Senior Policy Advisor

**Details**:
**Reference number**:

- 274041**Salary**:

- £38,052 - £45,354- National: £38,052 - £41,912; London: £41,553 - £45,354**Job grade**:

- Senior Executive Officer**Contract type**:

- Permanent**Business area**:

- DIT - Trade Negotiations: Trade Policy A**Type of role**:

- International Trade
- Policy**Working pattern**:

- Flexible working, Full-time, Job share, Part-time**Number of jobs available**:

- 1Contents

Location

About the job

**Benefits**:
Things you need to know

Location
- Darlington, LondonAbout the job

**Job summary**:
The Department for Business and Trade negotiates trade agreements for the UK and promotes UK Trade and Investment around the world. Working within the Regulatory Environment Team (part of the Trade Negotiations Group), you would play a pivotal role in developing policy positions that break down regulatory barriers to trade and help businesses, in particular SMEs, to succeed in overseas markets.

We are seeking an enthusiastic and diligent person who is looking to develop a career in trade policy and international negotiations. This is a fast paced and exciting area of policy. You will need to be proactive, dynamic, able to balance competing priorities and problem-solve. While you do not need specific knowledge of trade policy, you will need to become an expert quickly. You will also need to be able to express highly technical and sophisticated arguments in a manner that is easy for non-experts to understand. You will need to confidently collaborate with Government departments and businesses to identify UK interests, leverage support for policy positions, and help formulate UK strategy for negotiations.

We have an ambitious programme of trade negotiations, sometimes simultaneously, though this may change due to business needs. There may be a requirement to travel internationally, sometimes for multiple weeks at a time.

Our team is vibrant, hardworking and collaborative. We pay special attention to providing training and support needed to allow individuals to achieve and excel. We recognise the importance of professional and personal growth and will encourage you to develop your skills and trade knowledge.

**Job description**:

- Develop and implement trade policy that is consistent with the UK’s domestic and international priorities.
- Work closely with colleagues across Government to develop joined-up trade policy and ensure analysis of information from a wide variety of sources.
- Commission legal and other analytical advice to inform our negotiation positions.
- Develop a deep understanding of negotiation issues, contribute to development of strategies and participate in trade negotiations as support to the chapter lead.
- Listen to the needs of businesses and consumers in a rapidly changing environment and address these through our negotiation and implementation work.
- Write briefings and other materials related to policy areas for Ministers and senior officials.
- Ensure that processes are in place to implement commitments.

**Hybrid working**

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.

**Person specification**:
**Essential Criteria**
- Excellent communication skills, with the ability to persuade and influence others.
- Experience of analysing information from a range of sources and making recommendations.
- Experience of working collaboratively, including with a range of stakeholders.
- Ability to balance multiple priorities.

**Desirable Criteria**
- Knowledge or experience of trade policy, Good Regulatory Practice or SME policy.

**Personal Attributes & Skills**

You will need strong interpersonal and communication skills to support work with domestic and foreign colleagues, and external stakeholders. You will also need to be able to persuade and influence others to create collaborative solutions, sometimes in the face of sustained opposition.

In pursuing your objectives, you will be enthusiastic about developing yourself and others around you. You will prioritise effectively to meet competing needs and support colleagues at critical times. You will be flexible and ready to be redeployed in other roles, taking on new challenges as the team’s goals evolve.

**Behaviours**:
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

- Making Effective Decisions
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Communicating and Influencing
- 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 contri