Senior Policy Adviser

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

- 254517**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 B**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**:
**Background**

The Department for International Trade negotiates trade agreements for the UK and promotes UK trade and investment around the world.

The Trade in Services Team sits within the Trade Negotiations Group. The team is responsible for developing services trade policy and leads high profile services negotiations in Free Trade Agreements and in multilateral fora such as the World Trade Organization (WTO).

Trade in services is a crucial element in the UK economy, making up 80% of UK GDP. The team aims to open up the markets of partner countries for UK suppliers, by enhancing mobility of skilled workers, a top ask of businesses, and improving rules on services trade, supporting the growth and success of the UK’s services sector, including businesses in the professional services, financial services, and transport and logistics, sectors.

**The role**

We are recruiting for a senior policy adviser role within the Professional and Business Services (PBS) Team.

Our Trade in Services team is vibrant, hardworking, and collaborative. The team places a high value on a learning culture and we will support you to build your trade expertise. A willingness to travel overseas is a requirement of these roles.

**Job description**:
The role will focus on developing trade policy, preparing for and supporting bilateral or multilateral services negotiations. Your duties will include, but not be limited to:

- Developing robust and well-evidenced PBS trade policy, drawing on experts across the department, Whitehall, and stakeholders.
- Creating strong, collaborative relationships across Whitehall with key Departments to develop joined up policy and negotiating positions.
- Engaging confidently with PBS external stakeholders, drawing in advice and expertise, and encouraging advocacy for UK trade policy.
- Representing the UK internationally and undertaking trade negotiations in a complex, and interesting area.
- Engaging with ministers and senior officials, providing high quality and well-articulated advice on PBS matters.
- Providing advice on the development of the next wave of UK free trade agreements.

**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**
- Strong oral and written communications skills. Ability to develop, interpret and present reasoned arguments, including presenting evidence and options, drawing upon experts as appropriate, to set out costs, benefits, and risks.
- Ability to persuade and influence others, establishing collaborative relationships with a wide range of stakeholders.
- A collaborative approach to teamwork, with the ability to be flexible, proactive, and adaptable.

**Desirable Criteria**
- Experience of trade policy and negotiations or leading in an international environment is desirable but not essential.

**Personal Attributes & Skills**
- Strong problem-solving skills, e.g. experience of or interest in developing and presenting reasoned arguments based on analysis of evidence.
- Communication and influencing skills, with the ability to build cooperation and bring together a wide range of stakeholders.
- Ability to work on complex policy issues and to master technical detail, while being able to communicate key issues as simply and clearly as possible.
- Effective as a part of a team and comfortable working flexibly in a changing and fast-paced environment.

DIT offers a structured learning and development path in both the civil service trade and policy professions, including formal trade modules delivered for example through the FCDO learning portal. In addition, the Trade in Services team places a strong emphasis on in-team learning and development and promoting corporate objectives within and outside the Department.

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

- Making Effective Decisions
- Communicating and Influencing
- Delivering at Pace
- Seeing the Big Picture

**Benefits**:

- Learning and development tailored to your role
- An environmen