Senior Sector Manager

Job summary

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) is the department for economic growth. We support businesses to invest, grow and export, creating jobs and opportunities across the country. We operate in an increasingly dynamic international environment, with a range of forces rapidly reshaping the global economy. To meet this challenge, the Government launched a new Modern Industrial Strategy in June 2025.

The Local and International Growth directorate within DBT supports economic growth across the UK by strengthening places, enabling businesses, and connecting local economies to national and international opportunity driving jobs, higher living standards and inclusive growth.

We do that by providing local policy insight and influence to shape growth policy, drive “big bet” interventions to support business growth in each area, collaborate with local partners to deliver growth outcomes, and connect DBT’s international network to unlock global growth opportunities for businesses across UK.

Within the directorate, the Local Growth Policy Team performs a critical role in driving forward DBT’s strategic approach to local growth policy. It is a linchpin team, acting as the strategic hub for local growth policy in DBT, working closely with our place-based teams.

The Senior Sector Manager will support "Big Bets" work in Scotland to drive economic growth, supporting Sector Leads in the team with operational delivery. There will also be the opportunity to lead, own and deliver on discreet projects on nascent Industrial Strategy priority sectors in Scotland.

This role is based out of Edinburgh and the expectation that candidate will be based in Scotland and the 40% office requirement will be met in the Edinburgh Office Queen Elizabeth House.

Job description

1. Provide Local Insight for Government Growth Policy

• Provide strategic insights on local sector strengths, challenges, and opportunities in Scotland. Produce insight reports and briefings to inform policy development and strategic planning. Share intelligence regularly with the wider team

• Contribute to the delivery of UK Government growth strategies at the local level, particularly the Industrial Strategy on key Scottish sectors. Provide evidence-based recommendations to support ministerial briefings and policy documents. Ensure local sector perspectives are reflected in national policy initiatives

2. Promote Local Business Growth Opportunities

• Work with local partners to identify and deliver activities that drive sectoral growth in Scotland. Support initiatives related to exports, domestic business development, supply chain mapping, and inward investment. Engage with businesses to understand barriers and opportunities for growth.

• Map and promote sector-specific investment opportunities. Support the development of compelling sector propositions and case studies, working closely with the investment lead.

3. Collaborate with Local Growth Partners

• Build and maintain effective working relationships with the Scottish Government, sector bodies and other partners. Ensure timely and accurate sharing of information and intelligence across teams. Represent the sector team in local forums and stakeholder engagements

• Foster collaboration across sector and international teams in DBT. Contribute to joint initiatives and cross-sector projects. Share best practice and lessons learned to support continuous improvement

4. Integrate Domestic and International Growth Delivery

• Liaise with DBT’s international teams to provide up-to-date sector knowledge. Support the delivery of international campaigns and ensure local strengths are showcased globally. Facilitate connections between local businesses and overseas markets.

• Track progress of sector-focused projects and investor engagement. Provide regular updates and reports to team, highlighting risks, opportunities, and outcomes.

Person specification

Essential criteria

The below criteria are essential and will be assessed at application stage;

• Ability to build and manage relationships with stakeholders across government and industrial sectors

• Commercial awareness and understanding of investment, trade and domestic business dynamics

• Policy development skills

Desirable criteria

The below criteria are desirable only. These will not be assessed throughout the recruitment process, but will be used in the event of tied scores between candidates;

• Excellent stakeholder engagement, influencing and management skills

• Excellent written and oral communication skills

Knowledge of Scotland’s economic geographies, economic strengths and the devolution settlement.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Making Effective Decisions
• Delivering at Pace
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £44,913, Department for Business and Trade contributes £13,011 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

• 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 employer contribution of 28.97%

We recognise the challenges that people with (multiple) protected characteristics may experience on the job market and in their career progression. We are fully committed to being an inclusive employer and ensuring equal opportunities. We are keen to make our workforce as diverse as possible, and we hope to attract applications from underrepresented groups, including ethnic minorities, people with a disability, and people with gender diverse identities.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

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 (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.Interviews for this vacancy will be conducted virtually. We will, however, consider in-person interviews by exception.

Please ensure that you check your emails regularly as all updates from us will be sent to you this way.

To apply for this post, you will be asked to complete the following as part of the online application:

• A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Provide employment history that relates to the essential criteria, and that