Strategy Lead London, England
Job description
Details
Reference number
Salary
Job grade
Contract type
Business area
Type of role
Environment and Sustainability
Operational Delivery
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
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. We will provide more information if you are selected for a role. This work remains of high importance to the civil service, and we thank you for your continued interest.
The Sustainability and Infrastructure Directorate (S&I) is part of the Exports and UK Trade group within the Department for Business and Trade (BDT). We promote trade and investment across a wide range of key sectors including offshore wind, hydrogen, space, aerospace, automotive, built environment and critical minerals. The work of the team is central to supporting the UK Government’s Net Zero Strategy and the Prime Minister’s plan to build an innovative economy.
The Directorate is regularly engaged in exciting opportunities across these sectors; last year we delivered the Green Trade and Investment Expo and this year we will be responsible for the department’s contribution at COP28.
The role holder will sit at the heart of this portfolio, leading on the strategy and operations side for the Directorate. They will play a central role in how the team engages across the department to support closer collaboration with policy and overseas teams, providing big picture insights to senior colleagues into strategic decision making and improving the cohesion of a newly expanded directorate.
Job description
The day-to-day work is likely to be quite varied, with plenty of scope to shape the role. We are working in interesting, fast-evolving sectors and big ideas about how to change and improve delivery are welcomed!
The role holder will work closely with colleagues from across the directorate, including the senior leadership team, and will be involved in:
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Defining and championing the strategic approach of the directorate across the department and wider government.
- Development of strategies for engagement with policy, regional, nations and overseas teams, using their knowledge of teams’ areas of work to encourage opportunities for future collaboration.
- Coordinating responses to cross-cutting commissions, working collaboratively with colleagues across S&I to feed in vital information on the work of the team.
- Providing advice to the Director and senior colleagues on developments within the team, across DIT and wider government on the sector policy landscape.
- Risk management across the directorate with responsibility for advising Senior Leadership of mitigating actions to take.
- Assisting the team lead with operational planning for the directorate including, business planning, budgeting, and workforce planning as required.
Person specification
Essential Criteria
- Ability to multi-task and excellent attention to detail.
- Proven organisational skills and ability to prioritise.
Desirable Criteria
- Able to draw out key information from sources and provide well-rounded recommendations based upon this evidence.
- Experiencing of working in operations or strategy teams in government.
- Knowledge of Energy, Infrastructure, Aerospace, or Automotive sectors or technologies.
Personal Skills and Attributes
We are looking for a self-motivated, organised and proactive person who is enthusiastic about shaping ways of working alongside senior leadership to deliver impactful outcomes for the Directorate.
The role holder will:
- have strong organisational and effective decision-making skills;
- be able to work flexibly at pace, managing several competing deadlines and rapidly changing priorities at short notice and to very short timescales;
- be able to manage upwards, to be able to work with people of all grades, delegating work, and commissioning briefings;
- be prepared to challenge the status quo and push through new ideas and thinking;
- have strong interpersonal and communication skills;
- take a strategic approach to decision making and be conscious of the big picture;
- display high levels of judgment on a broad range of issues, often dealing with varied and sensitive matters;
- be able to work on their own initiative.
Hybrid Worker
The role will be based in either Edinburgh 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 DBT 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.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Making Effective Decisions
- Delivering at Pace
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 week commencing 15/05/2023
Interviews will take place week commencing 22/05/2023
As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete a CV and a Personal Statement. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.
Please align your CV with previous skills and experience. Maximum of 2 A4 Pages.
In your Personal Statement, please explain your motivation for applying for this role and the extent to which you satisfy the essential and desirable requirements of the role. Maximum word count of 500.
In the event that there is a high volume of applicants, a short sift will be conducted based on Personal Statement Only. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.
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.
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 or Disclosure Scotland 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 Disclosure Scotland confidential checking service telephone: the Disclosure Scotland Helpline on 0870 609 6006 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.
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 Business and 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 Business and 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 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 Requirements
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
