HEO Caseworker (Investigator/Analyst)

Job summary

The Trade Remedies Authority (TRA) exists to defend the UK economic interests from unfair international trade practices, such as dumping, trade-distorting subsidies and unforeseen surges in imports. We work in multidisciplinary teams to investigate whether trade remedies are needed to prevent injury to UK industries and make recommendations on appropriate measures to defend UK economic interests.

We are recruiting caseworkers who will work within either the Investigations Delivery team or the Analyst team. You will be embedded in multi-disciplinary case teams, which are composed of staff specialising in investigations, verification, policy, law, and analysis, all working to a lead investigator.

Role Purpose

At the TRA, you’ll play a key role in ensuring fair trade practices by assessing claims of unfair trade activities. Collaborating as part of a diverse team of investigators, lawyers, policy advisors, accountants and analysts, you’ll analyse data, review financial documents, conduct site visits, and engage with stakeholders. Your work will result in detailed reports that are public facing and provide clear recommendations to the Secretary of State for Business and Trade on trade remedies. This role offers a chance to have a strategic impact on UK industries, against the backdrop of international economic and trade policy.

We are an organisation of over 180 people, with our headquarters in central Reading. It is vital to us that we have a friendly, supporting culture, where you will quickly get to know who works here and where you will be helped to realise your full potential. As an arm’s length body that is independent of government, we are passionate about living our values of dynamism, expertise, integrity and openness.

Drop In Sessions

You can get more information about the role and working at the TRA by attending one of the two drop-in sessions that will be taking place on 14th May 12.00-13.00 and 19th May 10.00-11.00. You will have the opportunity to ask any questions, including about the recruitment process from application to interview through to offer. You can join the session at any point throughout the hour by clicking on the relevant link:

14/05/2026 12pm – 1pm Afternoon session

19/05/2026 10am – 11am Morning session

If you have any questions around these sessions please contact:

Blake.Crossman@traderemedies.gov.uk

Job description

Casework can vary significantly depending on the needs of the organisation. One month, you may be writing a report to articulate a case team decision. The next month, you could be using stakeholder financial records to reconcile individual invoices to its audited accounts or analysing import data to identify trends that may indicate injury to UK stakeholders. You will be expected to adapt to these different roles with the support of training, expert advice, and collaborative working with your case team

You will be expected to work with colleagues to deliver at pace, effectively communicate your findings, influence colleagues and stakeholders, and collaborate with colleagues across difference disciplines. There will be opportunities to shape your role as the organisation grows.

Key Accountabilities

In order to perform this role, you will:

• Undertake analytical assessments, collecting, analysing and manipulating complex data to identify trends and anomalies, and answer questions and advance arguments using data;
• Build trusted relationships with TRA colleagues within case teams and with stakeholders inside and outside of TRA;
• Deliver results effectively, often to tight deadlines, and share your findings with stakeholders inside and outside of TRA;
• Communicate effectively, both in writing and verbally, to colleagues and stakeholders from different backgrounds in an audience appropriate way;
• Support case planning, maintain official case files, and update case management systems to assist the delivery of investigations;
• Undertake verification/assurance of financial data and other supporting material, seeking support from expert advisors where necessary;
• Support the organisation in stakeholder management including domestic and international industries and government agencies;
• Draft high quality written reports and briefs in a clear and compelling manner;
• Develop and apply knowledge consistently, drawing on the provisions of trade remedies legislation, regulations and procedures, with support from expert colleagues;
• Undertake a ‘learner journey’, where comprehensive technical training and opportunities for externally recognised qualifications will be available.

The TRA is moving to an increasingly flexible, skills-based resourcing model. This means that you may work on a range of projects and tasks and will have the opportunity to develop a variety of skills beyond the core outlined above. This would be subject to discussions on appointment about your skills, experience and development pathway. This role may be further developed, so successful candidates will need to be adaptable to evolving responsibilities within this role.

Following appointment to the TRA, successful candidates who meet the additional requirements set out in the technical qualification section will have an opportunity to apply to join the Analyst team as an Assistant Economist. This position includes an additional specialist economist allowance of £4,010 per annum.

Person specification

Personal Attributes & Skills

We are looking for individuals who are well organised, with well-developed analytical and report drafting skills, and a willingness to learn new skills and ways of working.

You should possess a caseworker mindset – curious, sceptical, and questioning. We’re looking for people who have the ability to engage, communicate, collaborate and influence, working as part of a team to achieve collective goals. In addition, you should also be able to remain composed in complex and high-profile situations, such as stakeholder meetings with senior executives and lawyers. You will harness these interpersonal skills to contribute to casework and other TRA projects, in line with our values.

You will need to establish mutual respect and trust, building relationships with internal and external stakeholders. Due to the nature of case work, you need to be able to self-manage and prioritise your workload in order to deliver high-quality outputs on time. You will need to be able to create complete and accurate products in accordance with policy and legal requirements - striking a balance between applying creativity and following established process.

You will be flexible, versatile and resilient, able to adapt to variations in work and environment. You should be able to adapt your communication of technical issues to meet the needs of your intended audience.

Essential Experience

The following skills are essential for the caseworker post. The sift and interview stages will focus on assessing candidates’ experience relevant to these skills as well as their aptitude to enhance or develop them.

