Our office is in central Reading (RG1 7EB). The role is hybrid and flexible, with occasional travel across the UK and less frequently internationally as needed for stakeholder engagement. This newly created role plays a critical part in helping TRA fulfil its central role in the UK's trade strategy and deliver on the Secretary’s priorities of being more assertive, agile and accessible.
The TRA has become increasingly externally focused, and this role pulls together the critical functions required for success in the new geopolitical landscape - Operational Policy, Strategy, and Communications & Engagement. It is very much an outward looking role, whilst being able to interpret external factors into our internal strategy and policy requirements.
A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.
Strategy and Policy Development
* Work closely with the CEOs to lead the development, articulation, and implementation of the TRA’s strategy including the launch of the updated three‑year strategic plan in April 2026. Ensuring it is effectively structured and embedded so that teams across TRA know how they contribute to the TRA's overall objectives.
* Work closely with the Investigations Delivery Director, and other Delivery Directors, to ensure an integrated approach to strategy, policy and delivery. Ensure a collaborative working relationship between the teams in policy, strategy, engagement, and delivery with clear responsibilities and effective ways of working. Ensure that we are delivering on the SoS priorities within the trade Strategy of being assertive, agile, and accessible.
* Work with the Director Corporate Services to develop and oversee detailed business plans to achieve TRA objectives aligned with the overall mission, ensuring the successful execution of these strategic initiatives. Managing finance and budgets for the business area.
* Provide trusted advice and insight to the Executive Committee and the Board on emerging market trends and policy developments, leading teams to take necessary action to update our operational policy and practices where necessary.
* Guide the organisation through significant changes as it evolves and responds to changing policy and/or external environments.
* Work with the Director of Corporate Services to ensure management of risk related issues in line with the TRA’s risk management framework; and track measurable impact on delivery of TRA’s objectives.
Stakeholder Engagement
* Engage senior stakeholders externally to build and maintain strong, mutually beneficial partnerships with key policymakers and stakeholders across HMG, industry, international peers, and the wider trade remedies community to support the TRA in fulfilling its mission and objectives.
* Ensure the Trade Remedies Advisory Service is successfully designed and established and delivers its ambition to become more accessible to UK industry, in particular SMEs.
* Lead the development and execution of an External Engagement Strategy and ensure its delivery through the Communications Team and Trade Remedies Advisory Service.
* Working with the Corporate Services Director and Head of People, ensure that the TRA has an Internal Engagement Strategy.
Leadership
* Ensure the TRA has strong Operational Policy, Advisory Service and Communications/ Engagement functions to support its work.
* Provide the CEOs with appropriate advice, support and challenge.
* Be a visible leader to people across the organisation, spearheading the TRA values and behaviours.
* Manage the budget and finances for the PSE Directorate.
* Promote a culture that demonstrates TRA's values in action and extend excellent leadership and management skills throughout areas of responsibility, with a focus on developing a coaching culture for continuous improvement.
Qualifications
You are an inspiring leader who can see the big picture and join the dots, connecting strategy to granular policy outcomes. You can analyse complex situations and develop innovative solutions, constantly thinking about improvement and bringing others with you. You deliver at pace with a demonstrated ability to thrive in dynamic and often‑evolving situations.
To be successful in this role applicants should demonstrate the following essential criteria:
* Track record of building and successfully implementing strategy in organisations with a wide variety of stakeholder interests.
* Ability to listen to and challenge diverse opinion, synthesise complex data and clearly communicate strategy to internal and external stakeholders.
* Track record of developing policy from scratch and/or translating policy into operational process for a business area, with a keen focus on what works for the organisation's mission and vision.
* Sound judgement when handling internal and external stakeholders and experience proactively managing complex stakeholder environments.
* Track record of leading and motivating high‑performing teams to deliver organisational objectives through developing capability and creating an inclusive culture.
* Be a good communicator, with strong influencing skills and the ability to establish collaborative relationships.
* Have an ability to develop and sustain constructive relationships with senior‑level stakeholders domestically and overseas in challenging situations, including government and industry.
Desirable criteria:
* Expertise in international trade policy.
* Experience working within a regulatory environment.
* Experience engaging with business/industry.
Salary and Benefits
Alongside your salary of £100,000, Trade Remedies Authority contributes £28,970 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
Please refer to the candidate pack attached for further information.
Benefits – Childcare
Any move to TRA from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers, including moves between government departments. However, you may be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. For further information visit the Childcare Choices website.
Eligibility – 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) (including those who have made a valid application for settled or pre‑settled status)
* 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
Applicants who have been dismissed for carrying out internal fraud against government within the past five years are not eligible to apply.
Existing Civil Servants
* TRA employees are not Civil Servants. Individuals applying for this role from the Civil Service are advised to review terms prior to accepting the offer. Key terms are outlined in the benefits section of this advert (these are not exhaustive). Individuals can also discuss with hiring managers and the TRA People Team on resourcing.enquiries@traderemedies.gov.uk.
* Your continuity of service for employment protection will start on the day you join us. We are not an employer of the Crown and therefore cannot recognise previous employment with the Civil Service for the purpose of qualifying for Employment Rights. An employee must have 2 years' length of service with TRA before Employment Rights are recognised.
* If you are a member of the Civil Service Pension scheme, your membership and reckonable service will continue with us, providing there is no break between your Civil Service employment and your employment as a public servant with TRA.
* If you choose to re‑join the Civil Service at any point in the future, this will be according to the policies of the department you are joining following your resignation from TRA. You may also wish to be aware that under Exception 5 of the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles, the re‑employment of a former Civil Servant is possible within a maximum of five years of leaving the Civil Service, subject to qualifying criteria being met and depending on the policies of the department you are joining.
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