Market Distortions Lead

Job summary

The TRA’s vision is to defend UK economic interests through trade remedies excellence. With new CEOs established and a Strategic Steer recently issued by the Secretary of State, the TRA has a clear direction and set of priorities to deliver. The Trade Strategy highlighted that trade remedies are a key tool in the UK’s trade defence tool kit to protect UK producers from unfair trade. Trade Remedies authorities across the globe are experiencing increase demand in the face of rising unfair trade practices and a global shift toward protectionism, with the associated distortive effects on trade. Delivering highly technical and operational investigations, in a way that is responsive to that context, is an exciting and important challenge.

The recent Strategic Steer from the Secretary of State tasked the TRA with building a larger public evidence base on overseas market distortions and unfair subsidies. The postholder will work closely with the Head of Policy and the Policy, Strategy and Engagement Director to lead on this work.

Job description

Key Accountabilities:

• Lead and coordinate the TRA’s research into market distortions and unfair subsidies.

• Manage the production of detailed reports on distortions, to support both applicants and the work of case teams in trade remedies investigations, as part the TRA’s response to the strategic steer.

• Engage and collaborate with teams across Government working in similar areas.

• Take ownership of delivering the reports, managing competing priorities and maintaining quality at pace.

• Line management of one team member and matrix management of additional project resources

There will be additional opportunities to work on other projects across the Strategy directorate and TRA, according to business priority and individual skills and development goals.

Person specification

Personal Attributes & Skills

• A well organised self-starter who will own and deliver work proactively at pace.

• An ability to manage and deliver in-depth research with robust, evidence-based findings.

• Ability to draft clearly and persuasively for a variety of audiences in a way that stands up to challenge.

• Collaborative and able to build strong, positive networks to deliver effectively.

• Able to see the big picture and apply strategic judgement and political nous.

• Attention to detail and professional pride in producing outputs to a high quality.

• Comfortable working in a complex delivery environment.

Essential and Preferred Experience

The following experience is essential for the post and will be assessed throughout the selection process:

Essential:

• Managing a Quality Service – ability to coordinate and deliver products and projects to deadlines and to a high standard, in a way that brings colleagues with you.

• Communicating and Influencing - excellent drafting and communication skills.

• Working together - strong track record working through positive relationships and networks, with proven collaboration skills.

• Seeing the Big Picture – including experience working in a high profile/politically exposed area and ability to apply strategic judgement.

• Research experience.

Desirable:

• Experience in trade / economic policy, working in a legal environment.
• Prior work experience or exposure with China.

Behaviours

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

• Managing a Quality Service
• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace
• Seeing the Big Picture

Technical skills

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

• The interview assessment will consist of a presentation / scenario-based task.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £59,217, Trade Remedies Authority contributes £17,155 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.

Apply:

Please submit a CV and a personal statement of no more than 750 words demonstrating how your experience, skills and attributes meet the requirements for the role.

Sift:

The Panel will consider your application against the essential and desirable criteria for the role and successful candidates will be invited to an interview.

If a high number of applications are received, an initial sift will be conducted based on CV to access experience. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

Interview:

The interview assessment will consist of a presentation / scenario-based task followed by a behaviour and experience interview.

Behaviours assessed at interview:

• Managing a Quality Service

• Communicating and Influencing

• Delivering at pace

• Seeing the Big Picture

Application Closes: 28 June 2026.

Shortlist: From 29 June 2026.

Interviews: Week commencing 13 July 2026.

Sift and interview dates to be confirmed.

Your interview will either be conducted face to face or by video. You will be notified of the location if you are selected for interview.

Further Information

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.

A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.

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.

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 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.

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

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

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 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 : Oliver Slocombe
• Email : oliver.slocombe@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

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