View Vacancy - IL [Maternity Cover] - Trade Policy and Market Access Advisor (HEO)

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Department for Business and Trade roles (DBT)
Department for Business and Trade (DBT)

The British Embassy in Tel Aviv is part of a world-wide network, representing British political, economic and consular interests overseas and is looking for a Trade Policy and Market Access Advisor. This is a temporary position from beginning of October, until 31st March 2025, to provide cover for maternity leave.

The Trade Policy and Market Access Advisor will lead on trade policy work at the UK’s Embassy in Israel, covering DBT’s trade relations objectives to advocate for FTA negotiations and ensure FTA implementation and utilisation once in force are both optimised, alongside removing market access barriers for UK exporters.

The Trade Policy and Market Access Advisor will work within DBT in order to strategically advise on both ongoing market access and policy issues as well as the forthcoming FTA negotiations, in order to advance the UK Government’s objectives. This includes identifying the trade policy aspects of wider economic and political issues; having a strategic overview on barriers to UK businesses; developing appropriate policy responses in conjunction with Whitehall colleagues and other partners as required; driving forward bilateral resolutions where agreed with DBT’s International Directorate, advising on FTA policy scoping work.

The successful candidate will report to the Country Director, DBT Israel.

Duties and responsibilities:

  • Provide expert and informed advice on policy aspects of the UK-Israel economic and trading relationship; including advising the Ambassador, the chief negotiator, the FTA team and wider Whitehall contacts. As well as advising HMG departments across Whitehall on the scoping and prioritisation of trade policy priorities for the forthcoming FTA negotiations.
  • Advise and prioritise where HMG should focus its resource and attention to address trade policy priorities and trade barriers. Engage businesses and other stakeholders whilst working closely with colleagues across the DBT network to prioritise these barriers based on their economic value, resolvability, and strategic importance to the UK.
  • Maintain and develop relationships with a wide range of stakeholders in both Israel and the UK, including government, industry and business, to build and maintain a network for information and influence.
  • Work with Israeli government ministries and competent authorities in order to solve ongoing market access issues and difficulties UK companies’ face when trading with Israel. Work with the Israeli government departments and other public sector bodies and their UK counterparts on all aspects of market access. As required, help facilitate formal government-to-government (G2G) agreements and arrangements to address challenges and realise opportunities. Identify, monitor, and report on key developments in Israel economic and trade policy with potential impacts on UKIL trade. Monitor legislation that may adversely affect UK companies, as well as advise on how to action this information and influence Israeli policy-makers and stakeholders.
  • Map existing and potential country-specific trade barriers/market access issues and provide ongoing advice to HMG and UK companies on import requirements that they will need to comply with in order to operate in Israel.
  • Work closely with DBT and FCDO colleagues in order to ensure a unified approach where governmental and stakeholder engagement is concerned for the upcoming FTA negotiations.
  • Lead on key Ministerial, Negotiation Team, and other senior visits from the UK on topics related to the FTA negotiations and Market Access.
  • Contribute to regional strategies to address wider regulatory and trade policy issues
  • Work closely with other teams in the Embassy (UK-Israel Tech Hub, Science and Innovation Network, Defence) to ensure a joined-up approach to UK prosperity objectives in Israel. There will also be tasks focussing on addressing market barriers within key sectors and engaging on specific trade policy issues.

The above list is not exhaustive, and the jobholder will be required to be flexible and take on other ad hoc tasks as required, including participating in the Embassy’s emergency planning and any other response to a crisis affecting UK Citizens.

Key behaviours required:

