View Vacancy - Economic Diplomacy Officer

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.
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Policy & Political roles)
Economic and Prosperity

Economic Diplomacy is one of the three strategic priorities of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (UK Ministry of Foreign Affairs).

Our primary objectives are to:

  • Deliver economic reforms and sustainable growth, strong economic governance and remove barriers to growth.
  • Boost free trade, tackle global economic challenges and strengthen the rules based international economic system.
  • Use economic levers to improve our Government’s foreign policy outcomes and British business opportunities.
  • Support the work of the cross-Government Prosperity Fund to development impact in Colombia and benefits to UK business.

Roles and responsibilities:

To achieve the UK’s economic and commercial diplomacy, and trade policy objectives in Colombia by working to deliver:  

- Economic Reform and Sustainable Growth:

  • Influence economic policy making in Colombia to achieve a more transparent, strong, rules-based international economic system and better regulation, through political lobbying, project work and the provision of UK technical expertise.
  • Report on and provide advice regarding the UK’s role as an observer to the Pacific Alliance.
  • Report and provide advice on decisions regarding Colombia’s accession to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
  • Work alongside Prosperity Fund colleagues to provide policy support to enable programme activities to maximise their impact and deliver benefits to UK business.

- Trade Policy & Market Access:

  • Support the trade dialogue between Colombia and the UK to ensure the continuity of the trade relationship post-Brexit.
  • Help UK companies win new business by working with Department of International Trade (DIT), and UK Colombia Trade (UKCT) colleagues to identify and act on existing and anticipated market access issues and constraints facing UK companies in Colombia.
  • Influence Colombian trade policy formulation to drive greater competition, support more open markets and ensure compliance with international agreements.  

 

- Economic Issues:

  • Lead on economic issues within the British Embassy
  • Lead on the analysis and reporting of economic developments in Colombia (and the region as relevant), identifying key influencing factors and implications for UK policy in Colombia.
  • Produce a monthly economic report, highlighting key economic developments of interest to internal stakeholders. 
  • Develop and maintain a high level network of contacts to ensure the Embassy has access to key economic decision-makers in Colombia.
  • Contribute to briefings for senior Embassy staff, Ministers and high level visitors.
  • Provide expert advice to inform the Embassy’s strategy for economic engagement with Colombia. 

- Personal Learning and Development:


  • Actively participate in meetings and briefings of relevance to the role.
  • Identify and attend opportunities to improve existing skills and/or develop new ones.
  • Fulfil requirements of performance appraisal process, including setting a career development plan.

 

- Administration:

  • The jobholder will be expected to manage his or her own administrative tasks.

- Corporate:

  • Play an active part in the corporate life of the Embassy, including where relevant as a member of Embassy committees, to maximise the overall well-being of staff.

- Perform other tasks as requested by the Economic Diplomacy Counsellor. 

  • Project management: the jobholder may be required to design bids for internal project funding and ensure effective implementation of approved small projects to support the achievement of policy objectives.
  • Spoken and written proficency in English and Spanish to an advanced level in both languages.
  • Bachelor’s Degree in Economics.
  • At least 3 years of relevant professional experience. Some experience related to engaging successfully with Colombian and international governments, private sector and nongovernmental organisations to achieve results, and lobbying or influencing the development of public policy.
  • Able to demonstrate strong interpersonal, communication and relationship skills.
  • Solid knowledge of Colombian economic policies and institutional frameworks.
  • An ability to work through a strong network of national and international stakeholders.
  • Strong judgement and confident taking decisions without direct supervision.  
  • Experienced user of MS Office. 
  • Master’s Degree in Economics / International Relations.
  • Experience of working on international economic issues.
  • Knowledge of rules based international economic systems, structural reform and market access issues.
  • Experience of working with or in the UK.   
  • A proven ability to understand and communicate technical issues to a wider audience.
21 November 2017
Executive Officer (EO)
Full-time, Permanent
35
Latin America and Spanish speaking Caribbean
Colombia
Bogota
British Embassy
1
COP
5,269,308
3 January 2017
  • 35 working hours a week from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm Monday to Thursday and 8:30 am to 1:30 pm on Fridays.
  • 14 public holidays per year.
  • 15 days annual leave plus 4 compensatory days pro-rata on first year.
  • 15 days salary in December pay and 15 days salary in June pay (pro rata in first year).
  • The British Embassy is committed to the ongoing training and development of its staff, and training will be provided as appropriate.
  • The Embassy is committed to creating a diverse working environment, free from discrimination, where everyone is included and treated fairly, based on merit alone.
  • The Embassy offers a wide range of learning and development opportunities throughout the year.
  • The Embassy supports flexible working and requests for flexible working arrangements will be considered.

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.