Team Leader For Government Procurement In International Trade Policy And Negotiations

You will be leading the team that delivers the government procurement chapter in new trade deals, manages the implementation of existing deals, and leads the UK’s international policy making on government procurement at the WTO.

The Department for Business and Trade champions open and fair global trading that supports UK economic growth. Our programme is continuing to expand in 2024, including the launch of new trade negotiations with Turkey and the Republic of Korea. Last year we agreed in principle the terms of the UK’s accession to the Comprehensive & Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, and we are now delivering legislation to implement the agreement.

You will be leading the team responsible for our trade policy, negotiations and implementation on government procurement. Our team’s objective is to create a trading system that supports UK businesses fairly competing for public contract opportunities in overseas markets.

As a Grade 6 Team Leader, you will lead a busy team delivering across numerous live international negotiations with high priority trading partners for the UK, covering the agreement of new FTAs, the implementation of existing deals, and advancing the UK’s interests at the WTO. Your team will also actively engage in domestic policy development where it relates to the UK’s international obligations.

You will have line management responsibility for six Grade 7 members of staff leading a full team of approximately 20 members of staff.

Your role will include wider corporate responsibilities for the team and directorate, including capability building and the development of our people and culture.

Our team works in close collaboration with Cabinet Office commercial procurement policy, alongside other government departments and the devolved administrations. You will have responsibility for working with a wide range of stakeholders to deliver our team’s goals.

• Provide strategic and tactical leadership to the team responsible for negotiating the government procurement chapter in DBT’s programme of trade negotiations, implementing existing deals and advancing the UK’s interests at the WTO.
  
• Develop and keep up to date the strategy and policy positions for the government procurementtrade policy, based on evidence, analysis and policy perspectives from across government.

• Lead your team’s engagement and relationship with international counterparts in trade negotiations. You will support them to find solutions and ways to reach agreed outcomes with international counterparts.
  
• Lead the team’s input into legislation required to implement new trade deals. You will work closely with legal, Cabinet Office and the Bill manager to navigate legislation through Parliament and with Ministers.
  
• Line management responsibility for six G7s, and overall responsibility for a full team of approximately twenty members of staff.
  
• Build and sustain a positive and inclusive team culture and a high performing team.

• Effectively prioritise work across your team in response to changing departmental objectives and opportunities and support your staff to manage change as necessary.