Second Permanent Secretary, European Union and International Economic Affairs

This is a new Second Permanent Secretary post in the Cabinet Office leading the Government’s relationship with the European Union (EU), working closely with the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, EU counterparts, and the devolved administrations, and overseeing the team working on international economic affairs. This is a high-profile senior position that will receive significant public scrutiny and political attention.
It reports to the Cabinet Secretary with accountability to the Prime Minister and the Minister for European Union Relations and will work closely with the National Security Adviser. The key responsibilities of the role are:
+ Principal adviser to the Prime Minister and the Minister for European Union relations on matters relating to relations with the EU and delivering the “EU reset” and on international economic issues;
+ Act as the EU ‘sherpa’, representing the Prime Minister and the Minister in engagements and negotiations with the EU on resetting the relationship (a “sherpa” is a senior and personal representative of the Prime Minister at international summits and engagements);
+ Oversee the economic and global issues team, which includes ‘sherpa’ functions for G7 and G20, and ensure alignment between EU engagement and international economic issues ;
+ Oversee and lead policy development on key questions of UK-EU trade, collaboration and engagement, in particular the Windsor Framework, the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, the Entry and Exit Scheme, and other border policy questions, working hand-in-hand with relevant departments;
+ Prepare and lead negotiations with the EU on key UK interests, including the proposed security cooperation agreement;
+ Lead c.100 staff, including the EU Relations Secretariat, which has brought together teams from the FCDO and Cabinet Office to coordinate and broker across government departments on matters relating to the EU, and the team working on international economic affairs;
+ Convene and collaborate with other government departments and partners across the public sector to bring a strategic approach to engagement with the EU and on international economic policy - required to develop a close working relationship with FCDO counterparts and other key stakeholders across government;
+ Lead the secretariat of the Europe Cabinet Committee;
+ Corporate departmental leadership responsibilities in the Cabinet Office as a member of the top leadership team and leadership of an expert team of civil servants.

Alongside your salary of £153,000, Cabinet Office contributes £44,324 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
Please see attached candidate brief

Things you need to know

Selection process details
Please see attached candidate brief
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is developed vetting (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements
Open to UK nationals only.

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.