Job Description

This opportunity is only open to applicants who are currently 'Priority Movers'. Applications from individuals not currently on the Priority Mover list will be rejected and not considered.

You will join the Directorate for International Trade and Investment’s (DITI) International Trade Policy and Subsidy Control Division. The division provides expert analysis on trade policy issues, defending and promoting Scotland’s trade interests in a way that also helps meet its economic, social, and environmental aims. 

Managing up to 3 B3s, you will lead the Scottish Government’s strategic approach to trade policy, linked to wider trade and investment plans, and the Scottish Government’s policy approach to a number of specific trade-impacted or impacting policy issues, including human rights and climate. You will engage with Ministers, colleagues, delivery bodies, stakeholders and the UK Government in doing so.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Scottish Government’s strategic approach to trade policy, including leading work reviewing our current approach (the ‘Vision for Trade’), advising Ministers on options following the 2026 election, and leading any subsequent publications or internal documents.
• Working with colleagues in the Scottish Government’s Export Policy Team, Scottish Enterprise and Scottish Development International, lead and deliver a strategy to increase coherence between trade policy and other business support interventions to better support business and boost economic growth.
• Lead the team’s work on trade-related human rights issues and the Scottish Government’s human rights due diligence guidance for public bodies. This high profile area of work with significant public and parliamentary interest includes providing advice to Ministers on a range of human rights issues, including in relation to Russia and the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
• Lead the team’s work on the trade-related aspects of climate/environmental policy. This includes trade positions on the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, opportunities in relation to Environmental Goods and Services and wider coherence between climate, environment and trade.
• Provide strategic leadership on plans to improve trade data infrastructure.
• Provide direct line management and support to up to 3 B3 members of staff.
• Build expertise in trade policy and be proactive in seeking personal development opportunities.
• Deputise for the C2 and work flexibly across the team, as required.

Priorities in DITI change over time, and may do so in particular in response to changing Ministerial priorities following the recent election. As is the case across the Scottish Government, staff are expected to be flexible to enable the Directorate to respond to new priorities. As such the responsibilities set out in this job description may need to adapt. The team deals with a wide variety of trade policy issues and we work flexibly to ensure we meet our objectives.

In terms of this particular post, the current postholder manages 3 B3s and has the range of responsibilities set out above. However, given the breadth of the current remit and the duration of this opportunity, we expect to make some modifications to the range of responsibilities of this role on a temporary basis.