35934 - Legal Services Trade Team - Senior Policy Advisor
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Job Title: Legal Services Trade Team – Senior Policy Advisor
Band: SEO
Department: Ministry of Justice
Directorate: Judicial and Legal Services Policy
Location: London - 102 Petty France, London SW1H 9AJ; Leeds - 5 Wellington Place, Leeds, LS1 4AP (Travel to London will be required for Leeds based officials)
Hours: 37 hours per week. Flexible working arrangements, including home working, available (some international travel may be required).
Promotion/level transfer: Available on promotion or level transfer.
Security Clearance: SC required
Eligibility: External
Deadline for applications: 2 weeks after going live
Background
The Legal Services Trade Policy Division (LSTPD) and its domestic sister Division (UK and Innovation Legal Services) are responsible for delivering the second objective of the Ministry of Justice single departmental plan (2019 – 2022), namely - “Supporting a flourishing legal services sector”.
To achieve this, LSTPD main objectives are to: a) maintain market access, b) improve market access (including supporting FTA negotiations, leading or supporting the sector deliver multi recognition agreements or support wider liberalisation in particular markets) and c) grow market share in a number of legal services markets across the world. Priority countries have been identified and categorised by these three objectives.
There are four vacancies available in the Legal Services Trade Division within the Asia, Europe, Americas and Programme Management teams. The posts focus on the delivery of MoJ objectives in the context of HMG’s trade strategy and negotiations with key trade partners. It offers an excellent opportunity to work with a wide range of stakeholders within the Department, across Whitehall, and in the legal sector to deliver challenging policy objectives in an area which has quickly risen up national and international policy agendas.
These roles offer an excellent opportunity for high performing policy professionals to lead an exciting and challenging programme of work, as the UK starts its new independent relationship with the EU and other trade partners.
Job description
As a Senior Policy Advisor in the Legal Services Trade Policy Division, you will play a central role in the Government’s work to ensure UK legal services, courts and English law remain world-leading, and will be responsible for leading the development, delivery and implementation of the Department’s legal services policy objectives in the context of HMG’s trade strategy and negotiations with key trade partners.
You will be specifically responsible for leading the development and implementation of a legal services trade programme in one or more countries and emerging markets across Asia, Europe and the Americas. You will be charged with deploying project and programme management skills to deliver on our trade objectives within a fluid environment where priorities may need to change quickly
You will also have responsibilities for particular cross-cutting trade policies and will be responsible for delivery of advice to Ministers, as well as contributions to cross-Whitehall advice and briefings for stakeholders. You will also be responsible for delivery of briefings for trade negotiations and may be more directly involved in negotiations as they develop. You may be required to travel internationally to support this work.
You will need to work confidentially with colleagues across the Department and Whitehall (in particular with BEIS, DIT and FCO colleagues) and with external stakeholders to develop and advance the Department’s legal services objectives.
You will also need to be flexible and support the Division’s wider programme of activity as priorities develop over the next 12 months.
Depending on developing priorities and overall team structure, the postholder may have line management responsibilities, or will have the opportunity to work closely with, and help to develop, HEOs and EOs.
Skills and experience
You are required to have:
- Excellent stakeholder engagement skills and the ability to build relationships quickly across Government and externally.
- Demonstrable capability for strategic thinking and policy development, and ability to make sound judgements.
- The ability to provide clear, evidenced briefing in both written and oral formats on complex policy areas to senior stakeholders and Ministers.
- Strong prioritisation skills and the ability to make effective decisions on how to make best use of your resources to handle time-sensitive work to achieve both short and long-term results.
- The ability to use project and programme management skills in a fluid environment where priorities may need to change quickly.
- The ability to get your message across to diverse groups and deploy effective influencing and negotiating skills to further Departmental and Government objectives.
It would be desirable, but not essential, to have:
- An understanding of government and parliamentary processes.
- An understanding of the justice system and legal services sector.
- An understanding of trade policy-making in an international context (which may include working in an EU-focused role)
- Previous experience of working with the legal services sector and/or similar professional business and services sector.
- A genuine interest in trade policy in particular.
Selection process
This vacancy is being advertised using the Success Profiles Framework, and during the selection process we will assess your Behaviours, Experience, and Strengths.
Behaviours
- Seeing the big picture (lead behaviour)
- Communicating and influencing
- Making effective decisions
- Working together
- Delivering at pace
Experience
We will assess any demonstrable experience, career history and achievements that are relevant to the role.
Strengths
We will assess your Strengths that are relevant to the role, particularly those that map into the key Behaviours applicable to the role.
Selection process details
An initial sift based on the lead Behaviour may be held if a large number of applications are received.
If your application progresses to a full sift, all Behaviours and your Experience will be considered. Candidates who pass the sift will be invited for interview, during which your Behaviours, Experience and Strengths will be assessed. You may also be asked to give a short presentation during the interview. The nature and content of any presentation will be notified when you are given the time and date for interview.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment, and then upon request.
