View Vacancy - Trade Policy Manager, Carribean

Main purpose of job:

Trade and investment is at the centre of the British government’s foreign policy. Following the UK’s departure from the European Union, implementing new trade agreements and strengthening existing trade relationships are a top priority as they have potential to open and expand markets for British products and services while providing new opportunities for our partners. The CARIFORUM countries of the Caribbean (Antigua & Barbuda, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, the Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, St Kitts & Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent & the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago) are already important political and economic partners for the UK; there is real potential to deepen and diversify our trade and investment relationship over the coming years.

We are looking for an individual with good experience to support implementation of the new UK-CARIFORUM Economic Partnership Agreement (which will take effect on 1 January 2021) and support on trade policy and market access work of the UK Government in the Caribbean region. Lead on discrete projects as required. The role will work in close conjunction with local, regional and London-based trade policy teams.

The jobholder will work closely with the Regional Trade Policy Lead and with the London Agreement Manager to develop a delivery plan for implementing the UK-CARIFORUM EPA. In addition, they will work with regional and London colleagues to identify market access barriers and regulatory issues affecting bilateral and regional trade between the UK and the Caribbean, and to develop strategies to address them. They will also monitor and report on the local trade policy environment and context, and support upskilling of trade policy and market access capability within British High Commissions in the Caribbean. The jobholder will also engage with the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID) given the focus of the UK-CARIFORUM EPA on economic development cooperation between the UK and the region.

The successful applicant will be based in Barbados and report to the DIT Regional Director. There will be a need for travel to other British Posts across the Caribbean and to the wider LATAC region.

This is an exciting time to join the Department for International Trade (DIT) and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) in a new role created in recognition of trade policy’s significance to the UK Government’s prosperity and international development agenda. DIT, the FCO and DFID are working closely together on trade policy to deliver HMG’s international trade and investment strategy, leveraging the FCO’s overseas network, and DFID’s Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) to promote trade and investment across the world – benefitting both the UK and our partners. This is a great opportunity to be part of an international team that contributes to a high profile agenda in which UK Ministers are closely engaged.

Roles and responsibilities:

• Supporting the Regional Trade Policy lead and London Agreement Manager in planning and overseeing the delivery of the new UK-CARIFORUM EPA.

• Working with regional and London colleagues to coordinate UK market access work across the fifteen CARIFORUM states, supporting existing DIT teams in the eastern Caribbean, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana, and leading work with other British missions in the region. This involves ensuring common obstacles to UK firms are tackled (collectively where possible), while identifying linkages with other bilateral and plurilateral trade issues.

• Working with regional and bilateral colleagues to understand and develop the UK’s trade policy approach towards the Caribbean, identifying and developing proposals for deeper engagement.

They will be responsible for the following areas of work (subject to change):

1. UK-CARIFORUM EPA (50%)

• Support the implementation of the UK-CARIFORUM EPA, working with the London Agreement Manager and Regional Lead in developing a delivery plan for implementation, providing input into briefings for the committee and sub-committee meetings (including Identifying barriers that could be addressed through these fora), and coordinating the necessary programmes and logistical arrangements (attending and participating in meetings alongside London and regional colleagues).
• Operating as the Caribbean liaison point with key interlocutors across LATAC and Departments in Whitehall (London), helping them to understand the trade policy environment by following policy and legislative changes, including from the point of view of EPA compliance. Along with colleagues in DIT Caribbean, DFID, and British Missions in the Caribbean, your key contacts will be the joint DFID/DIT Trade for Development Team in London and DIT Regional Trade Policy Network in LATAC.

2. Market Access - Strategy Development (30%)

• Investigate market access barriers affecting UK-Caribbean trade, drawing on the work of trade and economic teams across the other DIT teams in the region. Supported by DIT and FCO colleagues analyse and understand these barriers to establish their importance to UK (and Caribbean) trade, their likelihood of resolution and how they interact with the EPA.

• Prepare (joint or individual) bids for Market Access Fund projects on behalf of our British missions in the Caribbean, aimed at unlocking identified market access barriers, including through UK capacity sharing with host authorities, visits of subject matter experts, and market analysis.

3. Trade Policy reporting and upskilling (20%)

• Research, engagement and reporting on the Caribbean trade policy environment and local context, providing advice on regional and bilateral trade policy issues, and partner countries approaches to key global and multilateral trade issues – including the global economic response to covid-19 and WTO reform. .Support on reporting, analysis, briefings, presentations on trade policy and market access issues and theory and leading discrete pieces of work as required..
• Supporting regional colleagues, in the delivery of trade policy and market access capacity building within the missions across the region, as required.

• Bachelor’s Degree (or equivalent) in Trade, Public Policy, Economics, International Relations, International Business or related subjects.
  
• Relevant experience in trade policy, regulation or related fields.
• Evidence of strong interpersonal, communication and relationship management skills.
  
• Evidence of delivering positive results through collaboration and networks.
• Evidence of excellent written and spoken communication (English)