Co-Head of Innovation Trade Policy

Location

Salford, Greater Manchester | United Kingdom

Job description

Following the UK’s exit from the EU, the Department for Business and Trade has a rare opportunity to develop and deliver the UK’s new independent trade policy, shaping the future of UK trade around the world. DBT’s vision as relates to trade is to create a fair and open global trading environment that supports jobs and higher wages, raises living standards and lifts people out of poverty.

A Grade 7 role has become available in the Cross-Cutting policy team in Trade Policy, Implementation and Negotiation Group. We advance UK trade policy interests on innovation and gender equality, and through core treaty provisions in Free Trade Agreements (FTAs). Our work cuts across most aspects of UK trade policy and all delivery modes, from bilateral market access, through FTAs, to multilateral negotiations and plurilateral groups (G7, G20). We are open to stakeholder views and the state of the art, while collaborating across Whitehall and delivering through teams across DBT.

This is a high-performing, supportive, welcoming and inclusive team, and a role with significant leadership of policy and people. The two co-heads of innovation trade policy develop future-facing trade policy positions for FTA negotiations and implementation, at multilateral fora (including the WTO, G7 and G20) and broader bilateral engagement. They also maintain a regular dialogue both with industry located domestically and internationally in key sectors, such as emerging technology or research and development. The successful applicant will lead a team driving bilateral negotiations and implementation of commitments in existing FTAs. You will set the direction of a wide-ranging policy portfolio, supporting ministers to achieve their ambitions and working across Whitehall to set the direction of this new and exciting area of trade policy.

The post-holder will be expected to be ‘negotiation and implementation active’, which may include international travel for negotiation rounds and/or implementation of FTA commitments.

Responsibilities will include:

• Leading a high-performing team across a busy portfolio, supporting your team to deliver and develop.
• Overseeing policy development.
• Implementing existing FTA commitments relating to innovation trade policy.
• Delivering trade policy negotiations, including where appropriate as a chapter lead for FTAs, and representing the UK in multilateral fora.
• Managing a large and diverse stakeholder network across the trade community.

Job tags

Salary

£53.56k - £63.48k per annum