Director of Policy, Strategy and Engagement

Details
Reference number

437309

Salary

£100,000

Circa £100,000 (with flexibility depending on skills and experience)

A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

GBP

Job grade

SCS Pay Band 1

Contract type

Permanent

Secondment

Length of employment

We are open to offering this opportunity on a secondment basis for individual's in the Civil Service who are interested.

Business area

Policy, Strategy and Engagement

Type of role

Communications / Marketing

Governance

International Trade

Operational Delivery

Policy

Senior leadership

Strategy

Other

Working pattern

Flexible working, Full-time, Compressed hours

Number of jobs available

1

Contents

• Location
• About the job
• Benefits
• Things you need to know
• Apply and further information

Location

Our office is in central Reading (RG1 7EB). Hybrid and flexible working, with occasional travel across the UK and less frequently internationally as needed for stakeholder engagement.

About the job
Job summary

This newly created role plays a critical part in helping TRA fulfil its central role in the UK's trade strategy, and to deliver on the Secretary priorities of being more assertive, agile and accessible. The TRA has become increasingly externally focused, and this role pulls together the critical functions required for success in the new geopolitical landscape – Operational Policy, Strategy, and Communications & Engagement. It is very much an outward looking role, whilst being able to interpret external factors into our internal strategy and policy requirements.

Job description

The PSE Director works closely with the CEOs, Board and other Directors to guide the organisation through periods of change and ensure strategic initiatives align with the TRA's Vision and Mission.

They will serve as a collaborative and challenging member of the Executive Committee, while providing leadership to the teams responsible for Policy, Trade Remedies Advisory Service and Communications/ Engagement.

Key Accountabilities

Strategy and Policy Development:

• Work closely with the CEOs to lead the development, articulation, and implementation of the TRA's strategy including the launch of the updated three-year strategic plan in April 2026. Ensuring it is effectively structured and embedded so that teams across TRA know how they contribute to the TRA's overall objectives.
• Work closely with the Investigations Delivery Director, and other Delivery Directors, to ensure an integrated approach to strategy, policy and delivery. Ensure a collaborative working relationship between the teams in policy, strategy, engagement, and delivery with clear responsibilities and effective ways of working. Ensure that we are delivering on the SoS priorities within the trade Strategy of being assertive, agile, and accessible.
• Work with the Director Corporate Services to develop and oversee detailed business plans to achieve TRA objectives aligned with the overall mission, ensuring the successful execution of these strategic initiatives. Managing finance and budgets for the business area.
• Provide trusted advice and insight to the Executive Committee and the Board on emerging market trends and policy developments, leading teams to take necessary action to update our operational policy and practices where necessary.
• Guide the organisation through significant changes as it evolves and responds to changing policy and/or external environments.
• Work with the Director of Corporate Services to ensure management of risk related issues in line with the TRA's risk management framework; and track measurable impact on delivery of TRA's objectives

Stakeholder Engagement

• Engage senior stakeholders externally to build and maintain strong, mutually beneficial partnerships with key policymakers and stakeholders across HMG, industry, international peers, and the wider trade remedies community to support the TRA in fulfilling its mission and objectives.
• Ensure the Trade Remedies Advisory Service is successfully designed and established and delivers its ambition to become more accessible to UK industry, in particular SMEs.
• Lead the development and execution of an External Engagement Strategy and ensure its delivery through the Communications Team and Trade Remedies Advisory Service.
• Working with the Corporate Services Director and Head of People, ensure that the TRA has an Internal Engagement Strategy.

Leadership

• Ensure the TRA has strong Operational Policy, Advisory Service and Communications/ Engagement functions to support its work.
  
  Provide the CEOs with appropriate advice, support and challenge.
• Be a visible leader to people across the organisation, spearheading the TRA values and behaviours.
• Manage the budget and finances for the PSE Directorate.
• Promote a culture that demonstrates TRA's values in action and extend excellent leadership and management skills throughout areas of responsibility, with a focus on developing a coaching culture for continuous improvement.

Person specification

You are an inspiring leader who can see the big picture and join the dots, connecting strategy to granular policy outcomes. You can analyse complex situations and develop innovative solutions, constantly thinking about improvement and bringing others with you. You deliver at pace with a demonstrated ability to thrive in dynamic and often-evolving situations.

