Head of Policy and Engagement

This an exciting time to work for the Department for International Trade, as the UK continues to develop its trade policy, and negotiate trade deals with countries around the world.

The Head of Policy and Engagement will work closely with the Assistant Director for Services and Digital on a range of trade policy issues related to services, investment and digital trade. The role requires a great deal of flexibility, adapting to the priorities of the Trade Negotiations Group as negotiations with our trading partners ramp up and down.

The role is likely to cover aspects of our US policy and engagement while members of the team respond to priorities in other areas of the Group. This includes covering US digital economy policy.

The role will be in the Services and Digital Strategy Team, working closely with the Director for US, Services, Investment and Digital (USID). It will involve line management of a small, flexible team.

**Job description**

You will work with others to deliver our engagement with key trade stakeholders including government-to-government and key businesses.

You will collaborate with policy teams and other government departments to ensure that HMG priorities are represented in driving forward trade negotiations.

You will work closely with the Assistant Director for Services and Digital.

You will provide guidance and support for the US policy and engagement teams, including on the US digital economy.

You will be responsible for the team’s budget and work with finance colleagues to ensure forecasting and reporting is in line with our departmental policies.

You will have line management responsibilities for a small team, supporting colleagues in their professional development.

You will contribute to delivering our corporate priorities, and role model the DIT values (Expert, Enterprising, Engaged and Inclusive).

**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**
- Strategic international experience
- Experience of stakeholder engagement and management
- Team building and leadership
- Corporate experience including people management and financial/budget responsibility
- Experience of digital or tech

**Desirable Criteria**
- Experience of services and/or investment policy
- US and/or Singapore policy and engagement

**Behaviours**

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

- Seeing the Big Picture
- Leadership
- Delivering at Pace
- Working Together

**Benefits**
- Learning and development tailored to your role
- An environment with flexible working options
- A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
- A Civil Service pensionwith an average employer contribution of 27%

**Things you need to know**

**Selection process details**

This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.

**Reasonable Adjustment**

**Vetting Requirements**

UK criminal records covering both spent and unspent criminal records
Your credit and financial history with a credit reference agency
Security Services records

**Security**

See our vetting charter.

People working with government assets must complete basic personnel security standardchecks.

**Nationality requirements**

Further information on nationality requirementsThis job is broadly open to the following groups: UK nationals
nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
nationals of the Republic of Ireland
relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals working in the Civil Service
relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals who have built up the right to work in the Civil Service
certain family members of the relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals

**Working for the Civil Service**

The Civil Service Codesets 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 also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veteransinitiative.

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 : (See complete description on Civil Service Jobs)

**Recruitment team**:
**Further information**

Our recruitment process is underpinned by the principle of appointment on the basis