DIT Jobs 2023 – Strategic Planning

About the job

Location

Darlington, London

Job Summary

About the job

The Strategy Unit sits at the heart of the Department for International Trade, supporting ministers and senior officials to set and deliver the department’s priorities and objectives.

A high-performing SEO to support this work. The role will work closely with Ministers and the Permanent Secretary to provide strategic direction to the Department.

The role holder will coordinate and synthesise information from across the Department, whilst tracking the Department’s progress against its objectives. You will be part of a team working on an exciting, varied array of projects with good exposure to Ministers and senior officials.

Job Description

Key Accountabilities

The role holder will work flexibly across the Strategy Unit’s remit which ranges from driving departmental planning and in particular our Outcome Delivery Plan, to supporting Strategic Priorities from Devolution, Better Regulation to Cross-Whitehall strategies. This is a truly collaborative role which will enable you to work closely with colleagues from across the Department – including Private Office, Policy teams, Finance, Analysis, Project Delivery and HR – to develop, implement, track and advocate for the Department’s Plan and Priorities.

In Particular, The Role Will Include

• Supporting senior leaders, ministers and colleagues to set the strategic direction for the department: producing a clear set of objectives and a framework through which to measure success
• Supporting the delivery of DIT’s Outcome Delivery Plan
• Guiding teams across the department to consider their long-term business needs
• Supporting cross-cutting briefing requests for the Secretary of State and Permanent Secretary
• Advocating for and driving strategic priorities and cross-whitehall engagement on policies such as Better Regulation, Devolution, Levelling up and other emerging priorities
• Developing effective and collaborative relationships with colleagues across the department and cross-Government to effectively shape thinking on strategic priorities, ensuring alignment with the analysis and finance functions

The role will be based in either Darlington or London. You will be asked to express a location preference during the application process.

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.

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.

Appointments will be made to candidates in merit order based on location preferences.

Person specification

Essential Criteria

• Excellent communication skills and the ability to write succinct, clear advice
• Using excellent judgement and analytical skills to develop strategy and deliver policy outcomes, building consensus with internal and external partners
• Excellent communication, briefing and Microsoft office skills
• Strong interpersonal skills and experience of working with a wide range of stakeholders
• Strong professional interest in trade, business and/or international affairs

Desirable Criteria

• Ability to coordinating planning activity across organisations and Whitehall
• Driving delivery through effective project management and use of DIT governance structures
• Understanding of the Department for International Trade’s objectives and priorities
• Experience of building effective relationships with other government departments

Personal Attributes & Skills

This role is ideally suited to someone who likes to be at the centre of the action and thrives in an evolving environment. You will need to be flexible and responsive to ministerial direction, a team player able to build consensus and rapport with teams across DIT and OGDs and will take pride in high quality and timely work.

Whether driving and tracking progress against our Outcome Delivery Plan or coordinating DIT’s input into wider HMG strategies, you will be enjoy an exciting and varied job at the heart of the department.

Behaviours

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

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Making Effective Decisions
• 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 pension

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy is using

We are closely monitoring the situation regarding the coronavirus, and will be following central Government advice as it is issued. There is therefore a risk that recruitment to this post may be subject to change at short notice. In addition, where appropriate, you may be invited to attend a video interview.

Please continue to follow the application process as normal and ensure that you check your emails regularly as all updates from us will be sent to you this way.

Sift will take place week commencing 18/10/2023.

Interviews will take place week commencing 31/10/2023.

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV and personal statement. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

Please align your CV with previous skills and experience. Maximum of 2 A4 pages. Maximum word count of 1000 words.

The Personal Statement should concisely explain, in no more than 500 words, your motivation for applying to this role, and evidencing how you meet the essential criteria listed above, including evidence and succinct examples wherever possible.

This role is full time only. Applicants who wish to work an alternative pattern are welcome to apply however your preferred working pattern may not be available and you should discuss this with the vacancy holder before applying.

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf. However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing [email protected] stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment.

A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5-year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.

Please note – the successful candidate will be expected to remain in post for a minimum of 18 months before being released for another role.

The Department for International Trade embraces and values diversity in all forms. We welcome and pride ourselves on the positive impact diversity has on the work we do, and we promote equality of opportunity throughout the organisation.

Please note – harmonised terms and conditions are attached. Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you.

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the ‘Contact point for applicants’ section.

Further Information

A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.

Any move to the Department for International Trade from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility

Reasonable Adjustment

If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

Contact Government Recruitment Service via [email protected] as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at an interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.

Vetting Requirements

All security clearances require you to provide evidence of your UK footprint where you have been physically present in the UK.

The requirement for SC clearance is to have been present in the UK for 3 of the last 5 years.

Failure to meet the residency requirements will result in your security clearance application being rejected.

If you require SC clearance you will need to provide evidence of the below requirements.

Checks Will Be Made Against

• Departmental or company records (personnel files, staff reports, sick leave reports and security records)
• UK criminal records covering both spent and unspent criminal records
• Your credit and financial history with a credit reference agency
• Security Services records

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is

People working with government assets must complete

Nationality Requirements

This 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
• nationals from the EU, EEA or Switzerland with settled or pre-settled status or who apply for either status by the deadline of the
• 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

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission’s

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

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.

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the

The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction.

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 : Louisa Graham
• Email : [email protected]

Recruitment team :

• Email : [email protected]

Further information

Our recruitment process is underpinned by the principle of appointment on the basis of fair and open competition and appointment on merit, as outlined in the Civil Service Commissioners’ Recruitment Principles.

If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with these principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should in the first instance contact DIT by email: [email protected].

If you are not satisfied with the response you receive, you can contact the Civil Service Commission, which regulates all Civil Service recruitment.

For further information on bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission please visit their web pages: Click