View Vacancy - Trade Policy Officer (MDA20.462)

Due to COVID-19, you may experience some delay in the progress of this recruitment campaign. We are working hard to minimise any disruption.

The British Embassy in Chisinau is part of a world-wide network, representing British political, economic and consular interests overseas and is now looking to recruit a dedicated Trade Policy Officer.

The main purpose of this new role is two-fold: 

(1) to field enquiries from UK businesses who wish to export to Moldova, including identifying barriers to that trade and working with the UK Department of International Trade (DIT) network to tackle them;

(2) to work with DIT to provide advice and support to inform the transition and implementation of the bilateral trade agreement.

Main duties and responsibilities include:

Roles:

• To develop a comprehensive understanding of the Moldovan trade system and how this relates to UK trade policy interests, including market access and the bilateral trade agreement;
• Provide expert advice to the British Embassy and DIT in London on the opportunities to increase trade, by ensuring an in-market perspective, including surveying upcoming legislation and checking it for compliance with Moldova’s bilateral obligations with the UK;
• Support engagement with all relevant Moldova stakeholders, in support of the UK’s bilateral trade interests;
• Support engagement with British business in Moldova, to service UK export and market access enquiries;
• Represent the British Embassy and DIT at events locally and possibly internationally.

Responsibilities:

• Understand, and represent to others, the UK’s trade policy priorities, and the extent to which the bilateral arrangements between the UK and Moldova underpin the UK’s existing - and possible future - bilateral trade and investment interests;
• Scoping and analysing the business environment and trade sectors in Moldova by establishing a comprehensive network of stakeholders and conducting desk research;
• Develop strong working relationships with all Government of Moldova bodies responsible for trade and the bilateral trade arrangements between the UK and Moldova, and liaise between them and DIT London, in support of UK interests;
• Provide a Secretariat function for those mechanisms, on behalf of DIT London;
• Keep up to date with, and provide written analysis to, DIT London and the British  Embassy, on relevant developments in Moldovan trade policy;
• Work closely with the British Embassy and DIT commercial staff to identify any barriers (market access) to trade and the strategy and resource needed to address these, including via bilateral trade arrangements and other engagement;
• Liaise with British Embassy colleagues leading on the political elements of the UK -Moldova relationship, so that the objectives and activity of both this, and our trade aspects of the relationship, are mutually reinforcing;
• Working on small projects with the British Embassy Programme team to deliver value for money and in line with our Country Business Plan.

• High proficiency in written and spoken English and Romanian;

• Graduate degree holder with a proven professional track record in international trade law, or international trade policy development;

• Excellent (policy-oriented) research skills: the ability to find, manage, analyse, summarise and present complex and technical information;

• Excellent networking and stakeholder management skills;

• Strong analytical and presentation skills;

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills;

• Customer focused.