Senior Investment Delivery Officer

Job summary

The Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade (BIST) is the department for economic growth and Industrial Strategy. We support businesses to invest, grow and export - creating jobs and opportunities across the country by promoting the UK as a great place to do business.

The Grant Delivery Directorate (GDD) helps secure new investment by delivering a wide range of financial assistance. This includes supporting the growth of the automotive sector, decarbonisation of the steel sector and resilience of the chemicals sector.

This role is a fantastic opportunity to work at the heart of Industrial Strategy delivery, ensuring that financial support is delivered appropriately and effectively.

The post holder will shape the end-to-end grant delivery process, acting both upfront as a steward for businesses requesting financial support and an assessor of claims once funds have been administered. This requires the design of streamlined grant processes to secure investments whilst maintaining compliance with Government Grant Standards and HMT’s Managing Public Money, ensuring best value for money and minimising the risk of fraud to the taxpayer.

We are a friendly and supportive team working in a fast paced and dynamic environment. We need people who give attention to detail and understand how the Directorates work contributes to BIST and HMGs economic growth objectives. We want people that can demonstrate leadership and work proactively and collaboratively across our team.

We expect all colleagues in GDT to be adaptable and work across different grant schemes where needed. The primary purpose of this SEO role is the day-to-day operational delivery of a portfolio of grant application cases the Grant Delivery Directorate are responsible for delivering. You will lead and coordinate the application, appraisal, contracting, monitoring and closure of a portfolio of cases.

The Directorate’s actively supports continuous professional development, and post holders will be encouraged to develop their knowledge and understanding of the policies, processes and subject matter relevant to their portfolio to support effective delivery and decision -making.

You may also contribute to the setting up of new grant schemes, mandatory and routine reporting for schemes, writing or contributing to Ministerial advice and other SCS briefing documents. The role may also include the direct line management of staff.

Given the diverse range of work within the team, a matrix management structure is in place. Whilst you will be allocated to a functional line manager, you will also work with other managers where required.

Job description

These roles have two major components:

• Grant Appraisal - leading the appraisal of applications for BIST funding. This includes acting as the primary contact between BIST and the applicant throughout the appraisal process and managing assessors (including economists, lawyers, accountants and policy professionals) to complete appraisals to in line with HMG best-practice on-time. This also involves drafting investment papers, ministerial submissions and grant offer letters.
• Grant Monitoring & Assurance – managing a portfolio of grant beneficiaries to undertake the effective monitoring, assurance and compliant closure of awards. This involves analysing claims and supporting evidence against terms of funding agreements and, where appropriate, conducting remedial action for non-compliance. This will require regular contact (including site visits) with a wide range of businesses. The role is pivotal in ensuring the delivery of key outputs for the grant awarded, that the value for money expected for the taxpayer’s investment is achieved and that legal and offer letter obligations are met.

Responsibilities will include:

• Leading on communication to and from the applicant business on assigned cases, ensuring that they are supported through the application process and that key milestones and timelines are adhered to
  
• Establishing key policy and assessor contacts and co-ordinating the assessment and approvals process.
• Drafting associated papers including Ministerial submissions, management updates and offer letters.
• Proactively reviewing grant recipient performance (monitoring) against agreed KPIs (including expenditure), undertaking monitoring visits and processing claims, in line with deadlines and guidance provided.
• Using judgement and analysis to identify issues and risks in a timely manner including working with applicants, grant recipients and other stakeholders to agree and implement remedial action e.g. grant agreement variations.
• Ensuring that all management information and project records are kept up to date and are accurate, with timely input of data to meet internal reporting requirements. Maintaining comprehensive and accurate electronic case files to demonstrate an appropriate audit trail.
• Drafting or contributing to the drafting of documents including; briefings to senior leaders, Ministerial submissions, Parliamentary Questions, Freedom of Information Requests, Parliamentary returns and MP letters etc.

Person specification

Essential Criteria

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

• Strong and effective interpersonal skills coupled with experience building working relationships with internal stakeholders and engaging effectively with businesses
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with experience drafting written products for a wide range of audiences including senior leaders
• The ability to confidently co-ordinate multi-disciplinary teams (e.g. policy, legal and analytical professions) in delivery of a shared objective under time pressure
• Sound analytical skills and attention to detail, with the ability to analyse information (e.g. datasets, reports) and draw appropriate conclusions
  
• Understanding of Government policy toward investment (e.g. the Industrial Strategy) and the drivers behind it

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;

• Membership of the Government Grants Profession / Operational Delivery Profession.
• A good level of proficiency with SharePoint and Excel
• An understanding of Managing Public Money Guidance, Cabinet Office Standards for Grants, the Subsidy Control Act and HMT Green Book
• Working knowledge of business finance and economics

Behaviours

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

• Changing and Improving
• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £44,913, Department for Business and Trade contributes £13,011 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.

Sift and Interview

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.

CV and Personal Statement

When applying for this post you must provide as part of your 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 1000 words, explaining why you're interested in the role and how your personal skills and experience evidence your suitability for the role in reference to the essential criteria.

Short sift criteria

In the event of a large number of applicants, an initial short sift will be conducted on the Personal Statement. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to interview.

Candidates who pass the sift will be invited to interview, where we will assess you on the Success Profiles elements of Behaviours: Changing and Improving, Making Effective Decisions, Communicating and Influencing and Delivering at Pace

Presentation

As part of your interview, you will be asked to deliver a five minute presentation. Details will be provided prior to your 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 /Disclosure Scotland/Access NI 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.

For further information on the Disclosure Scotland confidential checking service telephone: the Disclosure Scotland Helpline on 0870 609 6006 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email Info@disclosurescotland.co.uk

For further information on the Access NI confidential checking service telephone: the Access NI Helpline on 0300 200 7888 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email accessni@ani.x.gsi.gov.uk

Vetting

The requirement for SC clearance is to have been present in the UK for at least 3 of the last 5 years. Failure to meet the residency requirements will result in your security clearance application being rejected.

For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the Demystifying Vetting website.

Feedback

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

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 security 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

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 : Alex Iley
• Email : alex.iley@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 candidate pack July 2024 (1) Opens in new window (pdf, 943kB)DBT T&Cs 2025-08-18 Opens in new window (doc, 46kB)