Area Lead – West Yorkshire and York & North Yorkshire

Job summary

The G7 Area Lead is a senior, place-based policy role responsible for shaping BIST’s approach to economic growth across West Yorkshire and York & North Yorkshire. The postholder will connect regional priorities and evidence to national policy development, ensuring that BIST policy reflects the economic strengths, constraints and opportunities of both Mayoral Strategic Authority areas.

Working closely with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority and York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority, the Area Lead will develop a strong regional evidence base, identify policy opportunities and barriers, and provide clear advice to Ministers and senior officials. The role will build coalitions across government, local government, business and other regional institutions to influence policy, investment and delivery decisions.

A central responsibility will be to support the development and delivery of major regional priority projects, including the West Yorkshire portfolio of Leeds South Bank and the wider New Town proposition, Bradford Station and Interchange, the Northern Square Mile and financial services cluster, and the economic opportunities linked to West Yorkshire Mass Transit; alongside the York & North Yorkshire portfolio of York Central, and the BioYorkshire-led bio-industrial cluster with Tees Valley. The postholder will define BIST’s policy contribution, convene the right departmental and cross-government expertise, resolve barriers and help translate these projects into investable propositions and measurable economic outcomes.

The role will lead policy engagement for the two areas: coordinating BIST input into mayoral growth plans and local growth priorities; producing high-quality briefings, submissions and recommendations; and ensuring regional intelligence informs the department’s Industrial Strategy and wider growth policy. The Area Lead will track progress across the priority project portfolio, escalate risks and dependencies, and maintain momentum across partners.

As part of the wider LIG North team, the postholder will also lead a defined policy portfolio on behalf of the directorate, working with central policy teams and the Deputy Director to develop positions, test proposals with regional partners and support implementation.

This is a high-impact role for an experienced policy professional who can work across organisational boundaries, turn complex evidence into clear recommendations and build the partnerships needed to advance strategically important projects.

Job description

The successful candidate will be responsible for a broad range of interventions across West Yorkshire and York & North Yorkshire, including:

• Lead LIG’s policy engagement across West Yorkshire and York & North Yorkshire, building a detailed understanding of each area’s economic priorities and ensuring they are reflected in BIST policy development and advice.
• Support the development and delivery of cross-government and No. 10 North priority projects, including the West Yorkshire portfolio of Leeds South Bank and the wider New Town proposition, Bradford Station and Interchange, the Northern Square Mile and financial services cluster, and the economic opportunities linked to West Yorkshire Mass Transit; alongside the York & North Yorkshire portfolio of York Central and the BioYorkshire-led bio-industrial cluster with Tees Valley.
• Work closely with West Yorkshire Combined Authority and York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority to align BIST priorities with mayoral growth plans, identify shared objectives and develop practical policy interventions.
• Produce concise, evidence-based advice, briefings and submissions for Ministers and senior officials on regional economic opportunities, project progress, delivery barriers and emerging risks.
• Build and use a strong regional evidence base, drawing on business intelligence, sector analysis and partner insight to shape policy positions and influence departmental priorities.
• Convene policy and delivery partners across BIST, wider government and the region to unblock issues, agree actions and maintain momentum on strategically important projects.
• Develop policy propositions that support priority sectors, including Financial and Professional Services, Life Sciences and Advanced Manufacturing, and connect regional strengths to the Industrial Strategy.
• Maintain clear oversight of the regional priority project portfolio, including milestones, dependencies, risks and opportunities, and provide regular reporting and recommendations to the Regional Head and Deputy Director.
• Lead a defined LIG policy portfolio on behalf of the directorate, working with central teams to develop policy, test proposals with regional partners and support implementation.

Person specification

Essential

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

• Strong policy skills, including the ability to analyse complex evidence, understand government priorities and turn them into clear, practical recommendations.
• Experience of developing or influencing economic growth policy, preferably in a place-based, regional or devolved context.
• Demonstrated ability to support complex priority projects by defining objectives, coordinating stakeholders, managing dependencies and resolving barriers.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills, with the credibility to build productive relationships with Mayoral Strategic Authorities, government departments, delivery bodies and senior business leaders.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including experience of producing high-quality briefings and advice for senior decision-makers.
• Ability to use regional economic and business intelligence to identify opportunities, assess risks and shape policy or investment decisions.
• A self-starter who can prioritise a demanding portfolio, work across organisational boundaries and deliver at pace in a complex environment.

Desirable

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.
• Regional experience in either West Yorkshire and/or York & North Yorkshire
• Understanding of Devolution in England

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 £60,732, Department for Business and Trade contributes £17,594 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.

This vacancy is using Success Profiles and will assess your Behaviours and previous experience.

Interviews for this vacancy will be conducted virtually. In-person interviews may be considered by exception. We anticipate one interview round only although this may change depending on volume and quality of candidates. Interviews have been provisionally booked for 18/19th November, however this is subject to change.

To apply, you will need to provide:

CV

• Career history with key responsibilities and achievements.
• Employment history relevant to the essential criteria.
• Explanation of any employment gaps within the last two years.
• Maximum length: 2 A4 pages.

Personal Statement

• Up to 750 words.
• Explain how your skills, qualities and experience demonstrate suitability for the role against the essential criteria.

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

Please note, following a recent change to the Machinery of Government, the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) will be renamed to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade (BIST) as of 20th July 2026. BIST will connect the UK’s world-class science and technology base directly to the businesses, places and workers that will drive good growth across the country. Such changes will not affect the selection process for this campaign; however, we wanted to take this opportunity to advise you of the recent changes to our department.

You can find further information here regarding recent governmental changes Machinery of Government changes: Fact Sheet - GOV.UK.

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

Security

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
• 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: Resourcing@businessandtrade.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: Click here to visit Civil Service Commission/Complaints.

Attachments

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