Policy and Product Team Leader

The Policy and Products Division (PPD) ensures that UKEF has the range of financial products and effective internal policies needed to support UKEF’s wide variety of transactions, from major overseas infrastructure projects to UK multinationals and SME exporters. To do this, PPD:

• Structures UKEF’s range of financial products to meets the needs of exporters and banks.
• Manages the implementation of relevant government policies across the department.
• Ensures UKEF’s transactions follow internal policy and international agreements.
• Conducts market research on potential demand for UKEF support, working closely with lenders (Banks and Non-Banks).
• Advises other government departments, Public Finance Institutions, UKEF teams, banks, and exporters on the application of UKEF’s policies and practices to the transactions we support.

The division leads the development and continuous improvement of UKEF’s products and policies. Recent accomplishments includes reforms to the General Export Facility product, development of the new Flexible Finance product and the SME finance scheme with the British Business Bank, as well as wider work to ensure UKEF’s offer continues to meet the changing needs of UK exporters.

PPD sits in the Strategy, Sustainability and Impact Group (SSIG). SSIG is responsible within UKEF for managing UKEF’s financial products, setting policy, contributing, and responding to HMG strategy, overseeing corporate strategy, and planning, managing UKEF’s approach to Climate Change matters and Sustainable Development Goals, and engaging in UKEF’s capacity as an Export Credit Agency (ECA) and across government, as Public Finance Institution (PuFin).

The successful candidate will lead a small team on multiple workstreams across UKEF’s financial products and a wide variety of policy areas. They will become an expert point of reference on UKEF’s products and policies for internal colleagues and external stakeholders and play a crucial corporate leadership role within the Division. The main responsibilities are to ensure that UKEF is supported by:

• Policies which ensure that UKEF’s transactions and products are aligned with UK legislation and international agreements, manage reputational risks and support government priorities.
• a suite of financial products which meet the needs of exporters (including SME exporters), complementing those available from the private market.
• policies, practices, processes, and procedures relating to UKEF’s transactions which are in fulfilment of UKEF’s statutory and international regulatory requirements, and the policies set for it by HMG; and
• expert advice to internal colleagues, external stakeholders and other government departments relating to the application of UKEF’s policies and practices.

They will take ownership of a range of UKEF policies and product enhancements and drive their development, informed by an understanding of the needs of the market and customer expectations (such as banks, brokers and various other non-bank financial institutions). To do this, they will work closely with a wide variety of (often senior) internal stakeholders, other government departments and external organisations such as law firms, financial institutions (banks and non-banks) and Exporters to deliver the above divisional priorities.

Hear why you should apply for this role“What makes the Policy and Product Development (PPD) team stand out at UKEF is the cross-departmental role you get to play. You get knowledge of UKEF transactions by providing policy insight to support technical nuances and issues and advising underwriting colleagues on the parameters of UKEF’s product suite. When it comes to product development, you will also engage with underwriters and export finance managers to identify the needs of UK exporters, whilst also working with colleagues in legal, risk, pricing, and Environmental and Social to design and agree parameters that consider the wider needs of the department.”

Main ActivitiesAlongside Divisional colleagues:

• Playing a corporate leadership role within the Policy and Products Division, by contributing to the formulation of policy and product strategy and design.
• Leading the development of the UKEF policies and practice which govern how UKEF supports transactions, from understanding the first principles behind this governance through to implementing lasting changes, often in collaboration with other Government departments (primarily HM Treasury, BIST, FCDO and UKGI) and Public Finance Institutions (National Wealth Fund; the British Business Bank).
• Developing the financial products which UKEF uses to support UK exporters, including driving innovations and building the business case for new products. This will involve extensive cross-departmental working with transaction colleagues, legal, credit risk, IT, etc. as well as liaison with external stakeholders such as finance providers, exporters, and other Government departments.
• Scoping the impact and relevance of government legislation/priorities and emerging reputational issues on UKEF and ensuring these are reflected in the work of the department (including drafting committee papers, internal policy documents, etc).
• Understanding developments in the world of export finance, particularly those led by other countries’ Exporter Credit Agencies, and considering how they may impact UKEF.
• Participating at a senior level in wider government initiatives and industry developments which may be led by external organisations.
• Providing expert advice on the application of transaction policies, both externally and to internal colleagues.
• Line managing a small team to deliver high-quality work (currently 1x SEO), supporting them to achieve performance management objectives and in their career development.
• Providing senior input on departmental wide strategic projects and policy developments.
• Participating in promotional activities that raise awareness of UKEF and its products, as required.

This list is not exhaustive, and you may be required to carry out additional duties according to business needs.

A degree-level qualification in a relevant discipline, such as Economics, Finance, Business, Public Policy, Politics, Law or a related subject, and/or

equivalent demonstrable professional experience in policy development, financial products or a related field. (A)

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)

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

We are assessing candidates using Success Profiles and Line Management Standards (see Appendix 1) and across the whole process we will assess your Experience, Technical and Behaviours and Line Manager Standards as highlighted below.

The application must be completed by 23.55 on the day of the closing date for it to be accepted.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

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 for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Please ensure that you read through the Candidate Information Pack attached to this advert, before applying.

All applications will be sifted against our essential criteria outlined in the personal specification.

• Qualification A degree-level qualification in a relevant discipline, such as Economics, Finance, Business, Public Policy, Politics, Law or a related subject, and/or equivalent demonstrable professional experience in policy development, financial products or a related field. (A)
• Statement of suitability - you should fully articulate in 750 words how you meet the essential criteria outlined in the person specification within the Information Pack.

For the initial sift your application will be evaluated against:

• Experience - CV / Application and Statement of Suitability

In the event of a high volume of applications, there will be a pre-sift on the following essential criteria;

• Understanding of policy development and implementation, including assessing the implications of government priorities, legislation or wider policy changes. (A, I)
• Demonstrable ability to communicate clearly, concisely and accurately in writing and verbally, tailoring information to different audiences and presenting complex information in an accessible and structured way. (A, I, P)

If you are successful following the sift stage, you will be invited to an initial interview, to be held onsite at 1 Horse Guards Road; this will include the following assessment:

• Behaviours / Line Management Standards / Experience - a formal panel interview where you will be interviewed across all four behaviours highlighted in Appendix 1.Behaviour - Changing and Improving
• Behaviour - Making Effective Decisions
• Behaviour - Working Together (aligned to the Line Management Standard - Delivery Focus)
• Behaviour - Delivering at Pace
• Technical - you will be assessed across your technical expertise and acumen, in relation to the essential criteria Presentation - Candidates will be given a presentation topic in advance of the interview, agreed by UKEF and aligned to the Seeing the Big Picture Candidates should consider the financial policy context of the role and wider organisational priorities in their response.

Details of interview panel members will be e-mailed to all successful candidates who are invited for interview.

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