View Vacancy - Senior Trade Policy Attaché - UKMis Geneva (CHEG21.079)

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UK Mission
Public Diplomacy, UKMIS (UK Mission to the United Nations)

Due to COVID-19, you may experience some delay in the progress of this recruitment campaign. We are working hard to minimise any disruption. You may find more information in the Additional Information section below.

The United Kingdom Mission to the UN & WTO in Geneva (UKMis) represents the interests and policies of the UK at many international organisations. We are currently looking for a Country-Based C4(L) Senior Trade Attaché to lead on a number of trade in agriculture issues at the WTO.

Agriculture issues comprise a key part of UK’s work at the WTO and the jobholder will act as the day-to-day lead for regular engagement on agricultural issues, including preparation, attendance and reporting for regular committees (the Committee on Agriculture, the Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary measures, and the Working Party on State Trading Enterprises). This will also include leading on issues of notification as well as bilateral engagements with relevant Members.

The new hire will be working closely with relevant departments in London to support the UK’s position in agricultural negotiations at the WTO to achieve a successful outcome in the Committee on Agriculture in Special Session, as well as helping different parts of HMG to understand the positions and concerns of other Members at the WTO better.

The role will also support the Agriculture Counsellor on broader work relating to the UK’s Goods Schedule at the WTO, including the UK’s ongoing Article XXVIII process, as well as a mix of local stakeholder engagement and other areas of work to support the broader work of the team.

Roles and responsibilities:

  • Coordinating preparations for your specific committees and to provide advice to departments in the UK about regular developments, offensive and defensive interests and broader strategy;
  • Attend the committee meetings, make interventions when required, engage with other Members and the secretariat accordingly, and lead on other obligations stemming from the meetings (e.g. notifications);
  • Develop a high level of expertise of the most important agricultural topics at the WTO, including on the various pillars of agricultural negotiations, to help achieve a successful outcome. This will involve supporting the Agriculture Counsellor in intelligence gathering, advice to ministries, and strategic development;
  • The United Kingdom’s departure from the European Union and the end of the associated transition period has also led to work related to agriculture with regards the UK’s goods schedule. The successful applicant will support the Agriculture Counsellor in working on these high-profile issues;
  • Take on corporate roles across the broader UK Mission in Geneva and to support the wider Economic Team.
  • Fluent written and spoken English  (C1 level according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages);
  • Experience working on trade policy issues, and a strong interest in trade and economic policy
  • Strong spoken and written communication skills; 
  • Excellent interpersonal and team-working skills;
  • Ability to work in a multi-cultural environment with respect for diversity;
  • Willingness to undergo a mandatory process of security clearance.
  • Experience working on trade in agriculture issues, preferably in a negotiating context;
  • Fluent written and spoken French or Spanish;
12 April 2021
Higher Executive Officer (HEO)
Full-time, Fixed term, with possibility of renewal
40
Europe, Eastern Europe & Central Asia
Switzerland
UK Mission to the Office of the United Nations, Geneva
UK Delegation
1
1 May 2021

This is a full-time fixed-term contract until 31 March 2022 with potential for renewal (to be confirmed), for 5 working days (40 hours) per week, at C4 level.

The successful candidate will be subject to professional background check, security clearance and 3 months’ probation period.

Staff recruited locally by the UK Mission for the United Nations in Geneva are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local Swiss employment law.

Please note that you must have the right to work and reside in Switzerland without visa sponsorship. (For information: EU nationals do not require visa sponsorship).

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 UK Mission will not be able to meet any cost during the Recruitment and Selection process, Security Check nor the costs connected with relocation.

Information due to COVID-19:

  • You may experience some delay in the progress of this recruitment campaign and we are working hard to minimise any disruption;
  • Interviews will be done remotely if the existing situation determines this to be the right course of action;
  • Starting date may be delayed depending on circumstances at the time and it will be agreed with the selected candidate.

*Please note for more information on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, Teaching, Assessment  levels  please click on the following link CEFR. Please bear in mind in case you are invited for an interview your language skill is 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.