Job Description:

Job information Import Sanctions Policy Adviser from the Company Department for Business and Trade, this latest Import Sanctions Policy Adviser job vacancy is located in the city London located in the country United Kingdom . This latest job opening is open to job seekers who have the latest education / graduate GCSE . Job Vacancies in this Trades field have been opened and published up to the specified time.

Job Responsibility:

Details

Reference number

408703

Salary

£34,254 - £39,994 National: £34, 254 - £36, 142 London: £38,138 - £39,994 A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97% GBP

Job grade

Higher Executive Officer

Contract type

Permanent

Business area

DBT - ESTR - Global Trade and Delivery

Type of role

Communications / Marketing International Trade Policy

Working pattern

Flexible working, Full-time, Job share, Part-time

Number of jobs available

1

Contents

• Location
• About the job
• Benefits
• Things you need to know
• Apply and further information

Location

Belfast, Birmingham, Cardiff, Darlington, Edinburgh, London, Salford

About the job

Job summary

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) Import Controls and Sanctions Team is responsible for developing and operating the UK's regime of import controls and sanctions, responding to national security and policy developments. The team sits within the wider Import Control and Strategy Team, which also oversees forced labour policy and import licencing. The latter represents UK import licencing interests at the WTO and in UK Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), and houses the Import Licensing Branch (ILB), which issues import licences for all controlled goods (except those subject to import sanctions, which this team oversees).

As a team, we work to develop effective, impactful sanctions, which achieve the UK's international, national security, and statutory objectives, and protect business and public interests. We play a leading role in developing and implementing new and existing sanctions with ministers, industry, and global partners - import sanctions are a core lever in HMG's trade and economic security policy. Alongside policy development, the team review and issue import licences for sanctioned goods on behalf of the Secretary of State.

This is a stretching HEO role, with excellent opportunities for exposure to high-profile policy issues and senior stakeholders. The successful candidate can expect to develop both policy and operational capabilities in a supportive, high-performing team environment. You would also play a direct role in contributing to wider priorities across the sanctions, trade/ foreign policy, and national security agenda.

While the team has an interest in the import-elements of all UK sanctions, Russia is our key focus at present, constituting a key pillar of the Russia/ Ukraine response. Sanctions introduced since the invasion have reduced imports from Russia to the UK by around 99%.

The postholder would be primarily responsible for supporting work to design, implement and facilitate import sanctions policy, including internal and cross-Departmental coordination with sanctions colleagues, providing advice to ministers and senior stakeholders, overseeing external communications vis-à-vis parliamentary, public and business enquiries, and publishing online guidance on gov.uk. We would also expect the postholder to support other areas of the team as required, including managing import licence applications for sanctioned goods.

The role receives significant Ministerial and senior attention, due to high parliamentary, media, and business interest in import sanctions. The team ultimately play a key role in DBT's work to defend the UK's interests and security, through the effective development and deployment of import sanctions.

Job description

Import Sanctions Implementation: Support policy and operational solutions to emerging and cross-cutting issues in import sanctions. Work closely with other policy teams within DBT, and legal, as well as the FCDO, HMT, HMRC and other government departments to develop, implement and review import sanctions measures. Strengthen compliance, awareness and understanding of import sanctions measures through external and internal engagement.

Communications: This is a public-facing role, including first port of call for business and stakeholder engagement, with the role-holder empowered to respond directly on complex matters, or escalate as appropriate - this is managed primarily through a dedicated public inbox. This includes providing bespoke advice to HMRC and OGDs, often at pace, on sanctions and controls relating to individual consignments at the UK border.

Briefing and correspondence: Handling parliamentary, public, and business communication on import sanctions work, including PQs and FOI requests, and preparing briefs, advice or presentations for Ministers, Seniors and OGDs. This also includes maintaining a standard lines communication document and various logs and record management of engagement.

Licensing: Supporting assessment of individual sanctions licence applications, coordinating input and evidence from DBT and HMG policy and legal experts and businesses to do so. Producing bespoke advice on individual applications for senior official and Ministerial decision. Liaising with applicants throughout the application process. Leading policy and operational solutions to emerging and cross-cutting licensing issues. Management of the sanctions licence application process in its entirety, including identifying and progressing opportunities for continuous improvement. Handling wider parliamentary, public, and business communication on import sanctions licensing. Issuing approved licences and use of a dedicated online licencing platform.

