and delivery, including visit support, travel/logistics/accommodation, programme fine detail, programme briefing pack, effectively marshalling inputs and senior clearances to ensure timely delivery.
- Work creatively and flexibly to identify and realise opportunities to improve ways of working – this will not be a one size fits all approach.
Hybrid working
The role will be based in either Darlington or London. You will be asked to express a location preference during the application process.
Please be aware that this role can only be worked from within the UK and not overseas.
Informal hybrid working arrangements will be available as agreed with the vacancy manager and in line with the requirements of the role.
Most DIT employees will be working a hybrid pattern, spending 2-3 days a week (pro rata) in an office, on average. If your office location is London, you will be eligible to receive London weighting.
Appointments will be made to candidates in merit order based on location preferences.
Support in applying for our vacancies is available by joining a virtual Candidate Support Session. These sessions include helpful tips and advice on the recruitment process, from application to interview.
Person specification
Essential Criteria
- A track record of leading the planning and delivery of high-profile visits and events.
- Experience managing Ministerial and Senior private office relationships, working at pace to tight deadlines.
- Ability to build and maintain positive working relations with others whilst marshalling inputs to support timely delivery.
- A track record in reviewing ways of working and responding positively to feedback.
Desirable Criteria
- Knowledge or experience of trade policy or economic issues.
- Experience establishing new teams/functions.
Person Specification.
- The ideal candidate will be a self-starter with the ability to drive forward own work proactively and independently. You will need to be happy with learning and operating autonomously with limited supervision.
- You will be comfortable setting direction in a new function and demonstrate resilience to be able to effectively manage a team in a fast-paced environment, responding to the needs of Minsters and senior officials.
- You must be comfortable in holding others to account, and marshalling inputs to tight deadlines in order to keep delivery on track. You will need to plan carefully to deliver complex and competing tasks and be flexible and innovative to make sure that tasks are delivered in the right way at the right time.
- You must be comfortable learning by doing and keeping approaches under review and flexing your team’s approach in line with business need.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Leadership
- Delivering at Pace
- Communicating and Influencing
- Working Together
Benefits
- Learning and development tailored to your role
- An environment with flexible working options
- A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
- A Civil Service pensionwith an average employer contribution of 27%
Things you need to know
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.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.Sift will take place week commencing 06/02/2023.Interviews will take place week commencing 20/02/2023.As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV and a personal statement.Please align your CV with previous skills and experience. Maximum of 2 A4 pages.In your personal statement, Please outline your suitability for the role, and reasons for applying, with reference to the person specification Maximum word count of 500.In the event that there is a high volume of applications, a short sift will be conducted based on: CVIf 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 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 (See complete description on Civil Service Jobs) stating the job reference number in the subject heading.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.Please note – the successful candidate will be expected to remain in post for a minimum of 18 months before being released for another role.The Department for International Trade embraces and values diversity in all forms. We welcome and pride ourselves on the positive impact diversity has on the work we do, and we promote equality of opportunity throughout the organisation.Please note – harmonised terms and conditions are attached. Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you.
Further Information
A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.Any move to the Department for International Trade 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
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 (See complete description on Civil Service Jobs) 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 an interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional
If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.Vetting RequirementsAll security clearances require you to provide evidence of your UK footprint where you have been physically present in the UK. The requirement for SC clearance is to have been present in the UK for 3 of the last 5 years. Failure to meet the residency requirements will result in your security clearance application being rejected.If you require SC clearance you will need to provide evidence of the below requirements.For this role, the Department will not consider sponsoring a visa or issuing a Certificate of Sponsorship. Please note we are unable to offer advice on any Visa and Immigration cases.Checks will be made against:Departmental or company records (personnel files, staff reports, sick leave reports and security records)
UK criminal records covering both spent and unspent criminal records
Your credit and financial history with a credit reference agency
Security Services records
Security
Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.
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 standardchecks.
Nationality requirements
Further information on nationality requirementsThis 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
Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Codesets 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.
The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.
Apply and further information
This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veteransinitiative.
The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment.
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 :(See complete description on Civil Service Jobs)
- Email :(See complete description on Civil Service Jobs)
Recruitment team :
- Email :(See complete description on Civil Service Jobs)
Further information
Our recruitment process is underpinned by the principle of appointment on the basis of fair and open competition and appointment on merit, as outlined in the Civil Service Commissioners’ Recruitment Principles.
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 DIT by email: (See complete description on Civil Service Jobs).
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 hereto visit Civil Service Commission/Complaints
DIT Candidate Pack July Opens in new window(pdf, 3754kB)DIT Terms Conditions - New Opens in new window(doc, 44kB)Attachments
Job Types: Full-time, Part-time, Permanent
Part-time hours: 15-37 per week
Salary: £52,000.00-£58,652.00 per year
Benefits:
- Casual dress
- Company pension
- Cycle to work scheme
- Flexitime
- Life insurance
- Sick pay
- Work from home
Schedule:
- 8 hour shift
- Day shift
- Monday to Friday
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Darlington, DL1 5AD
Reference ID: 263248