Senior Programme Advisor

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) is the department for economic growth. We support businesses to invest, grow and export, creating jobs and opportunities across the country. Our Vision is to champion open and fair global trading that drives growth, creates better jobs and higher wages, and improves living standards in this country and around the world. The Department brings together policy and operational expertise to break down barriers to trade and investment in markets across the world.
The Multilateral and WTO team leads on delivering UK trade policy in several high-profile areas in the multilateral fora including: the World Trade Organisation (WTO), the G7 and the G20. We look to influence global trade rules, manage the UK’s relationship with bilateral trading partners and use the UK’s voice at the WTO to advocate for, and reform, the rules-based international system. To do that effectively we need to develop and manage a busy multilateral trade policy programme supporting UK engagement across multiple fora, including the WTO, G7, G20 and Commonwealth.
This high-profile, stretching, and diverse role sits within the heart of the WTO programme team. As the successful candidate, you will be responsible for managing the UK’s multilateral and WTO programme delivery, ensuring coordination and coherence of activity across multiple workstreams, managing the programme systems and processes, as well as managing the secretariat function for internal and cross-departmental governance.
You will work closely with a wide range of strategy and policy leads to manage our programmatic approach. You will work closely with seniors to support overall programme delivery, develop the required programme management information, including working with teams to set workstream milestones, progress reporting up to Ministerial level, managing issues/risks, and wider programme communication to key stakeholder groups.
All aspects of the role will require you to build strong professional networks and work closely with the UK Mission in Geneva, DBT Regional Teams, colleagues at Post, as well as policy teams across the Department and Whitehall. The role offers a challenging and rewarding opportunity for the right candidate to make a tangible impact and work directly on the UK’s priorities at the WTO., + Manage the delivery of the UK multilateral trade policy and engagement. Working closely with the Head of Programme, this includes working closely with team leads to monitor programme and workstream level objectives and KPIs. Identify and assess programme risks and associated mitigations.
+ Manage the key products, processes, and ways of working to support programme delivery; work includes holding policy and engagement leads to account for delivery and working closely with senior leaders.
+ Report appropriate programme management information and progress up to Ministerial level.
+ Manage a secretariat function for all internal team and cross-departmental governance to support effective and timely information sharing and programme decision making.
+ Manage a Delivery Hub to oversee all programme delivery activity, proactive communication with internal and external stakeholders, approvals for HMG travel to Geneva, team corporate reporting, budget and financial planning.
+ You will line manage one HEO and an EO., We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
+ Changing and Improving
+ Communicating and Influencing
+ Working Together, + A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made. Reserve Lists will be for each location and appointments made in merit order based on location preferences.
+ Any move to the Department for Business and Trade from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments.
+ The Department will not consider sponsoring a visa or issuing a Certificate of Sponsorship. We are unable to offer advice on any Visa and Immigration cases.
+ 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. Any applicant who has 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.
+ Terms and Conditions are attached. Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you.
+ Please note – the successful candidate will be expected to remain in post for a minimum of 18 months before being released for another role., + UK nationals
+ nationals of the Republic of Ireland
+ nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
+ nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
+ nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
+ individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
+ Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service
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We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
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.

Diversity and Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

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+ Experience of programme or project delivery in a policy environment.
+ Experience of working within a secretariat/board function, including managing appropriate programme/project reporting and holding teams to account.
+ Ability to build and maintain positive working relations with others whilst marshalling inputs to support timely delivery.
+ A proven track record in reviewing ways of working and responding positively to feedback.
Desirable Criteria
+ Experience of working on issues relating to international trade, economic diplomacy and/or multilateral institutions.
+ A programme / project management qualification.
Personal Attributes & Skills
You must be comfortable in holding others to account, and marshalling inputs to keep delivery on track. You will have experience of working within programme/project delivery.
You will have strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work collaboratively to deliver outcomes across multiple teams.
You will need to plan carefully to deliver complex and competing tasks and be flexible and innovative to make sure that tasks are delivered in the right way at the right time., Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Interviews for this vacancy will be conducted virtually. We will, however, consider in-person interviews by exception.
Please ensure that you check your emails regularly as all updates from us will be sent to you this way.
To apply for this post, you will be asked to complete the following as part of the online application:
+ A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Provide employment history that relates to the essential criteria, and that any gaps in employment history within the last 2 years are explained. The CV should not exceed more than 2 x A4 pages.
+ A Personal Statement of up to 500 words, explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role in reference to the essential criteria.
It is likely that the sift will take place 1-2 weeks after the closing date and interviews 3-5 weeks after the closing date though this is subject to change.

Alongside your salary of £39,384, Department for Business and Trade contributes £10,633 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
+ Learning and development tailored to your role
+ An environment with flexible working options
+ A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
+ A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
We recognise the challenges that people with (multiple) protected characteristics may experience on the job market and in their career progression. We are fully committed to being an inclusive employer and ensuring equal opportunities. We are keen to make our workforce as diverse as possible, and we hope to attract applications from underrepresented groups, including ethnic minorities, people with a disability, and people with gender diverse identities.
Please refer to the attached candidate pack for further information on our benefits.