Wider work: Supporting wider work within the Import Controls and Sanctions team as required .

Candidates who meet the criteria but aren't offered the role may be offered another role within the directorate.

Person specification

The below is a list of characteristics which may be helpful in this role. These will not be assessed throughout the recruitment process, but are laid out to help candidates understand more about the role.

This role would generally suit someone who;

Essential Criteria

The below criteria are essential and will be assessed at application stage:

• Proven ability to work with a range of detailed and complex information, data and evidence; excellent written and verbal analysis skills, advice, briefing, and drafting skills, and attention to detail
• Evidence of working collaboratively across a range of stakeholders and audiences, including senior stakeholders/ ministers, to deliver outcomes; strong communication skills
• A team player who is flexible, proactive, and adaptable

Desirable Criteria

The below criteria are desirable only. These will not be assessed throughout the recruitment process, but will be used in the event of tied scores between candidates:

• Knowledge and experience of trade policy , particularly sanctions, tariffs, customs and/or economic security policies
• Experience of operating in an international environment and/or with industry/SMEs
• Experience of operating a public mailbox and/or delivering a customer service

Personal Attributes & Skills

The role will suit someone with the following attributes and skills:

• Keen attention to detail, whilst able to see the big picture and strategic issues
• Able to operate in a technically complex policy area
• Lateral thinker, who is able to identify and act on connections between issues across the Imports, broader trade policy space and HMG priorities
• Self-starter and able to work autonomously
• Able to manage challenging stakeholders
• Good coordination and management skills
• Good relationship building and engagement skills

Behaviours

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

• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together
• Delivering at Pace

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £34,254, Department for Business and Trade contributes £9,923 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 employer contribution of 28.97%

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.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles , and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.

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 that relate to the essential criteria listed in this advert. Any gaps in employment history within the last 2 years should be 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.

Your application will be sifted against the Experience criteria of the Civil Service Success Profiles.

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.

We aim to sift both the CV and the Personal Statement but, in the event of a large number of applicants, an initialshort sift may be conducted on the Personal Statement only. Candidates who pass the initial sift of the Personal Statement will either progressed to a full sift where the CV is then assessed or progressed straight to further assessment/interview.

Candidates who pass the sift will be invited to interview, where we will assess you on the Success Profiles elements of Behaviours and Strengths.

Reasonable Adjustments

We are committed to supporting candidates so they can perform at their best throughout the recruitment process. This includes making reasonable adjustments to our process. In order to request an adjustment:

Complete the ‘Assistance required' section on the ‘Additional requirements' page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process.

Alternatively contact the Government Recruitment Service at DBTrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

Candidate Support

You may want to join a virtual Candidate Support Session. These sessions include helpful tips and advice on the recruitment process, from application to interview.

Please see attached Candidate Pack for further information on: Diversity and Inclusion; Benefits; Learning and Development; Working Patterns and what we deliver as a department.

Further Information:

• 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.
• This role may be considered as a secondment opportunity. Please reach out to the hiring manager listed at the bottom of this advert to discuss.
• Candidates that do not quite meet the standard for this role may be offered a position at a lower grade.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service /Disclosure Scotland/Access NI on your behalf.

However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

For further information on the Disclosure Scotland confidential checking service telephone: the Disclosure Scotland Helpline on 0870 609 6006 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email Info@disclosurescotland.co.uk

For further information on the Access NI confidential checking service telephone: the Access NI Helpline on 0300 200 7888 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email accessni@ani.x.gsi.gov.uk

Vetting

The requirement for SC clearance is to have been present in the UK for at least 3 of the last 5 years. Failure to meet the residency requirements will result in your security clearance application being rejected.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check . See our vetting charter . People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

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)
• 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

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 . 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 and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy .

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative. The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window). Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Nawaz Shaikh
• Email : Nawaz.Shaikh@businessandtrade.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : dbtrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Further information

Our recruitment process is underpinned by the principle of appointment on the basis of fair and open competition and appointment on merit, as outlined in the Civil Service Commissioners' Recruitment Principles. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with these principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should in the first instance contact DBT by email at Resourcing@trade.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive, you can contact the Civil Service Commission, which regulates all Civil Service recruitment. For further information on bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission please visit their web pages: Civil Service Commission Complaints Keywords : London jobs
Closed Date : 2025-11-30