View Vacancy - Market Access Adviser (CHEB21.321)

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Department for International Trade roles (DIT)
DIT

The British Embassy in Berne is part of a worldwide network, representing British political, economic and consular interests overseas. We are now looking to recruit a Market Access Adviser for the Department for International Trade (DIT).

This role will support businesses to understand the terms of trade following the UK’s departure from the EU, and make the most of trade opportunities between the UK and European countries. The successful candidate will work closely with the Trade Policy Officers, the Market Access Centre and Trade Hub, and the trade and economic teams in embassies to address enquiries and issues raised by UK businesses looking to access European markets as well as supporting the embassy in addressing questions from European business, by investigating, understanding and explaining the rules where barriers to trade are encountered, and proposing actions to remove these barriers where applicable and appropriate.

Main duties and responsibilities:

  • Answer business enquiries received directly in country or via the Market Access Centre about the terms of trade between the UK and their market, investigating the rules or procedures involved in any issue, and explaining these.

  • Work closely with the Market Access Centre, other Market Access Officers and economic teams to build knowledge about trade rules across the EU and in specific Member States/non-EU countries, and contribute to developing regional advice.

  • Identify longer-term trade barriers from enquiries, investigate potential solutions, and as appropriate escalate these to the Trade Policy Officers or Country Directors, as well as the Bilateral Relations Team in London, to include these in local and regional strategic and country plans, and work together to resolve them.

  • Monitor and report on regulatory developments and the business environment in country, scan for potential barriers to trade (e.g. through proposed or new legislation or procedures), and assess impact on UK business interests.

  • Support Trade Policy Officers, Country Directors or wider FCDO teams on market access work as required, including commercial dialogues, Ministerial visits, business outreach and engagement, as necessary, ensuring a coordinated approach across HM Government.

  • Encourage businesses where appropriate to explore further opportunities for growth working with country trade teams and the Trade Hub.

  • Support the development of market access expertise across all embassy teams.

  • Contribute to wider DIT and Embassy objectives.

There will also be tasks specific to the country position, which are at the discretion of the Country Director.

The successful candidate will need to be able to understand and interpret complex detail from EU and national laws and procedures, be a good communicator to explain these to businesses as well as to other colleagues, and enjoy working closely and collaboratively with a wider range of stakeholders in country teams, regionally and with London.

  • Fluent written and spoken English as well as either German or French (minimum level required C1 for English Language and B2 for German/French language under the CEFRL* or equivalent);

  • Relevant university degree;

  • Good understanding of the international trade and the business environment;

  • Stakeholder management skills;

  • Demonstrable analytical skills, the ability to make sense of complex information;

  • Strong written and oral communication skills, and IT capability (MS Office etc.).

  • Strategic commercial and economic awareness;

  • Some previous or relevant experience working with business;

  • Some previous or relevant experience of trade policy and market access issues;

  • Some previous experience, or interest in, working on European affairs;

  • Some relevant policy experience.

22 August 2021
Executive Officer (EO)
Full-time, Fixed term, with possibility of renewal
40
Europe, Eastern Europe & Central Asia
Switzerland
Berne
British Embassy
1
CHF
CHF 8052.00
1 October 2021

This is a full-time fixed term contract for 12 months, of 40 hours per week.

Gross monthly salary is CHF 8052.00. In addition, staff are entitled to a 13th month salary pro rata. The annual leave entitlement is 25 days per year pro rata and the Embassy also enjoys a maximum of 14 Swiss/ UK public holidays per year.

The Embassy operates flexible working patterns within an extended working day and a ‘compressed hours’ working week (closing at 13:00 Friday). Staff can expect to work a maximum of one day per week from home post-Covid. Typical hours are 09:00 – 18:00 with a compulsory paid lunch break of 45 minutes (Mon-Thurs), but staff can start earlier/later and finish earlier/later. Time off in Lieu is available in exceptional circumstances where staff are required to work beyond their contracted hours and where agreed in advance with the line manager.

FCDO is committed to continual learning and development. The Embassy will provide funding in line with L&D requirements and a variety of learning and development is provided throughout the year both directly at post and virtually through the FCDO International Academy. There will be opportunities to attend training, lectures etc. on the job.

The successful candidate will be subject to professional background and security clearance. The successful candidate must have pre-existing work authorisation for Switzerland in order to apply. All applicants should have the right to live and work in Switzerland.

Staff recruited locally by the British Embassy are subject to terms and conditions service according to Swiss employment law.

Visa/work permit requirements: Candidates must currently hold the independent right to live and work in Switzerland 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.

 

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.

The British Diplomatic Missions 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 for more information regarding the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages , 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.