Head of Stakeholder Engagement

DIT is an international economic department responsible for: bringing together policy, promotion and financial expertise to break down barriers to trade and investment, and help businesses succeed internationally; delivering a trade policy framework for the UK; promoting British trade and investment across the world; and building the global appetite for British goods and services.

As DIT continues to develop a new trade policy framework, the Department needs the insights from business and other stakeholders to understand what their asks are, and to project those asks as part of our trade policy and FTA negotiations, helping us deliver better deals that benefit all regions and level up the UK.

As Head of DIT’s Stakeholder Engagement Team you will lead the delivery of many of the Department’s formal stakeholder forums. These include the STAG (Strategic Trade Advisory Group chaired by the Minister for International Trade;) the Trade Advisory Groups (TAGs); ten technical external working groups on trade known as Thematic Working Groups (TWGs) and a variety of civil society engagement that include a Trade Unions Advisory Group, a civil society and think tank forum, a quarterly stakeholder board and an Inter-Ministerial Group.

Experience in leading and managing people, planning and setting direction are essential to this role. Leading four G7 teams of approximate 15 people, you will provide strategic coordination for the delivery of these stakeholder groups. You will be responsible for ensuring a consistent engagement approach is taken, by planning and designing the engagement framework for these groups and setting the policy priorities for our engagement.

Job description

There will be a strong emphasis on working with different teams across DIT. With close working required with colleagues in Exports and Trade, Trading Systems and Trade Negotiations and with other government departments to ensure engagement supports the range of projects the Department will be delivering.

There will also be opportunities to contribute to our wider stakeholder and intelligence strategies, and to take ownership over particular policy areas to become a key point of knowledge exchange and integration. An example of this is on the Government’s approach to public scrutiny of trade agreements and external challenges to the Government’s approach.

As Engagement is a Ministerial priority, this role involves significant SCS exposure, and frequent Ministerial interest. This is a great opportunity to consolidate strong communication, collaboration, and leadership skills, while gaining an understanding of a breadth of policy and operational delivery for which the Department is responsible.

The team has a good mix of experience and is very supportive of learning and development, with a friendly and sociable culture.

This roles will involve a wide range of varied responsibilities including:

- Leading and managing a team of approximate 15 staff.
- Delivering a centrally co-ordinated, effective model for stakeholder engagement.
- Building and maintaining strong relationships with a broad range of external stakeholders across multiple sectors, as well as harnessing these relationships to support DIT’s objectives and priorities.
- Advising senior officials on stakeholder engagement activity.
- Working with teams across DIT and Whitehall to improve delivery of effective engagement across the department.

Direct management of x4 G7s

Hybrid worker

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.

**Responsibilities**:
Desirable Criteria
- Excellent leadership skills.
- Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.
- Ability to pick up policy knowledge and explain policy developments to internal and external stakeholders.
- Experience or knowledge of trade policy, international work or negotiations would be desirable but not essential and knowledge can be gained on the job.

Personal Attributes & Skills
- Leading a team to deliver a quality service, including developing trusting relationships with a wide range of internal (DIT and wider UK Government) and external stakeholders
- Excellent communicating and influencing skills.
- Ability to deliver at pace, setting direction and prioritising appropriately, adapting your approach to respond to the evolving context for your work, often with tight deadlines.

Behaviours

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

- Managing a Quality Service
- Leadership
- Delivering at Pace
- Communicating and Influencing

**Benefits**:

- Learning and development tailored to your role
- An environment with flexible working options
- A culture encouraging inclusion and diversit