To be successful in this role applicants should demonstrate the following essential criteria:

• Track record of building and successfully implementing strategy in organisations with a wide variety of stakeholder interests.
• An ability to listen to and challenge diverse opinion, synthesise complex data and clearly communicate strategy to internal and external stakeholders.
• Track record of developing policy from scratch and/or translating policy into operational process for a business area, with a keen focus on what works for the organisation's mission and vision.
• Sound judgement when handling internal and external stakeholders and experience proactively managing complex stakeholder environments.
• A track record of leading and motivating high performing teams to deliver organisational objectives through developing capability and creating an inclusive culture.
• Be a good communicator, with strong influencing skills and the ability to establish collaborative relationships.
• Have an ability to develop and sustain constructive relationships with senior-level stakeholders domestically and overseas in challenging situations, including government and industry.

Desirable criteria:

• Expertise in international trade policy.
• Experience working within a regulatory environment.
• Experience engaging with business/industry.

Further Information

A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.

Any move to TRA 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; for further information visit the Childcare Choices website.

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.

We are Inclusive

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 recognise how important inclusivity is to achieve the best outcomes. We hope to attract applications from all underrepresented groups.

We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable adjustments if required to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform crucial job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request adjustments.

Our AI Usage Guidelines:

We welcome the use of AI tools during your application process, as they can assist you in crafting your CV and personal statement. However, it is crucial that all submitted information is factually accurate and genuinely represents your own ideas and experiences.

Your application may be rejected, and you could face disciplinary measures if plagiarism is detected. Plagiarism includes presenting others' ideas and experiences, or content generated by artificial intelligence (AI), as your own. The information in your CV and personal statement will be verified during both the sift stage and your interview.

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 TRA People Team at as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address

in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Due Diligence Process

You should note that any declared political activity or conflict of interest should be provided with your application and may, if appropriate, be discussed with you during interview. Please note that we may also carry out searches of candidates' financial probity, public statements, and publicly available social media profiles if invited to interview

Privacy Notice

All information provided as a part of your application will be handled by the TRA People Team and recruitment panel inline with our TRA Privacy notice: Our Terms of Use and Privacy Notice - GOV.UK

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £100,000, Trade Remedies Authority contributes £28,970 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Please refer to the candidate pack attached for further information.

Useful Information for Existing Civil Servants:

Existing Civil Servants should note that working for the TRA, you will be employed as a public servant. This means:

This vacancy is for a position in the Trade Remedies Authority (TRA). TRA employees are not Civil Servants. Individuals applying for this role from the Civil Service are advised to review terms prior to accepting the offer. Key terms are outlined in the benefits section of this advert (these are not exhaustive). Individuals can also discuss with hiring managers and the TRA People Team on

Your continuity of service for employment protection will start on the day you join us. We are not an employer of the Crown and therefore cannot recognise previous employment with the Civil Service for the purpose of qualifying for Employment Rights. An employee must have 2 years' length of service with TRA before Employment Rights are recognised.

If you are a member of the Civil Service Pension scheme, your membership and reckonable service will continue with us, providing there is no break between your Civil Service employment and your employment as a public servant with TRA.

If you choose to re-join the Civil Service at any point in the future, this will be according to the policies of the department you are joining following your resignation from TRA. You may also wish to be aware that under Exception 5 of the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles, the re-employment of a former Civil Servant is possible within a maximum of five years of leaving the Civil Service, subject to qualifying criteria being met and depending on the policies of the department you are joining.

Things you need to know
Selection process details

To apply for this post, will need to submit a CV, Statement of Suitability and Diversity Declaration form to This should be completed no later than 23:55 on Sunday 30th November 2025.

The application will include:

A CV (up to two-pages) setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years.

A Statement of Suitability (up to two-pages) explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with particular reference to the criteria in the person specification.

Failure to submit both documents will mean the panel only have limited information on which to assess your application against the criteria in the person specification.

As part of process, you will be asked to complete a Diversity Declaration form. If you do not wish to provide a declaration on any of the particular characteristics, you will have the option to select 'prefer not to say'. All monitoring data will be treated in the strictest confidence and will not be provided to the selection panel.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code sets 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.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy .

Apply and further information

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 : TRA Resourcing Team
• Email :

Recruitment team

• Email :

Further information

. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, please contact: If you are not satisfied with the response you receive, you can contact the Civil Service Commission (at: ).

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