Sponsorship Support Officer

Job Description

JOB SUMMARY

DBT is looking for an interesting and challenging EO position at the vanguard of the UK’s policy on trade remedies (anti-dumping, countervailing, and safeguard measures), which are critical in promoting free and fair trade, combating unfair trade, and levelling the playing field for UK firms. The Sponsorship team works to advance the UK’s current and future interests in trade remedies, establishing the UK as an exemplar and champion of the Rules-Based International System.

The Trade Remedies team is friendly, collaborative, and helpful, with strong People Survey scores for work engagement and a persistent focus on inclusiveness and learning and development. In our team, we follow a hybrid model and encourage flexible working wherever possible and in accordance with achieving business objectives.

This is an exciting time to join the DBT Sponsorship Team. We are in charge of developing, enhancing, and maintaining a highly successful partnership with one of the department’s arms-length entities, the Trade Remedies Authority (“TRA”). The TRA assesses whether additional measures are required to protect UK economic interests from unfair foreign trade practices. They are an important part of the UK’s trade policy framework; establishing a strong working partnership between DBT and the TRA is key to achieving our joint goals.

Job Description

The role will include:

• Assisting in the development of DBT’s sponsorship policy capability, ensuring that it meets HM Government standards and codes of practice, and staying current on developments in the larger sponsorship work area.
• Supporting our contact with the Trade Remedies Authority in order to establish a strong working relationship with DBT and the wider government, as well as assisting with policy issue resolution if appropriate.
• Serve as the Secretariat for the TRA Sponsorship Board, ensuring clear and effective governance between the TRA and DBT.
• Provide the team with broader corporate assistance, including leading on reporting requirements and supporting with meeting logistics, project management, briefings, and updates.
• Work flexibly with the team on tasks as they arise.

Person Specification

Essential Criteria

• Ability to collaborate with internal and external counterparts to establish and develop solid relationships.
• Ability to apply discretion and planning to manage task packages individually and collaboratively with the team.
• Strong writing and vocal communication abilities, including the ability to explain clearly and persuade people.

Desirable criteria.

• Interest in and knowledge of international trade and/or sponsorship.

Behaviours

During the selection process, we will evaluate you based on the following behaviours:

• Making Effective Decisions.
• Working Together
• Delivering at Pace

Benefits

Along with your £27,329 pay, the Department for Business and Trade contributes £7,378 towards your membership in the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Discover what perks a Civil Service Pension gives.

• Learning and growth based on your role
• An setting that offers flexible working opportunities
• A culture that promotes inclusiveness and diversity.
• A civil service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%.

We acknowledge the difficulties that people with (many) protected characteristics may face on the job market and in their career growth. We are entirely committed to being an inclusive employer that provides equal chances. We are committed to making our workforce as diverse as possible, and we welcome applications from under-represented groups such as ethnic minorities, persons with disabilities, and those with gender diverse identities.

Please see the accompanying applicant material for further information on our advantages.

Things you should know

Details about the selection process.

This position employs Success Profiles (opens in a new window), which will evaluate your Behaviours, Strengths, and Experience.

Interviews for this position will be held virtually. We will, however, consider in-person interviews as an exception.

Please check your emails on a frequent basis, as we will send you all updates this way.

To apply for this position, you will be required to complete the following as part of your online application:

• A CV that details your career history, including major roles and achievements. Please provide employment history that meets the required criteria and explain any gaps in employment within the last two years. The CV should not contain more than two A4 pages.
• A Personal Statement of up to 250 words outlining how you see your personal abilities, qualities, and experience as proof of your eligibility for the post in light of the essential criteria.

The sift is expected to take place 1-2 weeks after the closing date, with interviews following 3-5 weeks after that, though this is subject to change.

In the event of a significant number of candidates, a first short sift will be performed on the Personal Statement. Candidates that pass the initial sift may be advanced to a complete sift or proceed directly to assessment/interview.

Who Can Begin an Apprenticeship?

To start an apprenticeship, you must be:

• 16 or older.
• Living in England.
• Not in full-time education

You can apply for an apprenticeship while still in school, but you must be 16 or older by the conclusion of the summer vacation to begin the apprenticeship. Please keep in mind that if you are successful, you must be at least 16 years old to proceed through the necessary security procedures.

Reasonable adjustments

We are dedicated to assisting candidates so that they can perform at their peak during the recruitment process. This includes making appropriate changes to our processes. In order to request an adjustment:

Complete the ‘Assistance necessary’ box on the ‘Additional requirements’ page of your application form to let us know what adjustments or assistance you might require later in the recruitment process.

Alternatively, email the Government Recruitment Service at DBTrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the deadline to discuss your requirements.

