Head of Responsible Business and ESG Policy

Are you passionate about environment, social and corporate governance (ESG) policy issues like tackling climate change, promoting human rights and ending modern slavery?

Do you want to make a meaningful difference working with multinational companies and civil society on how they can contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals?

Do you enjoy working with international partners to deliver HMG's priorities on globally significant issues?

Then we'd love to hear from you!

The Responsible Business Conduct team has a one-of-a-kind role in leading policy development on a range of high-profile ESG and corporate sustainability issues. We adjudicate on business compliance with the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) standards on Responsible Business Conduct, working closely with businesses, civil society, and other governments around the world. WE promote understanding of responsible business and support UK businesses in making improvements to their operations, products, and services to achieve outcomes across the ESG agenda. This includes tackling climate change, ending human rights abuses, and promoting labour rights.

As part of this, the team runs the UK's internationally renowned National Contact Point (NCP), which promotes the Guidelines to a wide range of business, trade union and civil society stakeholders and handles complaints where enterprises are accused of breaching the Guidelines. Leading this process is challenging but highly rewarding, often resulting in real, positive change from businesses. This office sits within DBT but is operationally independent. The issues in scope can be high-profile and receive significant Parliamentary, media and stakeholder attention.

More information is available online at: www.gov.uk/government/groups/uk-national-contact-point-for-the-organisation-for-economic-co-operation-and-development-guidelines

This is a stretching G7 role, likely suited for an experienced G7 seeking to round off their CV before a step-up or external move to the private sector, or an established ESG manager in the private sector looking to join the Civil Service.

The role sits in a friendly, supportive team. Our Directorate has a fantastic corporate side, with a comprehensive L&D offer, and a strong commitment to wellbeing and Diversity & Inclusion, with regular training and events put on by the Directorate., The Head of Responsible Business and ESG Policy will:

• Lead HMG's thinking on the role of businesses in contributing to the full range of UN Sustainable Development Goals.


• Develop the evidence base for responsible business conduct, overseeing delivery of the office's research priorities on corporate sustainability issues.


• Provide advisory consultancy to FTSE100 companies and SMEs on delivering responsible and sustainable business outcomes.


• Own the office's corporate engagement, representing the office externally on our approach to ESG issues and effectively shaping the policy debate internationally at key events.


• Ensures that lessons from breaches of the OECD Guidelines inform policy development.


• Lead cross-Whitehall governance on responsible business, bringing departments together to foster collaboration on ESG issues.


• Brief Ministers and senior leadership on key responsible business issues.


• Support on resolving high-profile cases of suspected breaches of the OECD Guidelines


Occasional travel overseas will be required to attend OECD meetings in Paris and other stakeholder meetings on responsible business conduct., Please ensure that you check your emails regularly as all updates from us will be sent to you this way.,
• 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., 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
  
  A background working on one or more Environment, Social, and Corporate Governance (ESG) issues, such as human rights, employment rights, or climate change is essential.


• Strong leadership skills, both people management and thought leadership. An ability to bring together disparate functions across Government to develop coherent policy on corporate sustainability.


• Excellent influencing and interpersonal skills with the ability to build strong and relationships at a senior level.


• Strong analytical skills - able to identify a problem and consider various options, making a recommendation which considers the broader context of your work.


• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills.


• Good organisational and planning skills, with a track record of effectively balancing several competing priorities;


Desirable criteria

• Experience of working in a corporate setting on ESG issues.


• A legal background or experience working closely with lawyers would be advantageous., Seeing the Big Picture


• Making Effective Decisions


• Communicating and Influencing


• Delivering at Pace
  
  Alongside your salary of £53,560, Department for Business and Trade contributes £14,461 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 average employer contribution of 27%, 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.