Working Arrangements & Further Information
Some of MoJ’s terms and conditions of service are changing as part of Civil Service reform. The changes will apply to staff joining MoJ who are new to the Civil Service. Staff joining MoJ from other civil service employers will transfer onto the new MoJ terms if they are already on 'modernised' terms in their current post or onto 'unmodernised' MoJ terms if they are on 'unmodernised' terms at their current post. Details will be available if an offer is made.
Flexible working hours
The Ministry of Justice offers a flexible working system in many offices.
Benefits
The MoJ offers a range of benefits:
Annual Leave
Annual leave is 25 days on appointment and will increase to 30 days after five years’ service.
There is also a scheme to allow qualifying staff to buy or sell up to three days leave each year. Additional paid time off for public holidays and 1 privilege day. Leave for part-time and job share posts will be calculated on a pro-rata basis.
Pension
The Civil Service offers a choice of pension schemes, giving you the flexibility to choose the pension that suits you best.
Training
The Ministry of Justice is committed to staff development and offers an extensive range of training and development opportunities.
Support
- A range of ‘Family Friendly’ policies such as opportunities to work reduced hours or job share.
- Access to flexible benefits such as voluntary benefits,retail vouchers and discounts on a range of goods and services.
- For any moves across the Civil Service may have implications on your ability to carry on claiming childcare vouchers
- Paid paternity, adoption and maternity leave.
- Free annual sight tests for employees who use computer screens.
Networks
The opportunity to join employee-run networks that have been established to provide advice and support and to enable the views of employees from minority groups to be expressed direct to senior management. There are currently networks for employees of minority ethnic origin, employees with disabilities, employees with caring responsibilities, women employees, and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees.
Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles. Should you feel that the recruitment process has breached the recruitment principles you are able to raise a formal complaint in the following order
1- To Shared Service Connected Ltd (0845 241 5358 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com);
2- To Ministry of Justice Resourcing (resourcing-services@justice.gov.uk);
3- To the Civil Service Commission (details available here)
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity.
There is a guaranteed interview scheme (GIS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
Grading Structure Review
The Ministry of Justice is currently undergoing a review of posts which are currently graded at Band A to realign our grading structure with the majority of the wider Civil Service.
Posts advertised at Band A may be graded at either Grade 6 or Grade 7 once the review has taken place.
11/08/2020, 23:55 hours.
To apply for roles in MOJ you will need to confirm your employment history for at least 3 years prior to the date of application so that pre-employment checks (BPSS) can be undertaken. If you have spent significant time abroad (a total of 6 months in the past 3 years) you would be required to give a reasonable account of the reasons why.
For some roles you will be required to successfully complete National Security Vetting at Counter Terrorism (CTC), Security Clearance (SC) or Developed Vetting (DV) level as a condition of appointment. To meet CTC/SC/DV requirements you will normally need to have been resident in the UK for at least 3/5/10 years prior to the date of application (The level of checks that are required are stated in the advert).
If you do not meet the above requirements, you may still be considered if, for example:
- You've been serving overseas with HM Forces or in some other official capacity as a representative of HM Government
- You were studying abroad
- You were living overseas with parents
In such cases you will need to be able to provide referee cover for the period(s) of residence overseas. The duration of overseas residence and the country of abode will also be taken into account.
Success Profiles will enable a fairer and more inclusive method of recruitment by enabling us to assess the range of experiences, abilities, strengths, behaviours and technical/professional skills required for different roles. This flexible approach to recruitment focuses more on finding the right candidate for the specific role. To find out more about Success Profiles to support your application please click here for further guidance.
We have provided detail of the assessment stages and areas being assessed to help you prepare for completing your application form, and to advise of what will be assessed following this, if you successfully pass the application stage.
Application form stage assessments
Interview stage assessments
A Great Place to Work for Veterans
The "Making the Civil Service a Great Place to work for veterans" initiative includes a guaranteed interview scheme to those who meet the minimum criteria to provide eligible former members of the Armed Forces with opportunities to secure rewarding jobs. Allowing veterans to continue to serve their country, and to bring highly skilled individuals with a broad range of experience into the Civil Service in an environment, which recognises and values your previous service in the Armed Forces.
For further details about the initiative and eligibility requirements visit : https://www.gov.uk/government/news/making-the-civil-service-a-great-place-to-work-for-veterans
Redeployment Interview Scheme
Civil Service departments are expected to explore redeployment opportunities before making an individual redundant. The MoJ are committed, as part of the Redeployment Interview Scheme, to providing opportunities to those who are 'at risk of redundancy'.
MoJ are able to offer an interview to eligible candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns. Candidate's will not be eligible for the Redeployment Interview Scheme if they are applying on promotion.
This job is broadly open to the following groups:
· 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) https://www.gov.uk/settled-status-eu-citizens-families
· 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) https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-rules
This Vacancy is closed to applications.