Opportunities Lead

Full job description
Details
Reference number
411251
Salary
£55,836 - £66,338
London: £5+,450 - £66,338
National: £55,836 - £62,823
A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.+7%
GBP
Job grade
Grade 7
Contract type
Permanent
Business area
DBT DGSI - Office for Investment
Type of role
Commercial
Private Sector Development
Project Delivery
Working pattern
Flexible working, Full-time, Job share, Part-time
Number of jobs available
2
Contents
Location
About the job
Benefits
Things you need to know
Apply and further information
Location
Belfast, Birmingham, Cardiff, Darlington, Edinburgh, London, Salford
About the job
Job summary
The Office for Investment (OfI) was spun out of Downing Street in January 2021 and is now a joint unit between No.10, HMT and the Department for Business and Trade (DBT). The OfI is an exciting, creative and dynamic place to work among a motivated and driven team with both commercial and public sector backgrounds. OfI's mission is to secure investment to drive growth, job creation and increased productivity across the UK. We are proactive and entrepreneurial, delivering ambitious outcomes aligned to the Industrial Strategy and HMG Missions.

Within the OFI, a new Product division has been created to bring together the expertise needed to support the development and acceleration of investment opportunities (‘products’), to ultimately increase the flow of private capital into the UK. This division will hold national oversight of the UK’s investment opportunity pipeline, working closely with other OfI teams such as the Deal Making Unit, Investor Relations, Place and Marketing, but also focus on relationship management with other key government departments, PuFIns (NWF, BBB etc), ALBs, ‘Places’ and the private sector, to help progress a pipeline of credible, commercially-sound investment opportunities.
These Products could include a range of different investment opportunities, including Real Assets such as infrastructure and real estate, to financial assets such as funds and corporate equity (e.g. university spin-out vehicles/Housing SPVs etc).

The Product unit will give policy advice where necessary to improve the business environment to catalyse capital investment, identifying barriers and potential solutions, including innovative capital structures, blended finance models and financial instruments. In order to do this, it will work closely with Investor Relations, to understand the profile of demand, to inform the opportunities sought. It will then also support the development of promotional strategies and investor targeting and share insights to aid the production of targeted proposition and marketing material by the Marketing Team.

Within the Product division, the Product Origination function will be responsible for providing national leadership on the origination of investment opportunities from a variety of sources across the public (nations, regions – ‘places’, other government departments) and private sector (developers, promoters). This function’s expertise will be deployed on sites and projects aligned with the Government’s top priorities, as set out in e.g. Industrial Strategy growth sectors. A particular focus will be to grow the pipeline of mature, investible projects.

The Opportunities Lead (G7) roles sit within this function, reporting to Head of Product Origination (G6).

Job description
Key accountabilities will include:

Leveraging existing public and private sector networks to build a credible pipeline of investment opportunities in themes/sectors aligned with HMG priorities (such as Industrial Strategy) and market demand.
Utilising commercial acumen and understanding of the capital project investment and delivery lifecycle to assess investment opportunities; support the development of high priority opportunities that are not yet mature by addressing barriers and coordinating with virtual teams from OfI, wider government, and the private sector.
Gather insights from account-managed relationships with capital investors (working closely with the capital investment team) to understand market demand, as well as provide effective feedback and advice to project developers / promoters (both public and private sector).
Collaborate with OFI colleagues and other government departments (MHCLG, DfT etc) and Public Finance Institutions (NWF, Homes England etc) to present the most suitably commercial and credible investment opportunities to international and domestic sources of capital.
Apply commercial expertise to develop opportunity-specific collateral to be used with investors, ensuring collateral is commercially credible, audience-specific, and sufficiently informative to influence investment decisions.
Support wider ‘product’-related initiatives and models being developed within and beyond DBT, that address current market failure (e.g. project development capacity) and assist in bringing a greater value of investment opportunities to market.
Person specification
Essential Criteria

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

Demonstrated experience in assessing investment opportunities and providing support on barriers to investment and maturing the underlying projects.
Ability to represent the UK’s Investment environment to senior stakeholders.
Strong track record of building sector-specific / thematic expertise and establishing / bringing relationships and networks to support delivery (public and private sector).
Sound business acumen and strong knowledge of the global investment landscape.
Aptitude for problem solving; proven track record of supporting project delivery and/or facilitating investment into strategic and complex projects.
Possesses highly developed interpersonal and influencing skills, with a track record of developing and maintaining effective relationships across private and public sector.
Experience working in / with multiple HMG departments on complex efforts.
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;

Solid understanding of one (or more) of the relevant sectoral or thematic areas of focus (guided by HMG priorities such as the Industrial Strategy).
Appreciation of the UK’s relative geographic strengths.
Strong knowledge of various modes of investment (capital investment, FDI, Venture Capital).
The Person

The below is a list of characteristics which may be helpful in this role. These will not be assessed throughout the recruitment process, but are laid out to help candidates understand more about the role.

This role would generally suit someone who;

Dynamic self-starter, able to work collaboratively with others in diverse teams.
Take responsibility for delivery; a team player who works with others in order to achieve goals, and can effectively manage upward as well.
Experience of managing conflicting demands, working at pace, flexibly and under pressure, making effective decisions and ensuring deadlines are met.
Able to confidently and constructively resolve delivery issues between different teams.
Confident and clear communicator, with strong written and verbal skills.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

Seeing the Big Picture
Communicating and Influencing
Working Together
Benefits
Alongside your salary of £55,836, Department for Business and Trade contributes £16,175 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
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.+7%
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.

Please refer to the attached candidate pack for further information on our benefits.

Things you need to know
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles , and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths 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. 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 750 words, explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role in reference to the essential criteria.
Your application will be sifted against the Experience criteria of the Civil Service Success Profiles.

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.

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, where we will assess you on the Success Profiles elements of Behaviours and Strengths.

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.

Candidate Support

You may want to join a virtual Candidate Support Session. These sessions include helpful tips and advice on the recruitment process, from application to interview.

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.
This role may be considered as a secondment opportunity. Please reach out to the hiring manager listed at the bottom of this advert to discuss.
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 60+ 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



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)
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
Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code 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 .
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 the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy .
Apply and further information
This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans 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 : David Buck
Email : david.buck@officeforinvestment.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.