If you have any accessibility issues with any of the attachments in this advertisement, please contact the email address listed under the ‘Contact point for applicants’ section.

Candidate Support

You may choose to attend a virtual Candidate Support Session. These courses provide valuable ideas and advise on the entire recruitment process, from application to interview.

Please review the accompanying Candidate Pack for more information on Diversity and Inclusion; Benefits; Learning and Development; Working Patterns; and what we offer as a department.

Further information:

• A reserve list may be kept for 12 months, after which additional appointments can be made. Reserve lists will be created for each location, and appointments will be made in order of location preference.
• If you transfer from another employer to the Department of Business and Trade, you will no longer be eligible for childcare vouchers. This involves transfers between government departments.
• The Department will not consider sponsoring a visa or granting a Certificate of Sponsorship. We are unable to provide assistance on visa and immigration issues.
• New hires are expected to start at the bottom of the pay scale.
• Applicants who pass the interview will be subjected to a pre-employment check against the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will reveal information about employees who have been fired for fraudulent or dishonest behaviour. This screening also applies to employees who quit or depart before being terminated for fraud or dishonesty. Any applicant whose information appears on the IFD will be denied employment.
• A candidate is unable to apply for a position in the Civil Service if the application is made within five years of being dismissed for internal fraud against the government.
• The Terms & Conditions are appended. Please read the document to see how they may effect you.
• Please keep in mind that the chosen candidate will be expected to stay in their current position for at least 18 months before being released for another career.
• This position may be viewed as a secondment opportunity. Please contact the hiring manager named at the bottom of this advertisement to discuss.

To expedite the application process, we will send a Criminal Record Check to the Disclosure and Barring Service, Disclosure Scotland, and Access NI on your behalf.

However, we realise that in extreme circumstances, some candidates may choose to transmit their completed applications directly. If you intend to do this, please notify the Government Recruitment Service by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk with the job reference number in the subject line.

For more information on the Disclosure Scotland confidential checking service, call the Disclosure Scotland Helpline at 0870 609 6006 and request to talk with the operations manager in confidentially, or email Info@disclosurescotland.co.uk.

For more information on the Access NI confidential checking service, call the Access NI Helpline at 0300 200 7888 and request to talk with the operations manager in confidence, or email accessni@ani.x.gsi.gov.uk.

Vetting

SC clearance requires that you have spent at least three of the last five years in the UK. Failure to meet the residency requirements will result in your security clearance application being denied.

For further information on National Security Vetting, please see the following page: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/demystifying-vetting

Feedback will only be supplied if you participate in an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must go through a criminal background check.

Successful candidates must complete security standards before being appointed. The required level of security is security check (opens in new window).

View our vetting charter (opens in a separate window).

People who work with government assets must pass baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This position is widely open to the following groups:

• UK citizens
• Nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• Nationals of Commonwealth countries have the right to work in the United Kingdom
• Nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, or Liechtenstein, and family members of those nations, with established or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS). (Opens a new window)
• Nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, or Liechtenstein, and family members of those nations, who have made a legitimate application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS).
• Individuals having limited or indefinite right to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before December 31, 2020.
• Turkish nationals and certain family members of Turkish nationals have gained the right to work in the Civil Service.

More information about nationality criteria. (Opens a new window)

Working in Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) specifies the norms of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We hire on merit through fair and open competition, as defined in the Civil Service Commission’s recruitment principles (opens in a new window).

The Civil Service values diversity and encourages equal opportunity. As a result, we provide a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) to candidates with impairments who meet the basic selection requirements.

The Civil Service also provides a Redeployment Interview Scheme for civil servants who are at risk of redundancy and meet the basic qualifications for the offered position.

Diversity & Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attracting, retaining, and investing in talent wherever it exists. For more information, 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).

Apply and get more information.

This position is part of the Great Places to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.

The Civil Service accepts applications from those who have just been released from jail or have an unspent conviction. Learn more about the recruiting of ex-prisoners.

The job advertisement will be removed once this position has been filled. You may wish to keep a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants.

Job contact:

Name:

Declan McClean

Email:

declan.mcclean@businessandtrade.gov.uk

Recruitment team

Email:

dbtrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Further information

Our recruitment process is based on the Civil Service Commissioners’ Recruitment Principles, which provide that appointments should be made based on fair and open competition and merit.
If you believe your application was not treated in accordance with these standards and wish to file a complaint, please contact DBT by email at Resourcing@businessandtrade.gov.uk.
If you are dissatisfied with the response you receive, you may contact the Civil Service Commission, which oversees all Civil Service recruitment.
For further information about filing a complaint with the Civil Service Commission, please visit their online pages: Click here to visit. Civil Service Commission / Complaints