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Job summary

This is a genuinely unique and high-profile position in which the post holder will play a direct role in shaping and delivering a No.10 and Prime Ministerial priority in some of the most innovative regions in the world.

The Global Talent Taskforce (GTT) sits in the Office for Investment and reports directly to No.10 and HM Treasury. It has been established to support the Government’s growth mission by ensuring that the world’s most exceptional entrepreneurs, investors, researchers, technical leaders see the UK as the best place to live, work, innovate, invest and build long-term roots.

The GTT provides targeted, concierge-style support to a small number of globally mobile individuals who have the potential to drive significant economic growth, strengthen priority sectors and enhance the UK’s innovation ecosystem. Its work spans pipeline development, pitch and proposition, bespoke account management, policy intelligence gathering and unblocking.

This is a rare opportunity to help shape one of the Government’s most high-profile growth priorities from the centre, in a strategic, fast-paced and delivery-focused role.

The position centres on developing and sustaining a strategic network of the most influential thinkers, founders, leaders and innovators internationally. The post holder will ensure the UK attracts, supports, and embeds exceptional, high-profile individuals who are driving global progress in technology, life sciences and clean energy and venture capital investment. These individuals will contribute directly to increased investment, business growth, and the UK’s wider economic competitiveness.

Job description

We are seeking an experienced Grade 6 to join the GTT as one of two Deputy Heads – the other will lead on international strategy – with a focus on shaping and delivering GTT’s domestic engagement strategy, leading our external affairs and account management function, building our referral pipeline and leading the successful conversion of targets. The post holder should be willing and able to travel internationally on a quarterly basis (minimum) and into London on a weekly basis.

Key Responsibilities include:

Leadership

• Work closely with the GTT’s Deputy Director and your fellow Deputy Head of the GTT to set direction, drive high-quality delivery and represent the GTT with senior stakeholders across government and international networks.

• Lead the GTT’s domestic engagement and support communications strategy – alongside our sister team, the Global Talent Hub – ensuring activity is clearly linked to the Taskforce’s objectives, priority sectors and target audiences.

• Translate ministerial, No.10 and senior official priorities into a focused programme of international engagement, pipeline development and senior client activity in the UK.

• Provide strategic advice to senior leaders on domestic opportunities, risks, stakeholder management and the development of a credible global client pipeline.

• Oversee high-quality tracking and reporting of engagement, referrals, client progression, risks, outcomes to report to senior stakeholders, including No10 and HM Treasury.

• Deputise for the Deputy Director where required in meetings, governance forums and senior stakeholder engagements. This includes representing ‘Team UK’ at high-profile engagements domestically and in market, including panel discussions, VIP roundtables, major industry and academic gatherings, and investment-focused events.

Domestic engagement and Account Management

• Build and lead a strategic programme of domestic engagement with stakeholders who can help identify, influence, support or champion exceptional global talent.

• Develop strong relationships with industry leaders, investors, founders, universities, accelerators, professional services firms, regional ecosystems and other talent-facing organisations.

• Use domestic networks to generate high-quality referrals into the GTT pipeline and gather intelligence on the barriers, incentives and propositions that matter most to globally mobile talent.

• Lead the GTT’s account management model, setting clear standards for how priority individuals are identified, triaged, supported and progressed through the pipeline.

• Ensure account management activity is proactive, strategic and outcome-focused, with clear objectives for each priority lead and a strong grip on next steps, owners, risks and senior interventions.

• Work with account leads and cross-government partners to unblock barriers for priority individuals, drawing on policy, immigration, investment, sector and regional expertise where needed.

• Build a consistent account management discipline across the Taskforce, including high-quality records, pipeline reporting, senior readouts and lessons learned from individual cases.

Communications and narrative

• Own the GTT’s communications approach, ensuring the Taskforce has a clear, credible and consistent narrative for different audiences.

• Work closely with communications colleagues across DBT, No.10, HM Treasury, the Home Office, FCDO, DSIT and other departments to align messaging and make best use of public moments.

• Ensure communications activity supports delivery, including lead generation, stakeholder confidence, ministerial engagement and the wider UK growth narrative.

• Oversee the development of tailored messaging for different audiences, including founders, investors, senior business leaders, universities, intermediaries and regional partners.

Cross-government coordination

• Contribute to the wider leadership of the Global Talent function in the Office for Investment, helping to build a collaborative, delivery-focused and supportive team environment.

• Work across Whitehall and the overseas network to ensure international engagement is coherent with wider talent, investment, innovation, immigration and foreign policy priorities.

• Ensure intelligence from international engagement is fed back into policy development, account management, proposition development and senior decision-making.

Person specification

Essential Criteria

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

• A strong motivation to deliver HMG’s Growth Priority and the objectives of the Global Talent Taskforce.

• Experience designing and leading complex delivery programmes, stakeholder engagement or partnership activity.

• Proven experience managing or supporting high profile individuals - such as founders, high-net-worth-individuals, c-suite executives, ministers or world-leading researchers.

• The ability to confidently and credibly represent the UK’s brand, values and economic ambition in high-profile settings.

• Deep experience working in or alongside startups, scale-ups or the wider innovation ecosystem, with an understanding of what high-growth businesses and influential individuals seek from government engagement.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to draft clear, concise material and present confidently to senior audiences.

• A friendly, open-minded and proactive approach to networking, with the ability to build trust quickly with influential stakeholders.

• Evidence of leading teams, networks or programmes of work in a fast-paced environment with competing priorities, including setting direction and maintaining grip on delivery.

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.

• Understanding of the UK’s investment, science, technology, higher education or entrepreneurial ecosystem.

• Experience working on economic growth, inward investment, global talent, immigration, industrial strategy and / or related policy areas.

Behaviours

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

• Delivering at Pace
• Leadership
• Making Effective Decisions
• Seeing the Big Picture

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £69,185, Department for Business and Trade contributes £20,042 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.

To apply for this post, you will be asked to complete the following as part of the online application:

• A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements that relate to the essential criteria listed in this advert. Any gaps in employment history within the last 2 years should be explained. The CV should not exceed more than 2 x A4 pages.
• A Personal Statement of 500 word personal statement outlining your motivations and how you meet the essential criteria.

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

We aim to sift both the CV and the Personal Statement but, in the event of a large number of applicants, an initial short sift may be conducted on the Personal Statement only. Candidates who pass the initial sift of the Personal Statement will either progressed to a full sift where the CV is then assessed, or progressed straight to further assessment/interview.

Candidates who pass the sift will be invited to interview, which will assess your experience and use civil service behaviours.

You will be asked to provide a 5 minute presentation as part of the formal interview.

Following the sift stage of the campaign and before the interview stage, all shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend a short meeting with John Edwards, Director in the Office for Investment, which won't be scored.

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.

This role is full time only. Applicants who wish to work an alternative pattern are welcome to apply however your preferred working pattern may not be available and you should discuss this with the vacancy holder before applying.

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 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 : Mary Kunnenkeril, Deputy Director, Global Talent Taskforce
• Email : MKunnenkeril@no10.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)