Trade Policy Governance and Briefing Lead

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

- 263990**Salary**:

- £41,553 - £45,354**Job grade**:

- Senior Executive Officer**Contract type**:

- Permanent**Business area**:

- DIT - Trading System: Global Trade and Delivery**Type of role**:

- International Trade
- Operational Delivery
- 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
- LondonAbout the job

**Job summary**:
The Strategy, Coordination and Resource (SCAR) Unit, in the DIT’s Trading Systems Group, working closely with the Trade Negotiations Group. We sit at the heart of DIT’s two Trade Policy Groups, responsible for ensuring the successful delivery of the Government’s international trade policy agenda. The Groups comprise of Trade Negotiations Group, responsible for delivering the UK’s Free Trade Agreement (FTA) programme, and Trading Systems Group, responsible for championing the rules-based international system and delivering the UK’s trade disputes function. The SCAR team are responsible for a number of cross-cutting delivery and coordination functions across both the Trading Systems Group (TSG) and the Trade Negotiations Group (TNG).

The SCAR team is a high performing, friendly, collaborative, and supportive team. There is a consistent focus on diversity, inclusion and development.

This role is focused on supporting the management of our FTA programme, delivery of governance for two DG groups and effective briefing on the programme. This directly supports the delivery of the outcome delivery plan (1 and 4). It offers the opportunity to get exposure across two DG groups in the department with a wide breadth of work, including unique insight into our FTA programme.

In this role, you will work with a wide range of stakeholders in DIT. The role also provides an insight into a wide range of HMG processes and involves close working with senior officials, particularly both DGs. There is huge scope for stretch. You will need to regularly and confidently engage with policy, legal, analytical and stakeholder engagement teams across our two DG Groups, often at SCS-level, to spot emerging issues and work to resolve them. You will need to be able to grasp technical issues quickly to advise senior stakeholders on their implications, without losing sight of the bigger picture. You will need to quickly develop a strong grasp of the strategic choices underpinning our trade policy programme. You will need to effectively manage a quality service for both DGs, working closely with them, other senior officials and private office. In addition, you will need to deliver at pace to lead on lines for the FTA programme, including for briefing and OPQs.

**Job description**:
The Strategy, Coordination and Resourcing team will always be drawn in to the most challenging and exciting issues facing the successful delivery of an independent UK trade policy.

This role will include:

- Responsible for the secretariat of the governance for two DG groups, which are accountable for overseeing the delivery of our Outcome Delivery Plan, objectives 1 and 4.
- Accountability for identifying strategic challenges facing the programme, ensuring they are proactive addressed by the relevant Governance fora or leading on advice to escalate where necessary;
- Lead for country governance meetings, particularly focused around public moments such as launch or signature. Working close with SCS, country negotiation teams and Private Office to support key public moments.
- Leading on the drafting lines and briefings on our FTA programme, ensuring to maintain a strategic oversight and ability to deliver at pace. This includes working closely with country leads and our Briefing Hub to provide timely, high-quality briefing for senior officials and Ministers on cross-cutting trade policy delivery issues.

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 salary.

DIT will cover travel costs/expenses to any office which is not your usual office location in line with departmental expenses policy. DIT will not cover commuting costs to your agreed office location.

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.

**Person specification**:
**Essential Criteria**
- Delivering work at pace and under pressure.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to work collaboratively with colleagues to build and maintain strong relations.
- Excellen