Contents
- Location
- About the job
- Benefits
- Things you need to know
- Apply and further information
Belfast, Birmingham, Cardiff, Darlington, Edinburgh, London, Salford
About the job
Job summary
The China, Eastern Europe and Central Asia team in the International Strategy and Trade Relations (ISTR) directorate leads the Department’s strategy and trade policy work for countries across these regions. This involves a focus on removing market access barriers, implementing trade agreements, and developing trade policy and strategy. Two posts are on offer: a team leader role which covers Ukraine and Moldova, with a watching brief for Belarus; and a team leader role for Central Asia which covers the five Central Asian republics of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Kyrgyzstan, and also Mongolia. We take a flexible approach, and it is likely that you will have the opportunity to work on other markets across the China, Eastern Europe and Central Asia regions according to business needs.
Team leader roles in ISTR are fast paced and stretching, with our work a high priority for Ministers and No 10. The team has a collaborative approach at its core and you will be well supported in meeting your objectives. Alongside a commitment to development and capability building, you will be helped to succeed by your peers and team – and you will help them in return. These posts would suit someone who prides themselves on their ability to lead their team as part of a wider group and sees collaboration as a key to delivering success.
We believe that diverse and inclusive teams are the most successful and so strongly encourage applications from a wide range of backgrounds and working patterns. Equally important is your commitment to building a positive and inclusive culture within the team, and a proven track record of policy delivery and being able to develop yourself and others.
Job description
We are looking for two excellent Grade 7 team leaders to deliver our international strategy and trade relations work for the geographic portfolios of Ukraine/Moldova and Central Asia. These are fast paced roles where it is possible to make a significant positive impact on the UK’s trading relationship with the countries in this region.
Head of International Strategy and Trade Relations for Ukraine and Moldova
- Following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 the team have been focused on developing and implementing flagship UK policies such as tariff liberalisation with Ukraine and Moldova, as well as removing market access barriers in Ukraine that impact the pharmaceutical, construction and agri-food sectors – all areas where there is high demand for UK goods, and with these products playing a key part in Ukrainian reconstruction efforts. The role involves implementation of our Free Trade Agreements with Ukraine and Moldova, including facilitating the annual Trade Committees with these countries, as well as implementation of the new UK-Ukraine Digital Trade Agreement. The team are responsible for the delivery of the Department’s commitments in the new UK-Ukraine 100 Year Partnership Agreement and, separately, for the Department’s Ukraine Strategy.
Responsibilities include:
- Leading a team of up to 4 FTE, working closely with the Grade 6 for the Eastern Europe and Central Asia, and other Grade 7 team leads across the wider group.
- Working with the overseas network and counterparts in partner countries to implement the Free Trade Agreements with Ukraine and Moldova, including delivery of the annual Trade Committees; and implementation of the new UK-Ukraine Digital Trade Agreement. This work includes designing and implementing tariff liberalisation policies with Ukraine and Moldova, ensuring that treaty amendments have been agreed and signed with these two countries.
- Delivery of the department’s commitments in the UK-Ukraine 100 Year Partnership Agreement; a new agreement that is designed to support Ukraine’s shift to the West and capitalise on the bonds that the war has created between our countries.
- Delivery of the Department’s Ukraine Strategy, which brings together the Department’s work on Ukraine under an agreed and prioritised list of objectives.
- Identifying, managing and resolving market access barriers across the region and ensuring resolution of Priority Market Access Barriers (PB100) that the team are committed to deliver. This includes delivery of projects to resolve barriers in Ukraine impacting the construction and pharmaceutical sectors, successfully completing live projects with Ukraine’s Ministry of Economy on government procurement capacity building and also with the Ministry of Health and the UK’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) regarding medical exports.
- Monitoring and analysing partner countries’ trade policy developments and interests to develop a strategy and pipeline of market access barriers to resolve, in line with UK trade policy interests, drafting advice to Ministers as required.
