International Fisheries and Seafood Trade Deputy Director

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Hybrid

Expires: Expiring in less than 4 weeks

Full time

£86,000 per year

Job summary

The International Fisheries and Seafood Trade Directorate leads the UK's international fisheries policy, seafood trade and fisheries controls agenda, delivering on behalf of the whole of the UK through a complex devolution settlement. The team works closely with Devolved Governments, government departments, regulators, delivery partners, industry representatives and international organisations.

This is a high-profile leadership role operating in a politically sensitive and fast-moving environment. The role requires balancing economic, environmental, diplomatic and operational priorities while leading a portfolio that is critical to the long-term sustainability and success of the UK fishing and seafood sectors.

The team is responsible for a number of key activities, including:

International fisheries policy and negotiations - Leading the UK's engagement in international fisheries forums and negotiations, representing UK interests with coastal states, international organisations and bilateral partners.

Management of shared fish stocks - Securing sustainable outcomes for commercially important shared fish stocks, balancing industry needs with long-term environmental sustainability.

EU Reset and EU Delivery Programme - Leading delivery of fisheries priorities within the Government's EU Reset agenda and the Directorate's contribution to the EU Delivery Programme.

Seafood trade and market access - Overseeing policies, systems and services that support seafood imports and exports, ensuring businesses can trade efficiently, legally and with minimal friction.

Major programmes and digital services - Leading significant programmes and services that support seafood exports, traceability, certification and market access.

Fisheries controls and enforcement policy - Developing and maintaining a robust and proportionate policy framework that supports sustainable fisheries management and effective compliance.

Combatting Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing - Leading domestic and international action to strengthen controls, improve compliance and tackle illegal fishing activity.

Stakeholder engagement and influence - Building relationships with Ministers, Devolved Governments, regulators, industry representatives and international partners, while responding to parliamentary and media interest.
Leadership and delivery - Leading a multidisciplinary team of around 50 colleagues and delivering a complex portfolio of high-profile policies, programmes and services.

Job description

We are looking for a high-performing and motivated individual to lead the International Fisheries and Seafood Trade Directorate. Responsibilities for the role include:

Leadership and Capability

Overall leadership of a multidisciplinary team of around 50 colleagues, fostering an inclusive, high-performing culture and building capability across the Directorate.
• Provide visible leadership across international fisheries, seafood trade, fisheries controls and regulatory policy.
• Participate in and co-lead the wider corporate activities of the Marine and Fisheries Directorate.

International Leadership and Negotiations

Lead the UK's international fisheries policy and negotiating strategy, representing UK interests in international forums and bilateral relationships.
• Oversee engagement with coastal states and international partners on shared fish stocks, fisheries access arrangements and sustainable fisheries management.
• Secure outcomes that balance environmental, economic and diplomatic interests and support the long-term sustainability and prosperity of the UK fishing industry.

Trade, EU Reset and Programme Delivery

Lead delivery of the fisheries elements of the Government's EU Reset agenda and the Directorate's contribution to the EU Delivery Programme.
• Oversee seafood trade policy, ensuring imports and exports can move smoothly, efficiently and legally while responding to changing international requirements.
• Lead major programmes, services and systems that support seafood exports, traceability and market access, including responsibility for significant programme investment and delivery.
• Ensure fisheries and seafood interests are effectively represented across Government trade priorities and Free Trade Agreements.

Fisheries Controls, Compliance and Risk

Lead fisheries control and enforcement policy, ensuring a robust and proportionate regulatory framework for sustainable fisheries management.
• Lead domestic and international action to combat Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing.
• Manage significant operational, reputational and policy risks across a high-profile portfolio subject to ministerial, stakeholder and media scrutiny.

Ministerial Advice, Stakeholder Engagement and Delivery

Provide strategic advice to Ministers and senior officials on international fisheries, seafood trade and regulatory issues.
• Act as senior sponsor for the seafood sector, building effective relationships with industry, regulators, delivery partners, devolved governments and international stakeholders.
• Lead delivery of complex and politically sensitive programmes, ensuring Government priorities are translated into effective policy and operational outcomes.

Person specification

Essential Criteria

A track record of driving delivery and providing visible and inclusive leadership, developing motivated, engaged and high-performing teams, alongside corporate leadership and contribution to wider organisational priorities.
Significant experience of leading complex international negotiations and influencing successful outcomes, with the credibility and authority to represent the UK with ministers, overseas governments, international organisations and senior stakeholders.
Strong strategic, analytical and evidence-based decision-making skills, with the ability to balance economic, environmental, operational considerations and exercise sound judgement in complex, politically sensitive and uncertain environments.
Proven ability to translate international agreements and commitments into effective policy, programmes and delivery, including a track record of working effectively with operational partners (such as Arms Length Bodies - ALBs) on implementation.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £86,000, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs contributes £24,914 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%

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

As part of the application process, candidates are asked to complete a CV and Personal Statement (no more than 1250 words) on how your relevant skills and experience meet the essential criteria. Completed applications must be submitted no later than the closing date of 23:55pm, Sunday 15th November 2026.

Sift

A sift will be conducted against the key criteria above and will assess your experience. Applications will be assessed by the selection panel and shortlisted.

Staff Engagement Exercise

These assessments will not result in a pass or fail decision. Rather, they are designed to support the panel’s decision-making and highlight areas for the panel to explore further at interview. Full details of the assessment process will be provided to shortlisted
candidates at the earliest opportunity. For further information regarding the assessments please visit -
https://scs-assessments.co.uk/

Interview

You will be asked to attend a panel interview, to have a more in-depth discussion of your previous experience and professional competence in relation to the essential criteria for the role. As part of the interview, we will ask you to prepare a short presentation. This will be confirmed in the interview invitation.

*Interviews are expected to be held face to face in London, however this is subject to panel availability and may alternatively take place via MS Teams. You will be notified in due course after shortlisting.

The Security Clearance Required for this role is Counter Terrorist Check (CTC) but willingness to obtain SC will be required

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.This role has a minimum assignment duration of 3 years. An assignment duration is the period of time a Senior Civil Servant is expected to remain in the same post to enable them to deliver on the agreed key business outcomes. The assignment duration also supports your career through building your depth of expertise.

As part of accepting this role you will be agreeing to the expected assignment duration set out above. This will not result in a contractual change to your terms and conditions. Please note this is an expectation only, it is not something which is written into your terms and conditions or indeed which the employing organisation or you are bound by. It will depend on your personal circumstances at a particular time and business needs, for example, would not preclude any absence like family friendly leave. It is nonetheless an important expectation, which is why we ask you to confirm you agree to the assignment duration set out above.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) criminal record check.Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).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

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Contact point for applicants

Salary range

£86,000 per year