Negotiation Strategy Advisor - Canada, Mexico & Greenland Team London, England
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About the job
Job summary
This recruitment is continuing as usual, but candidates should be aware that following the Government’s announcement on the changes to some civil service departments, roles will be located in the new Department for Business and Trade.
The Department for International Trade has embarked upon an ambitious international trade agreement programme. You will play an important role within the Canada, Mexico and Greenland (“CMG”) team - part of the Trade Negotiations Group in the DIT. All three countries have ongoing negotiations and you will have first-hand exposure to what it is like to lead trade negotiations.
The role will focus on steering and leading negotiations for a new Free Trade Agreement with Mexico, enhancing the trading relationship that is currently offered under the current agreement. In addition to this, you will work at the heart of the negotiating rounds themselves, playing both a strategic and coordination role in directly support the Chief Negotiator and Chapter policy teams. On the completion of the deal, you will help to steer the agreement through domestic scrutiny procedures necessary to bring the agreement into force.
The successful candidate will work primarily on a single negotiation, Mexico. But you should be comfortable working across country portfolios as country priorities may change over time; and on genuine cross-cutting issues.
CMG is a fun, friendly and inclusive team. We work together across country sub-teams to deliver our collective objectives, recognising the value of joined up working and collaboration to contribute to learning across different workstreams. The successful candidate should be comfortable working closely with peers to ensure the workload is divided equally across the team. We aim to create a happy working environment for everyone and for every team member to be able to develop themselves for their future career. This role will require leadership of a sub team with line management / matrix management of 1 SEO and 1 HEO.
This is an exciting and challenging area to work on, with significant No10 and cross-Whitehall interest and interactions with Foreign Policy objectives. Sometimes we need to work at pace and to tight deadlines, but we work as a team to meet these challenges. Some travel for negotiation rounds will be required.
We encourage applicants with diverse working patterns (including job shares) and caring responsibilities.
In line with resourcing need, we may also look to draw from this recruitment round to recruit for roles in the Canada team too.
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.
Job description
The role involves:
- Developing a deep understanding of the partner country, their interests, their ways of working, their constraints, developed by working closely with our Embassies in the country
- Working closely with policy teams to shape the UK’s negotiating strategy so we maximise our chances of getting a deal in the interests of UK business and consumers
- Negotiating specific parts of the agreement with counterparts from the partner country
- Leading on communications and stakeholder engagement
- Working on the implementation of the agreement
Trade deals are delivered by teams, so we also need someone who prioritises team leadership –making sure others can develop and willing to think beyond the parameters of their day job.
The key accountabilities of the role are:
1) International Engagement - Carry out substantial engagement with counterparts. We need the successful candidate to be able to independently lead UK representation, support Ministers, senior officials and subject matter experts.
2) Policy Development – The successful candidate will work with colleagues to consider various aspects of our trading relationship and develop negotiation positions across a number of chapters. They will make recommendations on the action required in the UK’s best interest – drawing on input from analysts, legal, DIT policy teams, Other Government Departments and Overseas Posts to find the best course of action and make recommendations to Ministers and Senior Civil Servants.
3) Cross Whitehall Working – The role involves significant liaison and collaboration with colleagues from across relevant Departments to develop and evolve UK negotiating positions.
4) Strategic Approach - Take a strategic view when completing technical work and analysis to ensure the policy development process takes account of the UK’s wider trading and political relationship with other international partners; and the broader bilateral economic relationship.
5) Leadership - Playing a key role in the leadership of the team to contribute to a positive working atmosphere for all. The role will include some line management. Being able to work in a flexible way to help us manage a changing policy environment.
6) Business Readiness – Leading plans to ensure the impacts of agreements not being in place with relevant partner countries are appropriately managed and mitigated.
7) Programme Management –Efficient management of the overall project is necessary to ensure effective use of limited resource.
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.
Person specification
Desirable Criteria
The team is very committed to high quality learning and development. There is no essential experience required for this role, but experience of trade policy, general policy development and working across Whitehall to deliver outcomes would be useful. Some international travel may be required.
Personal Attributes & Skills
We are looking for a candidate who is conscientious, hard-working and reliable. A candidate who can credibly represent the UK in engagement with partner countries and who can confidently brief Ministers and Seniors on their negotiation areas.
You will need to enjoy working with others and be open to ideas. A key feature of the role will be your ability to build effective relationships with policy leads and cross Whitehall departmental contacts and bring them along with a negotiating strategy.
The candidate should be comfortable with working with detailed and technical policy issues, whilst also able to operate strategically and creatively and develop negotiating strategies that align with wider DIT priorities.
We are looking for a collaborative team player to help us maintain and improve our inclusive and diverse team environment.
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.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Making Effective Decisions
- 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 pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
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.
Sift will take place 13/02/2023.
Interviews will take place 27/02/2023.
As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV and personal statement
Please align your CV with previous skills and experience. Maximum of 2 A4 pages.
The Personal Statement should concisely explain, in no more than 750 words, your motivation for applying to this role, and evidencing how you meet the criteria listed on the Job Specification.
In the event that there is a high volume of applications, a short sift will be conducted based on personal statement .
At interview stage candidates will be required to deliver a 5 minute presentation, the topic will be sent out beforehand.
Existing Civil Servants and applicants from accredited NDPBs are eligible to apply, but will only be considered on loan basis (Civil Servants) or secondment (accredited NDPBs). Prior agreement to be released on a loan basis 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.
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 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.
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 [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 you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.
Vetting Requirements SC
All 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 at least 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.
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
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 these principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should in the first instance contact DIT by email: [email protected].
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
