Director of Enforcement, Business & International Directorate - London or Newport

The Director of ENBID is a member of the IPO Board, supporting the Chief Executive in delivering the IPO's mission, strategy and corporate plan, as well as acting as a visible senior leader across the whole of the IPO. The role holder is responsible for leading a directorate of approximately 100 people. The Director of ENBID has a wide-ranging agenda including IP enforcement, domestic business support and international engagement across all aspects of intellectual property policy.

The role is varied, including:

• Heading a network of domestic and overseas staff supporting IP-rich British business.
• Leading high-profile multilateral negotiations at the UN.
• Leading the IP elements of trade negotiations.
• Re-building IP relations across Europe.
• Developing new alliances internationally to boost UK exports and create a fair international IP system.

Domestically, the post will focus on delivering a re-developed UK business framework for IP-rich business and ensuring that the academic and government sectors are best placed to leverage their significant IP assets while focusing on local/regional specific interventions. As a Board member, the holder will play a significant part in the management and leadership of the whole IPO, helping to shape its approach to its people, its business activities and its role in the UK recovery from Covid. The post holder will be responsible for a budget of circa £12 million.

This is a senior leadership role with wide-ranging responsibilities, including:

• Member of the IPO executive board, working with other Directors to shape the IPO's strategy and planning; participating in corporate governance, delivery and risk management.
• Demonstrating visible leadership to the whole organisation in accordance with the IPO's values, including championing diversity and inclusion.
• Leading and directing international activity, trade work and the business ecosystem.
• Overseeing the IP Enforcement function, supported by a newly created Enforcement Lead.
• Developing and maintaining strategic awareness on domestic and global enforcement of IP rights.
• Representing the IPO at a senior level within and outside government.
• Promoting understanding and awareness of enforcement work within the Policy Group and across the IPO.
• Leading operational and policy teams totalling around 120 staff, in an environment allowing a diverse range of staff to flourish.
• Owning senior relationships and strengthening bilateral and multinational relationships and sharing best practice.
• Embedding and building a culture of well-researched, effective and forward-thinking policy interventions accompanied by a commitment to robust monitoring, evaluation and continuous improvement.
• Building and maintaining confidence of ministers, providing high quality, politically astute written and oral advice.

The postholder will be expected to meet the core competences for SCS1, particularly:

• Setting Direction: Strong awareness of the organisation's priorities and setting the direction and strategy for the teams to deliver against business objectives.
• Delivering Results: Ability to deliver at pace and with quality and value for money in a pressured environment.
• Influencing and Communicating: Excellent track record in influencing and communicating, with highly developed written and oral communication skills.
• Working in Partnership: Outstanding ability to forge excellent relationships and adept at successfully influencing, challenging and negotiating.

We will assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Making Effective Decisions

Alongside your salary of £76,000, the Intellectual Property Office contributes £22,017 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Additional benefits include:

• A culture of flexible working, such as job sharing, homeworking and compressed hours.
• Automatic enrolment into the Civil Service Pension Scheme, with an employer contribution of 28.97%.
• A minimum of 25 days of paid annual leave, increasing by 1 day per year up to a maximum of 30.
• An extensive range of learning and professional development opportunities.
• Access to a range of retail, travel and lifestyle employee discounts.
• A hybrid office/home based working model.
• Cycle to work scheme.

To apply for this post, please follow the instructions on the CS Jobs website by no later than 23:55, Monday 10th March 2025. You are asked to complete the following:

• A CV highlighting specific responsibilities and achievements relevant to this role.
• A Statement of Suitability (no more than 1,000 words) explaining how your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role.
• Assessments: Staff Engagement exercise (SEE) involving facilitating a discussion with a selection of staff from the Department.
• Final Interview including a presentation exercise.

This role has a minimum assignment duration of 3 years. Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check and meet security requirements before appointment.

This job is broadly open to UK nationals, nationals of the Republic of Ireland, Commonwealth countries, EU nationals, and individuals with limited or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020.

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities.