Director, Trade Defence and FTA Utilisation

Darlington, London

Here in the Trading Systems group, we work to reduce market access barriers, champion the rules-based international trading system, and operate the UK’s new trading system.  We do this by:

– Advancing the UK’s interests in multilateral forums,
– Opening new markets for UK businesses,
– Defending UK businesses and protecting our security, and
– Shaping and strengthening the rules-based systems and ensure compliance.

It is a brilliant team doing interesting, challenging and important work that really matters to the UK. We are committed to making DIT and TSG a fantastic place to be and join up as One DIT by connecting and collaborating, expert by striving for excellence, and engaged and inclusive by celebrating differences.

As part of the TSG Senior Leadership team, you will be supporting the group in achieving its goals, as well as helping make TSG a great place full of positive people, delivering excellent work.

The Director will be responsible for some of our high priority policy and strategy development and implementation, including:

• Trade remedies – Continuous improvement of our trade remedies framework, sponsorship of the Trade Remedies Authority (TRA) and improving awareness of the TRA and the UK’s remedies framework within industry. Defending businesses from across the UK from unfair trading practices such as dumping and subsidies through a modern and fit for purpose trade remedies system.

• Sanctions and export controls – Provide additional resilience to export controls policy to keep pace with emerging threats, working closely with the main policy area on Export Controls through matrix management.

• Market Distorting Practices and economic coercion – Working with relevant policy teams within DIT, across Whitehall and at Post, establish a new permanent policy, strategy and coordination function to tackle Market Distorting Practices and economic coercion to ensure UK companies are not disadvantaged.

• FTA Utilisation – Bringing together work ongoing across our Overseas network, export promotion, investment, communications and trade policy teams to facilitate a department-wide approach to FTA utilisation to help businesses realise the benefits of the FTAs we negotiate.

This post will line manage at least 3 Deputy Directors with a span of around 55 FTE, with the potential to change as the team is set up.

• A proven track record of leadership in a complex and dynamic environment, with an engaging, adaptable and inclusive leadership style;
• Flexibility to respond to emerging challenges, take decisions in an ambiguous environment and effectively prioritise the work of the team;
• Excellent strategic thinking with high intellectual energy and demonstrable evidence-based policy and operational delivery;
• Outstanding communication and influencing skills, with the ability to manage a wide range of senior stakeholders from within DIT, across Government and externally, and construct effective relationships to
deliver;
• First-class judgement and political nous, including the personal credibility to be a trusted advisor to Ministers and senior officials, or equivalent experience with senior stakeholders.
• Proven success of working in an environment that has required an understanding and awareness of the issues and challenges faced by businesses.

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension

Open to UK nationals only.

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Job contact :

• Name :SCS Recruitment and Talent Team
• Email :scsrecruitment@trade.gov.uk

Recruitment team :

• Email :scsrecruitment@trade.gov.uk