Area Lead - Greater Manchester / Cheshire & Warrington

Job summary

This role sits within the Department for Business and Trade (DBT), the UK Government’s department for economic growth, supporting businesses to invest, scale and export in a rapidly evolving global economy. Within DBT, the Local and International Growth (LIG) directorate plays a key role in driving regional prosperity by strengthening places, enabling businesses, and connecting local economies to national and international opportunities.

The G7 Regional Area Lead is a senior, place-based role responsible for shaping and delivering DBT’s growth agenda across Greater Manchester, Cheshire and Warrington. The postholder acts as a critical interface between national policy and local delivery, ensuring that DBT priorities align with regional economic strengths and opportunities. This includes translating the Government’s Industrial Strategy into impactful, locally tailored interventions that drive productivity, investment and business growth.

A core aspect of the role is stakeholder leadership. The Area Lead builds and sustains strong, purposeful relationships with key partners across the public and private sectors, including Mayoral Strategic Authorities, local government, business leaders and financial institutions. Through these relationships, the role influences regional decision-making and ensures DBT is well positioned to deliver meaningful economic outcomes.

The postholder is responsible for identifying and delivering strategic interventions that support DBT growth objectives, working collaboratively across government and with local partners. This includes leading the delivery of high-profile regional activity, such as ministerial visits, business engagement programmes and international missions, helping to raise the profile of the region as a place to invest and grow.

The role also involves taking ownership of place-based programmes and initiatives within the region, ensuring effective implementation and alignment with wider DBT priorities. In addition, the Area Lead contributes to the broader leadership of the LIG North team, supporting the Regional Head and Deputy Director to maintain high-quality delivery and strong regional relationships.

As part of their portfolio, the postholder leads on a specific DBT priority area, such as investment, exports or small business, on behalf of the directorate, working closely with central policy teams.

Overall, this is a high-impact role requiring strong stakeholder management, commercial awareness, and the ability to translate complex policy into practical, place-based delivery that drives inclusive economic growth.

Job description

The successful candidate will be responsible for a broad range of interventions across the Greater Manchester / Cheshire & Warrington geography, including:

• Identifying and delivering interventions, related to DBT and Industrial Strategy growth objectives, within the region, working in partnership with other parts of DBT, HMG and regional partners.
• Supporting the delivery of the Northern Growth Strategy through appropriate policy and delivery interventions.
• Building and maintaining extensive and purposeful relationships with public and private stakeholders in named region or strategic cluster to improve regional outcomes related to DBT growth priorities.
• Working with your area to raise the profile of regional growth opportunities by leading delivery of strategic regional visits and supporting outward regional missions.
• Key account managing strategically important businesses across the Greater Manchester / Cheshire & Warrington geography, using their insights to inform future policy interventions and unlock economic growth.
• Taking regional level ownership of DBT (or provide DBT leadership at a local level for XWH) place-based initiatives and programmes.
• Supporting the Regional Head and Deputy Director to lead the team in maintaining quality relationships and outputs throughout the region.
• Taking a lead on behalf of LIG in one DBT priority area (e.g., IS, Investment, Export, Small Business etc), working with a Deputy Director lead.

Person specification

Essential criteria

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

• Stakeholder management, demonstrated ability to build and maintain strong value adding stakeholder relationships
• Business engagement and Key Account Management with Medium Sized Businesses
• Strong communication skills that can articulate the unique circumstances of the region
• Analytical skills, ability to understand complex, wide ranging Government policy and programmes and translate them to apply to a distinct audience.
• Experience of working in an economic development environment either in business, Government/Local Government or non-profit/education sectors.
• Self-starter, able to shape their own programme of work in unique regional circumstances.

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.

• Line management and leadership experience.
• Experience of working with key stakeholders and delivery partners in named area or cluster.

Behaviours

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

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together
• Delivering at Pace

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £57,511, Department for Business and Trade contributes £16,660 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

• 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.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours 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. Provide employment history that relates to the essential criteria, and that any gaps in employment history within the last 2 years are explained. The CV should not exceed more than 2 x A4 pages.
  
  
• A Personal Statement of up to 750 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.

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

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

If required, a second interview may be held to identify the successful candidate.

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.

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.

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.
• 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 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.

Feedback

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.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) (opens in a new window)
• 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 (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) 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 (opens in a new window).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 theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) 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 : Philip Kelly - Regional Head, LIG North.
• Email : philip.kelly@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

Attachments

DBT candidate pack July 2024 (1) Opens in new window (pdf, 943kB)DBT T&Cs 2025-08-18 Opens in new window (doc, 46kB)