Policy Advisor

The Department for International Trade (DIT) negotiates trade agreements for the UK and promotes UK Trade and Investment around the world.

This role sits within the Trade in Services negotiation team. Services trade is the key driver of the UK’s economy, and as the fastest growing sector of international trade, the UK has a very real opportunity to take advantage of its globally leading position and create future growth.

Working within the programme & engagement team you will focus on a number of areas. The first is the delivery of the Trade in Services engagement programme with key services exporters from an array of sectors such as professional & transport. This includes maintaining the secretariat function of the teams engagement forums alongside active relationship management via ongoing 1-2-1 engagement with important services focused stakeholders.

Secondly, this role also directly supports the effective programme management of the Trade in Services team. This includes direct collaboration between policy & legal senior leaders to ensure effective clear and proportionate project management, team-wide consolidated planning, and risk management processes.

Finally, this role provides matrix policy support to the WTO compliance and negotiations team within the wider Services Global Strategy Branch. This will involve the direct involvement in a number of interesting multilateral initiatives that the UK is looking to take a leading role in.

We place a strong emphasis on learning and development. The successful applicants will receive a tailored induction programme, taking into account knowledge and experience.

**Job description**

This role will work closely with DIT policy teams, internal and external stakeholders, analysts, legal, overseas posts, and other Departments. Your responsibilities will include:

- Supporting the teams programme and risk management, ensuring that policy and legal resource is allocated in the most effective way,
- Developing new, innovative ways to improve processes and structures within the negotiation team,
- Support the team’s internal and external engagement functions, including direct relationship management of services focused businesses and representative organisations,
- Cooperating with colleagues across government to ensure that both the UK and our partner countries comply with our commitments in trade agreements,
- Drafting briefings and other materials related to policy areas for Ministers and senior Civil Servants.

**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**
- An interest in, and understanding of, international trade and the political and economic context for it
- Good strategic thinking and decision-making skills
- A team player attitude, who is flexible, proactive, and adaptable
- Experience analysing information to reach conclusions and form recommendation
- An understanding of the value of delivering timely, honest, objective, and impartial advice, and a commitment to doing so
- A problem-solving outlook, who is able to balance competing priorities, and bring together a wide range of interested individuals and groups
- Strong written and verbal communication skills

**Desirable Criteria**
- Knowledge of trade policy
- Experience working in an international context and with international partners
- The ability to see and understand the political, economic and/or strategic context for the development and delivery of trade policy
- The ability to develop, interpret and present policy, including presenting evidence and options, drawing upon experts as appropriate

**Personal Attributes & Skills**
- Experience of and interest in developing and presenting policy options
- Ability to work on complex policy issues and to master technical detail, and to communicate this as simply and clearly as possible
- Effective as a part of a team and comfortable working flexibly in a changing and fast-paced environment

**Behaviours**

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

- Making Effective Decisions
- Delivering at Pace
- Working Together
- Seeing the Big Picture

**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 and Experience.

**Further Information**

**Reasonable Adjustment**

**Visa Spon