Senior Advisor – International Policy

Position description

The Strategy, Sustainability and Impact Group (SSIG) has been created, in part, in recognition of the need for greater senior-level influence and increased resource across high-profile areas previously undertaken by the Chief Executive’s Office. This has come about due to the level of ambition the government has for its trade agenda, and the role ministers see for UKEF in supporting priority strategic goals such as the economic recovery following Covid-19, support for SMEs and the levelling-up agenda. Ministers’ ambition for UKEF and their desire to align the department in a more agile way with emerging government policy will all have an impact on UKEF policy and creates a need for more UKEF policy-development. In addition, EU exit and no longer being represented by the Commission in certain areas provides further context on the International side.

SSIG currently has six divisions: 

1. Strategy
2. Climate Change & Sustainability
3. International Relations
4. Information & Governance
5. Environmental & Social
6. Products and Policy Development

 
Within the Directorate, the International Relations Division leads on five major areas:

1. International policy formulation and horizon scanning
2. Cross-government and internal policy co-ordination in respect of international issues
3. Represent UK/UKEF in international fora such as OECD, G7, etc
4. Relations with other ECAs and trade bodies such as the Berne Union
5. International reporting and notifications, and (casework) advice to (Business Group) colleagues on compliance with international agreements

Job description

The role is as a Senior Advisor (SEO) in the International Division of SSIG. The division comprises 1 SCS1 Deputy Director, 2x Grade 6 Heads, 2x Grade 7 Deputy Heads, 2x SEOs and 1x HEO.  

The role holder will support the Deputy Head of International and Head of International Outreach and Engagement on the below:

1. Formulating policy and negotiating positions on current international issues and emerging issues.
2. Representing the UK/UKEF in negotiations and delivering UK/UKEF objectives in the OECD Export Credits Group, the Berne Union, and other relevant bodies.
3. Engaging with other export credit agencies, the Berne Union and OECD Secretariat to maintain and constructive working relationship and facilitate the sharing of information and best practice to assist with organisational objectives.
4. Ensuring UKEF fulfils its international transparency and reporting obligations.
5. Producing comparative materials and benchmarking reports for the department.
6. Liaising with other government departments on cross-cutting issues and engagement internally with subject matter experts.

Person specification

• Support the UK’s/UKEF’s international strategy on export credits.
• Support the senior members of the division to represent UKEF internationally to further UK international strategy objectives; and, where required, take the lead in representing.
• Maintain constructive working relationships with colleagues in other Export Credit Agencies (ECAs), guardian authorities and associated organisations. Including organisation UKEF participation in bilateral and international meetings.
• Coordinate comparison benchmarking activities that concern technical and policy issues of concern to UKEF.
• Provide advice to UKEF colleagues on the meaning and correct interpretation of the international regulatory framework.
• Support the maintenance of internal control systems and provide advice and guidance to colleagues to ensure that UKEF adheres to its international reporting and compliance obligations.
• Ensure that international reporting obligation returns are accurate and dispatched in a timely manner. This involves an element of data analysis and quality assurance.

Further duties of the role can be found in the candidate information document.

Qualifications

To meet the National Security Vetting requirements for this role you will need to have resided in the UK for a minimum of 3 out of the past 5 years. If you do not meet this requirement, you would not be eligible for SC clearance and therefore not eligible to apply for this role.

Behaviours

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

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Making Effective Decisions
• Delivering at Pace
• Communicating and Influencing
• Leadership

Technical skills

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

• Technical – a short presentation (this will be on a topic determined by UKEF and will need to be prepared in advance).
• Technical – questions relevant to the role.

Application instructions

Please be sure to indicate you saw this position on tendersglobal.net