• Ability to analyse and interpret complex data, identify trends to support evidence-based conclusions, and apply quantitative and qualitative analytical techniques;
• Skilled in drafting clear, concise and comprehensive reports and analytical products for a range of audiences;
• Proficient in time management and record keeping, with experience of delivery to tight deadlines;
• Effective at working in teams and building collaborative relationships with a variety of stakeholders;
• Ability to use MS Excel to manage and analyse data effectively;

Desirable Experience

• Experience of international trade, economic analysis, and/or Trade Remedies;
• Experience with, or understanding of commercial financial records or auditing financial or other data;
• Experience of project management, particularly in teams delivering quality case work to tight deadlines;

Technical Qualification

There is no requirement to hold a degree for a HEO Caseworker role which will sit within the Investigations Delivery team. However, candidates without a degree will need to demonstrate relevant work experience and transferable skills.

If candidates intend to express interest in joining the Analyst team they must meet the following requirements:

• a first or second-class honours degree (2:2 minimum) or equivalent in an analytical field (e.g. Economics, Statistics, Mathematics, Business Studies, Data Science). Please note that to be eligible for Analyst roles, candidates must hold (or be studying towards) a degree with at least 50% Economics content. Any ongoing study must be completed prior to appointment.
• If successfully offered a position as TRA Caseworker, willing to complete an expression of interest process which will include an assessment of your knowledge of Economics.

Behaviours

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

• Communicating and Influencing
• Making Effective Decisions
• Delivering at Pace
• Working Together

Technical skills

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

• MS Excel Analytical Assessment
• Technical questions

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £36,952, Trade Remedies Authority contributes £10,704 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.

Useful Information for Existing Civil Servants:

Existing Civil Servants should note that working for the TRA, you will be employed as a public servant. This means:

This vacancy is for a position in the Trade Remedies Authority (TRA). 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.

We will recognise the annual leave you have built up, up to a maximum of 30 days, and the sick pay entitlement taking account of your length of service in the Civil Service.

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.

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, Experience and Technical skills.

Selection process details

Stage 1 - Application

To apply, you will need to submit a Curriculum Vitae (CV) and a Personal Statement of no more than 750 words. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

Your CV should set out your education and your employment history.

Your personal statement needs to set out how you meet the person specification and essential experience requirements set out above. It should provide detailed evidence demonstrating how your skills and experience meet the requirement for the role. If you do not have work-based examples then please give examples from university/college, clubs, volunteering or other activities you have been involved in.

Stage 2 – Sift

Sift will begin shortly after the advert closes.

Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or invited to interview.

Stage 3 - Interview

The interview assessment will be in person and consist of the following parts:

1. MS Excel analytical assessment – This assessment will test your use of Microsoft Excel and your data analysis skills.
2. Behaviour based interview questions – These questions will assess the essential skills and behaviours required for the role. The behaviours you will be assessed against are Making effective decisions, Communicating and influencing, Delivering at pace, and Working together. Guidance on HEO behaviour questions can be found on Success Profiles: Civil Service behaviours - GOV.UK
3. Technical questions – These questions will assess your situational judgement. The questions will be hypothetical, and you will be asked to answer how you would handle those scenarios.

Further details will be provided to shortlisted candidates in advance of the interviews. This will include the interview questions so you can prepare your answers in advance.

Application closes: 31st May 2026

Shortlist: week commencing 1st June 2026

Interviews: week commencing 22nd June 2025

This is a indicative timeline only and dates may change based on the number of applications received.

Interviews will take place in person at our office in Reading, which is located at:

Premier House, 60 Caversham Road, Reading, RG1 7EB

Please note, we unable to cover travel expenses for attending the interview.

Offer

Once all interviews have been completed and moderated, candidates will be notified of the outcome by email. Offers will be made in strict merit order to the highest scoring candidate first. The successful candidate swill be the candidates who obtains the highest score at interview. In some cases whereby a permanent position cannot be offered you may be offered a fixed term appointment. If applying on a secondment basis, you must have the support of your current employer. The secondment/loan would be for an agreed fixed term of up to one year, with terms and conditions to be confirmed between the home and host.

The successful candidates will be notified of a start date following successful security checks.

We are Inclusive

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 recognise how important inclusivity is to achieve the best outcomes. We hope to attract applications from all underrepresented groups.

We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable adjustments if required to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform crucial job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request adjustments.

Near Miss

Candidates who are judged to be a near miss at interview may be offered a post at the grade below the one advertised.

Reserve list

Please note that a reserve list will be held for a period of up to 12 months. This means that if you have passed the interview, but we could not offer you a position initially, you may be considered for similar positions. However, there is no guarantee you will be offered a role from our reserve lists.

Further Information

This position is available either as a permanent appointment, or on secondment/loan for existing civil/public servants. If successful you are not guaranteed to be offered a permanent position. If you would like your application to be considered only on a secondment basis please indicate this in your application, you must have the support of your current employer. The secondment/loan would be for an agreed fixed term of up to one year, with terms and conditions to be confirmed between the home and host organisation. The successful candidate will be the candidate who obtains the highest score at interview.

Any move to TRA from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare; for further information visit the Childcare Choices website.

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

Reasonable Adjustment

If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

Contact Government Recruitment Service via TRArecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

Complete the ‘Assistance required’ section in the ‘Additional requirements’ page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.

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.

Existing Civil Servants and applicants from accredited NDPBs are eligible to apply, but will only be considered on loan basis (Civil Servants) or secondment (accredited NDPBs). Prior agreement to be released on a loan basis must be obtained before commencing the application process. In the case of Civil Servants, the terms of the loan will be agreed between the home and host department and the Civil Servant. This includes grade on return.

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.

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

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 : Blake Crossman
• Email : Blake.Crossman@traderemedies.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : TRArecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Further information

The law requires that selection for appointment is on merit based on fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles, which can be found at: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/20…. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, please contact: resourcing.enquiries@traderemedies.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive, you can contact the Civil Service Commission (at: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/recruitment/civilserv…).

Attachments

Candidate Pack (3) (1) Opens in new window (pdf, 368kB)