The former spin doctor for Gordon Brown has been given a £150,000 position spearheading Labour's "reset" with the EU.
Following his appointment as Second Permanent Secretary in the Cabinet Office, Michael Ellam, who served as Downing Street's director of communications during Mr. Brown's tenure as prime minister, will be Sir Keir Starmer's principal advisor on Europe.
Labour maintains the position will boost the UK economy, while the Conservatives say it was established as part of a scheme to undo Brexit.
Mr. Ellam will oversee a group of 100 individuals who will deal with border controls, security cooperation, and trade between the UK and the EU.
Salary range: £153,000 to £200,000, according to the job description, and duties include "delivering the 'EU reset' and on international economic issues."
The former Treasury official was Gordon Brown's communications chief from 2006 to 2009. He later joined HSBC, where he became chairman of public sector banking.
Shadow Foreign Secretary Priti Patel accused Sir Keir of undermining Brexit "with his plan to take the country back into the EU."
Mr Ellam said: "I look forward to working with the Prime Minister, the minister for EU relations and others to deliver the government's objectives on this important agenda."
Cabinet Office Minister Nick Thomas-Symonds said: "Michael's experience at the highest levels of international finance will be a huge asset as we work to deliver economic growth on behalf of the British people, including through resetting our relationship with the EU."