Classification Officer

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At HMRC we are committed to creating a great place to work for all our colleagues; an inclusive and respectful environment that reflects the diversity of the society we serve.
We want to maximise the potential of everyone who chooses to work for us, and we offer a range of flexible working patterns and support to make a fulfilling career at HMRC accessible to you.
Diverse perspectives and experiences are critical to our success, and we welcome applications from all people from all backgrounds with the experience and skills needed to perform this role.
With the UK’s International Trade agenda regularly in the news and under ministerial scrutiny, we have a series of exciting opportunities in the Classification, Origin, Valuation and Tariff (COVT) unit for individuals that thrive on problem solving and enjoy influencing key stakeholders and policy development across government at pace.
We cherish and value commitment, fairness, honesty, and reliability in our team members. We are a diverse and somewhat unique team within Customs, Policy & Strategy (CP&S) with a wide range of roles and functions, including traditional policy delivery; operationalisation of HMG policy; delivery of rulings; and technical development with delivery of the UK Integrated Tariff. All of which is managed through our dedicated and engaged teams.
See what it’s like to work at HMRC: find out more about us or ask our colleagues a question. Questions relating to an individual application must be emailed as detailed later in this advert., This is an exciting role that sits within COVT to primarily support the work of the Tariff Classification Service. The successful applicant will be based in Leeds and will be required to engage with colleagues from Stratford to assist setting up and implementing the team along with developing the skills to become a fully trained classifier. With classification of goods at the heart of all international trade, it is a post that will provide critical support, guidance, and legal certainty to UK Businesses.
It is work that directly impacts GB/NI (UK) consumers and businesses alike, requiring a constant eye to communications and stakeholder engagement and support. You will work with a diverse range of policy, delivery, and operational teams across HMRC along with external customers to provide binding and non-binding classification rulings or advice, via Webchat and e-mail. You will be part of a team of 4 officers based at Leeds with a further 6 teams being based in Stratford. Once trained in Classification there is an expectation to further this knowledge across the Valuation and Origin roles providing support across COVT.
You will need to forge and develop strong relationships with Stratford Classification and Policy Teams, to help deliver a quality service to our customers, working closely with them to ensure deliverability and intent, and IT teams to develop systems needed to maintain and deliver requirements.
The role involves some UK travel.
The successful candidate should possess good communication skills and be able to articulate the rationale of a decision. They should display a positive approach when tackling problems and finding solutions.
Due to the nature of this role, successful candidates would be expected to stay in post for a minimum of 2 years., We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
+ Working Together
+ Communicating and Influencing
+ Making Effective Decisions, The CV should cover up to the last 5 roles of employment and consist of no more than 1000 words. It is recommended that candidates set out their CV in the following format:
+ Name of Organisation
+ Year to and from
+ Job title
+ 5-6 bullets outlining responsibilities and any major achievements – this should align to the job advert and Essential Criteria.
The Personal Statement needs to evidence that the Essential Criteria are met and should also example that the candidate meets the job description and person specification and three behaviours outlined in the Job Description: Working Together, Communicating and Influencing, and Making Effective Decisions. It is advised to use the ‘STAR’ technique when writing examples to enable you to provide a meaningful and complete answer for assessment.
Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.
We acknowledge that AI can assist you in your application. Find our guidelines here.
Sift
The sift will be based on the CV and the 1000-word Personal Statement. Candidates who do not meet the essential criteria, within the Personal Statement, will be sifted out.
An initial sift will be conducted on the CV. If the CV score does not meet the minimum set, the application will not progress, and the Personal Statement will not be assessed or scored.
Desirable criteria is not essential for the role but may be considered by the vacancy-holder where candidates have the same scores at sift or interview.
We reserve the right to raise the score required at any stage of the process in order to manage numbers.
Successful candidates will be invited to interview.
Interview
At interview we will use Behaviours to structure the discussion and enable you to example how you are suitable.
The Behaviours you will be assessed against are:
+ Working Together
+ Communicating and Influencing
+ Making Effective Decisions
You will also be asked strength-based questions.
This is an example of a strengths-based question:
“It is often said that the customer's needs should come first. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?”
There is no expectation or requirement for you to prepare for the strengths-based questions in advance of the interview, though you may find it helpful to spend some time reflecting on what you enjoy doing and what you do well.
Interviews will take place via video link. Sift and interview dates to be confirmed.
Eligibility
Please take extra care to tick the correct boxes in the eligibility sections of your application form. We understand mistakes sometimes happen but if you contact us later than two working days (Monday-Friday) before the vacancy closes, we will not be able to reopen your application for you. If you do make a mistake with your eligibility form, please contact us via: unitybusinessservicesrecruitmentresults@hmrc.gov.uk – Use the subject line to insert appropriate wording for example – ‘Please re-open my application – 381193 & vacancy closing date 23/12/2024’.
To check that you are eligible to apply for this role, please review the eligibility information before submitting your application.
Reserve List
A reserve list may be held for up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made for the same or similar roles – if this applies to you, we’ll let you know via your Civil Service Jobs account.
Merit List
After interview, a single merit list will be created, and you will only be considered for posts in locations you have expressed a preference for. Appointments will be made in strict merit order in line with the set number of roles in each location.
Criminal Record Check
Applications received from candidates with a criminal record are considered fairly in accordance with the DBS Code of Practice and the Recruitment of ex-offenders Policy.
Reasonable Adjustments
We want to make sure no one is put at a disadvantage during our recruitment process. To assist you with this, we will reduce or remove any barriers where possible and provide additional support where appropriate.
If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:
+ Contact the UBS Recruitment team via unitybusinessservicesrecruitmentresults@hmrc.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.
Important information for existing HMRC contractual homeworkers:
Please note that this role is unsuitable for contractual homeworkers due to the nature and/or requirements of the role.
Terms and Conditions
Customer facing roles in HMRC require the ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English and/or Welsh where required. Where this is an essential requirement, this will be tested as part of the selection process.
HMRC has a presence in every region of the UK. For more information on where you might be working, review this information on our locations.
The Civil Service values honesty and integrity and expects all candidates to abide by these principles. The evidence you provide in your application must relate to your own experiences.
Any instances of plagiarism or other forms of cheating will be investigated and, if proven, the relevant application(s) will be withdrawn from the process.
Recording of interviews is prohibited unless explicit agreement is sought in line with the UK General Data Protection Regulations.
Questions relating to an individual application must be emailed as detailed later in this advert.
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 had their employment continued. Any applicant’s 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.
New entrants will join on the minimum of the pay band.
If you experience accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.
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) (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 the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window)., Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles. You have the right to complain if you feel there has been a breach of the Recruitment Principles.
In the first instance, you should raise the matter directly via ubsrecruitmentcomplaints@hmrc.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response, you may bring your complaint to the Commission. For further information on bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission please visit their website.

These posts are being advertised to improve COVT resilience and create a new multi skilled team to support classification, valuation and origin business streams. The lead function will be providing advice and support to a busy email and webchat service issuing classification rulings including legally binding rulings (BTI (NI) and AT&R (GB) to the trade and agents. We are looking for dynamic and flexible individuals who are keen to learn. Successful candidates must also have good drafting skills and an ability to work with legislation and guidance.
Please note, these are technical roles which may require individuals to work outside of their comfort zone, for example by presenting their case at tribunal. Successful candidates are expected to fully apply themselves to the in-house training programme to enable them to be fully effective. The training period normally lasts 9-12 months. The training programme will commence upon appointment and successful candidates are expected to be present for all sessions. There will also be a requirement to commit to undertake the Policy Apprenticeship programme.
Essential Criteria:
+ The successful applicant for this role must be able to react flexibly and respond quickly to emerging priorities.
+ A self-starter with strong organisational skills, the ability to always remain professional, and able to deliver to tight deadlines.
+ Occasional travel may be required, including attendance at Tribunal as a decision-maker.
Desirable Criteria:
+ Customs experience.
+ Customer and Stakeholder Engagement.
+ Knowledge and experience of classification and the trade tariff.
+ Developing and delivering policy.
+ Ability to prioritise and reprioritise work, using good judgement to understand the risks of the re prioritisation, and the ability to multi-task, ensuring delivery within a sophisticated and fast paced landscape.
+ Successful candidates to have good drafting skills and an ability to work with legislation and guidance., Combined TC and OGD Pay - English Opens in new window (docx, 132kB)

Alongside your salary of £29,475, HM Revenue and Customs contributes £8,538 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
HMRC operates both Flexible and Hybrid Working policies, allowing you to balance your work and personal commitments. We welcome applications from those who need to work a more flexible arrangement and will agree to requests where possible, considering our operational and customer service needs.
We offer a generous leave allowance, starting at 25 days and increasing by a day for every year of qualifying service up to a maximum of 30 days.
+ Pension - We make contributions to our colleagues’ Alpha pension equal to at least 28.97% of their salary.
+ Family friendly policies.
+ Personal support.
+ Coaching and development.
To find out more about HMRC benefits and find out what it’s really like to work for HMRC hear from our insiders or visit Thinking of joining the Civil Service