- Representing the team at senior Departmental and Cross-Whitehall boards and working groups which cover the region.
- Working closely with Press Office, Comms and Parliamentary teams, and the ISTR Market Access Strategy Team on public messaging and reporting around the teams work.
- Contributing to an open and inclusive team culture as part of the group’s senior leadership team, including developing the skills and capability of the Ukraine/Moldova team and contributing as a leader across the wider group.
Head of International Strategy and Trade Relations for Central Asia
- Central Asia is a region of increasing strategic importance for the UK. This role involves developing trade policy and strategy for the countries in this region, utilising and developing the Government-to-Government dialogues in place, and implementing the trade elements of Partnership and Cooperation Agreements (such as the recently signed Kazakhstan PCA). Central Asia is a region with a steady stream of market access barriers, the removal of which requires creative thinking, policy expertise, and working with a large number of stakeholders across the department and in Post. The team has played a key role in supporting Uzbekistan’s accession to the World Trade Organisation (WTO), and leading projects to support their government’s trade policy reforms. The post-holder will be required to understand and interpret geostrategic and regional trends and translate them into country and regional trade plans and strategies.
Responsibilities include:
- Leading a team of 2 FTE, working closely with the Grade 6 for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, and another Grade 7 team leads across the wider group.
- Identifying, managing and resolving market access barriers across the region and ensuring resolution of the Priority Market Access Barriers (PB100) that the team are committed to deliver. This includes a particular focus on Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Mongolia where there is ongoing work to remove trade barriers worth hundreds of millions of pounds, including delivery of project with the UK’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) in Mongolia. This work also includes delivery of projects to ease access for businesses in Uzbekistan on Intellectual Property, working with the WTO to remove discriminatory barriers on subsidies and excise taxes, and working with regulators on UK’s best practice.
- Working with HQ and Post teams to deliver the UK-Kazakhstan Inter-Governmental Commission, the Uzbek-British Trade and Industry Council and launching the new UK-Uzbekistan Joint Economic Commission.
- Working with the Department’s team in Astana to implement the trade elements of the new UK-Kazakhstan Partnership and Cooperation Agreement.
- Monitoring and analysing partner countries’ trade policy developments and interests to develop a strategy and pipeline of market access barriers to resolve, in line with UK trade policy interests, drafting advice to Ministers as required.
- Developing and implementing strategies across Central Asia and individual countries, working closely with post and DBT teams to implement these.
- Representing the team at senior Departmental and Cross-Whitehall boards and working groups which cover the region.
- Working closely with Press Office, Comms and Parliamentary teams, and the ISTR Market Access Strategy Team on public messaging and reporting around the teams’ work.
- Contributing to an open and inclusive team culture as part of the group’s senior leadership team, including developing the skills and capability of the Central Asia team and contributing as a leader across the wider group.
Person specification
For both roles we are looking for:
Essential Criteria
The successful candidate must demonstrate:
- Extensive trade policy experience.
- Proactive leadership and management experience.
- Excellent communication skills, both written and oral.
- The ability to deliver work rapidly and to a high standard.
- The ability to quickly create professional working relationships with a range of stakeholders.
Desirable criteria
- It is desirable to have previous experience of working on Ukraine & Moldova and/or the Central Asia region (depending on which role is being applied for).
Personal Attributes and Skills
- A commitment to continuous personal and team improvement.
Behaviours
We’ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Delivering at Pace
- Communicating and Influencing
- Leadership
- Making Effective Decisions
Benefits
Alongside your salary of £55,836, Department for Business and Trade contributes £16,175 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
- 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 employer contribution of 28.97%.
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 ethnic minorities, people with a disability, and people with gender diverse identities.
Please refer to the attached candidate pack for further information on our benefits.
The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).
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Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : Nick Lane
- Email : nicholas.lane@businessandtrade.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : dbtrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
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 DBT by email: Resourcing@businessandtrade.gov.uk.
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
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