View Vacancy - Market Access and Trade Policy Lead, Grade-G7, Karachi

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)

Note: All applicants are required to mandatorily fill the complete online application form including the employment and educational details, experience-based segment and the behaviours and technical/ professional skills-based questions. We will be thoroughly reviewing the application forms only for all the required details. Forms that are incomplete in any respect will not be considered while shortlisting for the next stage.’

Main purpose of job:

The Market Access and Trade Policy Lead will focus on increasing UK trade by taking a strategic approach to tackling market access barriers to the benefit of UK businesses, primarily in Pakistan, followed by Jordan, Iran, Iraq and, Lebanon.

Market Access barriers (MABs) are individual tariff barriers, non-tariff barriers and overseas direct investment restrictions which impede the ability of UK businesses to trade and invest in global markets effectively. This work has the potential to add billions of pounds to the economy and is integral to HMG objectives to increase UK economic.

A key aspect of the Market Access role is to ensure the Department’s approach to tackling market access barriers is understood and supported, enabling insights to inform a global view of MABs, and bolstering the success of market openings translating to business wins. 

Roles and responsibilities / what will the jobholder be expected to achieve?:

  • The job holder will be required to work closely with the overseas network, DIT trade policy, promotion and bilateral trade relationships teams, and other government departments (FCDO, Defra, HMRC, Intellectual Property Office UK etc.)
  • Building strong links with industry representatives to inform market access priorities, taking a holistic approach in light of wider HMG priorities. Develop approaches for resolving barriers and appropriate channels for promoting export opportunities arising from barrier resolution. Devise and implement stakeholder engagement plans with key stakeholders in the public and private sector. 
  • To test the prioritisation of barriers (by value, resolvability, and strategic impact), to identify new barriers, to identify opportunities for industry to support resolution and to ensure that industry can take advantage of export opportunities from recently resolved barriers.
  • Generate key insights and opportunities in the healthcare, education, renewable and infrastructure sectors (with scope to expand this remit) for UK companies to gain a competitive advantage. Have expert knowledge of market access to support engagement with business, guidance on regulatory support and other stakeholders including views on the most significant barriers. 
  • Regularly present market access work to internal and external audiences. This will require strong spoken and written communication and presentation skills. Support central briefings related to market access (PQs, briefing for Ministers, etc), maintaining effective core lines on market access, being a key contact point for briefing teams.
  • Coordinate between Department for International Trade and Pakistan Ministries of Commerce and Finance and the State Bank of Pakistan.
  • Integral member of the UK Pakistan Trade Dialogue working group to streamline Pakistan’s regulatory environment to ensure transparent and high governance standards are being adhered to.
  • Increase overall impact by determining opportunities through strategic analysis of country plans for accurate organisation of team focus. Analyse opportunities through execution of forward looking market access strategy to enhance bilateral trade within region and deliver informative technical policy advice to network.
  • Develop and maintain collaborative relationships with business facing teams in DIT, other Departments and Posts related to this work. 
  • Facilitate market access activities by determining opportunities for development and delivery of cross-HMG funding and develop projects (Trade policy reports, creating UKEF awareness, organising webinars/seminars etc.)
  • Manage/oversee market access assets, budgets, corporate affairs across the wider MEAP geographic region.
  • Ensure HQ and regional commissions are turned around in the allocated time frames.
  • Must have a reasonable understanding of the political, economic and security environment.
  • Leadership and mentoring :
    • focus on up-skilling teams including providing strategic direction to boost team’s performance on MABs leading to Export wins.
    • Guide and advise trade promotion teams on every aspect of trade promotion and policy.
    • Share trade promotion development expertise to turn opportunities to export wins.
    • Take on corporate roles and responsibilities.
    • Sharing best practice and know-how across markets and support countries with limited market access and trade policy resource by navigating market access operations through non-GCC part of MEAP region.

Resources managed (staff and expenditure):

  • Expectation of some budget management experience to prepare bids for expenditure and manage the budget requirements for events, conferences and personal travel – within strict financial and accounting policies.
  • A self- starter with excellent communication skills in English, both verbal and written. Able to express ideas and messages clearly and concisely and ability to write to a high standard for a wide range of audiences.
  • A good knowledge of economic and/or trade policy, including relevant higher education qualification/degree.
  • Existing knowledge of the UK and Pakistan economy, with demonstrated ability to rapidly master a wide range of economic and trade issues.
  • Excellent interpersonal skills, with confidence to work on their own initiative and a proven ability to engage and influence at a senior level internally and with external contacts, and collaborate effectively across mission teams.
  • Excellent organisational skills to respond effectively to tight – and changing – deadlines and priorities. Exceptional analysis skills, able to bring together complex pieces of information and present in a simple format.
  • Minimum 3 years of relevant experience.

Language requirements:

Language:  English (essential)

Level of language required:  English – Fluent, with ability to write to a high standard  

The ideal applicant is likely to have held a position with significant responsibility in either the public or private sector in the UK or Pakistan.



Seeing the Big Picture, Delivering at Pace, Leadership, Communicating and Influencing
25 June 2023
Grade 7 (G7)
Fixed Term, Full-time
41
12 months
South Asia & Afghanistan
Pakistan
Karachi
British Deputy High Commission
1
PKR
PKR 552,090 per month
1 July 2023

For British High Commission candidates, the Country Based Staff BHC Terms & Conditions will apply.

For other than BHC Candidates salary will be all-inclusive of PKR 552,090 per month.  

The BHC is recognised as a good employer, with a robust, fair and transparent performance management & appraisal system linked to increments and staff bonuses. We have a 5-day working week, plus annual leave, public holidays, maternity leave provision, special leave, paid sick leave provision; ample development opportunities, travel opportunities, a good organisational culture, and excellent work/life balance. 

Around half of our work forces are women.  We treat people with respect and equality and have a policy of zero tolerance for any form of discrimination, bullying, or harassment. 

This is a good opportunity to be part of a strong, diverse team, working in the biggest network that FCDO has anywhere across the globe. We are aiming to make it the best.

Note: All applicants are required to mandatorily fill the complete online application form including the employment and educational details, experience segment and the behaviour-based questions. We will be thoroughly reviewing the application forms only for all the required details. Forms that are incomplete in any respect will not be considered while shortlisting for the next stage.

To Apply: 

Please note applications without (a) and (b) will not be considered.

A.    Complete the Online Application Form

B.    Complete the Experience, Professional Skills and Behaviour based Segments in the Online Application Form

Internal candidates applying for this position need to upload their appraisal forms for the previous 2 years (if applicable) and also inform their current line managers, else the applications will not be considered.

We will accept only online applications by 25th June 2023 (latest by 23:55 hours PKT).

Please note that all the applicants will be required to strictly adhere to the security guidelines for British High Commission.

Employees who are not liable to pay local income tax on their Mission salary may have their salaries reduced by the equivalent local income tax amount. 

Applicants who do not have the required qualification & experience should kindly abstain from applying, as their applications will not be considered.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted, and no telephone enquires will be dealt with. Appointable candidates who were unsuccessful may be placed on a ‘reserve list’.  If during the reserve period of 6 months the same or a largely similar role becomes available, that role may be offered to the second or subsequent candidate.

The appointment will be subject to Police Verification and other checks including references, medical, educational and professional.

We welcome all applications irrespective of age, race, colour, gender, disability, sexual orientation, religion, belief or creed. We are also open to applications from people who want to work flexibly.

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.