  • Seeing the Big Picture - Understand how your role fits with and supports organisational objectives. Recognise the wider Civil Service priorities and ensure work is in the national interest.
  • Working Together - Form effective partnerships and relationships with people both internally and externally, from a range of diverse backgrounds, sharing information, resources and support.
  • Communicating and Influencing - Communicate purpose and direction with clarity, integrity and enthusiasm. Respect the needs, responses and opinions of others.
  • Changing and Improving - Seek out opportunities to create effective change and suggest innovative ideas for improvement. Review ways of working, including seeking and providing feedback.
  • Excellent level of Hebrew and English with experience of working in both languages in a business environment;
  • Proven relevant policy experience in Trade and Government policy;
  • Good knowledge of economic and/or trade policy from working in a related role;
  • Demonstrable analytical skills, and the ability to make sense of complex topics and information;
  • 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;
  • 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 effective across Embassy teams;
  • Proven record of organisational ability. Ability to prioritise own workload and meet deadlines, without compromising the quality of the work. Resilience, and the ability to work under pressure on a challenging portfolio independently.
  • Stakeholder management skills;
  • Relevant higher education qualification;
  • Have held a relevant position with significant responsibility in either the public or private sector in the UK or Israel;
  • Experience working in an Embassy / foreign diplomatic mission, international organisation, or large company in a similar capacity;
  • Knowledge and experience of living and working in Israel;
  • Project management experience.
Changing and Improving, Communicating and Influencing, Seeing the Big Picture, Working Together
10 September 2024
Higher Executive Officer (HEO)
Full-time, Fixed Term
37.5
6 months
Middle East & North Africa
Israel
Tel Aviv
British Embassy
1
ILS
17,000
monthly
1 October 2024

Eligibility:

If you are selected for this position, we will be able to employ you as long as you:

  • Receive the appropriate level of security clearance; and
  • Are able to work legally in Israel.

Working hours and remuneration:

The Embassy aims to offer an attractive working environment and remuneration package for this role, including the non-negotiable salary of ILS 17,000 per month plus social benefits as required by local labour law.

No accommodation nor relocation expenses are payable in connection with this position. Parking facilities are not provided nor paid for by the Embassy.

This position is for a full-time employment, on a fixed-term contract until 31st March 2025 to cover a staff on maternity leave, subject to a 2-month probationary period.

Working hours is 37.5 per week. Normal working hours are Monday to Thursday 8:00-16:00 and Friday 8:00-13:30. Some flexibility will be expected to attend activities out of hours. This is a hybrid position, with a minimum of two days per week being worked in the office.

The jobholder will be required to be flexible in their approach to hours worked as these will be dictated by operational needs and may involve working outside of normal office hours (evenings/ weekends) during visits and to attend networking events, receptions, and seminars. Any flexible working patterns (such as combination of office and remote working) may be considered based on operational requirements and agreement with the line manager, and in line with FCDO and Embassy policies.

The role may require travel within Israel and occasional travel to DBT Posts within Europe and to the UK.

The Embassy is committed to providing a wide range of learning and development (L&D) opportunities. The Embassy invests in staff’s development with a variety of learning and development opportunities. These include regular personal and professional development opportunities available at the Embassy, including through informal events on various subjects relating to the Embassy’s work, mentoring and more formal training. This compliments the extensive professional and personal development opportunities offered by the FCDO’s International Academy and Civil Service Learning. The Embassy invests in staff’s development with a variety of learning and development opportunities.

This is an exciting policy development role at the heart of the UK Government’s agenda. The right candidate can help shape the dialogue between HMG and Israel at a pivotal point in trade relations, and candidates will gain experience of bilateral relationships and stakeholder engagement at a critical time for the UK.

How to apply:

Interested candidates must include 1) an updated Curriculum Vitae (CV) 2) motivation essay stating how you meet the requirements of the role, in the relevant sections of the online application form and 3) examples, in the relevant sections of the online application form, of how you meet the key behaviours and skills required. 

Applications that do not include this information will not be considered. 

Closing date of receiving applications is before 23:55 (Local Time) on 10 September 2024. 

Applications received after the stated deadline will not be considered. 

Internal candidates (i.e., those who are currently employed by the British Embassy Tel Aviv and British Consulate General in Jerusalem) applying for this position should consider informing their current line manager upon submission of their application. 

Process:

The recruitment process, including security clearance, is expected to take around two-three months. The security clearance process includes checks available in country and with UK, dependant on the security level required for the role and the candidates’ profile and UK footprint. You may experience some delay in the progress of this recruitment campaign, and we are working hard to minimise any disruption.

Appointable candidates who were unsuccessful at interview may be placed on a ‘reserve list’. If during the reserve period of six (6) months the same or a largely similar role becomes available, that role may be offered to the second or subsequent candidate.

The start date mentioned in the job advert is a tentative start date and the successful candidate will be required to undergo security-vetting procedures. Any offer of employment will be subject to the candidate achieving suitable clearances.

Staff recruited locally by the British Embassy are subject to terms and conditions of service according to local labour law.

 

The British Embassy Tel Aviv is an equal opportunities employer, dedicated to inclusivity, a diverse workforce and valuing difference.

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.