View Vacancy - Trade Policy Officer x2 (DEU22.392)

The British Government is an inclusive and diversity-friendly employer.  We value difference, promote equality and challenge discrimination, enhancing our organisational capability. We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We do not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, colour, ethnicity, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, age, veteran status or other category protected by law. We promote family-friendly flexible working opportunities, where operational and security needs allow.
Department for International Trade roles (DIT)
Department for International Trade (DIT)

Are you interested in the policies and relationships that help trade grow? Do you thrive through delivering high-quality analytical work at pace? Would you like to make an impact in a fast-moving, high-profile international environment? The British Government in Germany is based at the British Embassy in Berlin and our consulates in Dusseldorf and Munich. We are part of a worldwide network, representing British political, economic and consular interests overseas.

The Department for International Trade (DIT) is recruiting two exciting and demanding roles to support our work on trade policy, based at the British Embassy in Berlin. We are now looking for a two Trade Policy Officers to join our team in Berlin.

DIT’s mission is to improve market access for businesses, champion free and fair trade and encourage trade and investment between the UK and Germany. This is critical to our economies, supporting millions of jobs, driving economic growth, raising wages and improving living standard across the globe, whilst at the same time promoting wider goals – e.g. tackling climate change and improving economic security. For more information about DIT’s objectives, see here.

The successful candidates will report to the Head of Trade Policy in Berlin, and work closely with a range of expert colleagues in Germany. The roles offer a combination of policy and analysis, business engagement and lobbying work and is a great opportunity for anyone wanting to develop a career in economic and trade policy.

One role will support UK businesses make the most of trade opportunities between the UK and Germany and ensure our work is underpinned by high quality analysis. The other role will provide timely and high quality reporting and analysis on Germany’s trade policy based on understanding of the broader political context. Both roles will be required to build and maintain a network of contacts in the German business and policy community, attend relevant events and provide reports and analysis to colleagues in Berlin and London.

Roles and responsibilities: 

While exact responsibilities will be discussed with the successful candidates, you will:

  • Identify and tackle trade barriers, investigate potential solutions, and as appropriate escalate these for resolution.
  • Undertake analysis to provide timely reporting on UK-Germany trade, with a focus on where barriers to trade affect UK firms.
  • Answer business enquiries about the terms of trade between the UK and Germany, investigating the rules or procedures involved in any issue, and explaining these.
  • Identify and monitor key developments in German economic and trade policy with a potential impact on UK interests.
  • Generate and maintain a network of contacts in ministries, business, parliament, think tanks, industry and academia to undertake your role.
  • Maintain relationships with stakeholders in London as well as colleagues across the Germany network.
  • Support broader teams as required, including Ministerial visits, business outreach and engagement, as necessary, ensuring join up across the network.

The successful candidates will need to be politically aware, able to understand and interpret complex detail, be good communicators, and enjoy working closely and collaboratively with a wider range of stakeholders in country teams, regionally and with London.

The Germany Network and DIT are a rewarding and exciting place to work, offering:

  • Much scope for personal and professional development: Excellent networks and opportunities for support, including mentoring, coaching, job shadowing and secondments;
  • Strong offer for learning and development, including dedicated L&D days;
  • An equal, diverse and engaged workplace;
  • Opportunities to actively engage in corporate activities and initiatives in the Germany Network, such as Greening the Network, Germany Women’s Network, the Social Mobility Group, the Germany People Committee;
  • Work-life balance;
  • Performance related bonus.
  • Proficiency in English and German (both written and spoken, minimum of C2 level for CEFR framework);    
  • University degree in relevant field (economics, political economy, business, social sciences, international relations etc.) or equivalent professional experience;
  • Demonstrable analytical skills, the ability to make sense of complex information;
  • Strong written and oral communication skills.
  • Excellent interpersonal and networking skills;
  • Ability to work well on own initiative;
  • Good IT skills, especially Excel, PowerPoint, Word and Outlook.
  • Background in economic or trade policy or analysis;
  • Some previous or relevant experience working with business;
  • Some previous experience, or interest in, working on European affairs.
Seeing the Big Picture, Delivering at Pace, Communicating and Influencing, Working Together
18 September 2022
Executive Officer (EO)
Fixed term, with possibility of renewal
37.5
Europe, Eastern Europe & Central Asia
Germany
Berlin
British Embassy
2
EUR
€61,080 gross per annum rising to €68,611 gross per annum after a qualifying period in addition to performance related pay. (Salary is not negotiable)
1 October 2022

This is a full-time fixed-term position for a contract period of two years with possibility of renewal. The gross yearly salary is €61,080 gross per annum rising to €68,611 gross per annum after a qualifying period in addition to performance related pay. (Salary is not negotiable)

The successful candidate will be subject to professional background check and security clearance. The successful candidate must have pre-existing work authorisation in Germany in order to apply.

Staff recruited locally by the British Embassy are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local German employment law.

Visa/work permit requirements: Candidates must currently hold the independent right to live and work in Germany and be prepared to ensure that right remains throughout the scope of the contract.

Please note that it is your responsibility to ensure you meet the legal requirements to live and work in this country.

 

Learning and development opportunities:

The British Embassy in Berlin has a strong ethos of Learning and Development, including our Learning and Development Week. In addition, there will be many opportunities to attend external seminars and events on relevant issues. This is in addition to the induction programme offered to all Embassy staff.

The successful applicant will be encouraged to be actively involved in the corporate life of the Embassy, contributing to the wider objectives of the British Government’s Germany network and supporting the Embassy’s positive working environment.

The role holder will have access to a wide range of trade skills and trade policy training via the dedicated EU Learning Hub as well as the FCDO Diplomatic Academy, with encouragement to undertake the Trade Practitioner Course.

Please note that the deadline for applications is 23:55 on the day mentioned in the above field “Application deadline”. We advise you to allow enough time to complete and submit your full application, since only applications completed and submitted before the deadline will be considered.

Please be aware that the deadline for submitting applications is considered to be the time zone for the country where the vacancy has arisen.

Please be advised that the British Embassy will not be able to meet the travel costs incurred when travelling to the interview, nor the costs connected with relocation if offered a job.

* Please note Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, Teaching, Assessment indicates Level C2 as Mastery or proficiency Level which comprehends that a person can understand with ease virtually everything heard or read; can summarize information from different spoken and written sources, reconstructing arguments and accounts in a coherent presentation; can express themselves spontaneously, very fluently and precisely, differentiating finer shades of meaning even in the most complex situations. For more information please click on the following link CEFR. Please bear in mind in case you are invited for an interview your languages skills are going to be assessed. 

Please be aware that you will only be able to apply to vacancies for Country Based Staff roles with the British Government through this official tal.net site (operated by Oleeo). Jobs may be advertised on third party websites, however our adverts will always link back to the official tal.net site. If you complete and send an application through any other site, we will not receive it.

This opportunity is closed to applications.