View Vacancy - Prosperity Officer (PRT18.423)
The British Embassy in Lisbon is part of a world-wide network, representing British political, economic and consular interests overseas and is now looking to recruit a Prosperity Officer.
Against the backdrop of the UK negotiations to leave the European Union (EU), take forward new opportunities to enhance UK-Portugal bilateral co-operation and to contribute positively to the UK’s and Portugal’s prosperity, economic and commercial agendas.
Develop an understanding of the Portuguese context, identify opportunities and organise and deliver projects that increase economic collaboration to support prosperity in UK and Portugal, on a range of priority sectors and themes including digital, financial services, energy and climate change.
Contribute to a smooth EU Exit negotiation, by providing insight into Portugal’s reaction to UK exit objectives on economic/prosperity subjects.
Reporting to the Head of Economics and Prosperity, the successful applicant will work closely with other stakeholders in the Embassy, notably in the Political/Communications team and Department for International Trade (DIT).
In more detail, main responsibilities will include:
Bilateral links
- Develop a wide range of contacts in government, business, research organisations and other economic stakeholders in the UK and Portugal to support the Embassy’s Prosperity Strategy;
- Support Ministerial and senior official visits to and from Portugal on thematic issues e.g. digital, financial, energy and climate change;
- Within the framework of the Embassy’s Prosperity Strategy, and working closely with Department for International Trade and Political and Communications teams, develop, deliver and contribute to a programme of projects, events and other activities aimed at promoting collaboration between the UK and Portugal.
Reporting
- Monitor and respond to developments in economic policies and programmes in Portugal, on digital, financial services, energy and climate change and other priority sectors. Provide timely and concise reports on key developments to UK government departments and other stakeholders;
- Maintain key contacts in Portugal informed of major UK economic policy initiatives in the areas above.
Influence
- In the context of Brexit, understand and interpret Portuguese positions in areas of digital, financial services, energy and climate change and other economic dossiers;
- Ensure key UK government departments and other stakeholders have the necessary knowledge to engage and influence negotiations on EU exit and Future Economic Partnership, notably on digital, financial services and energy and climate change.
Corporate Responsibility
- Support the wider work in the Embassy including providing surge capacity and engaging in corporate activities.
- University degree, preferably in an economic field or with a strong economic component;
- Strong knowledge of Portuguese economics and politics;
- Ability to build relationships with government institutions and other key stakeholders.
- Ability to maintain and develop a range of contacts to build effective working relationships and networks and links to civil society;
- Ability to work independently, and as part of a team;
- Strong interpersonal skills and ability to build a network of contacts;
- Ability to absorb and understand the detail of sometimes complex and fast moving economic and prosperity dossiers;
- Excellent communication skills in both English and Portuguese.
- Good knowledge in some or all of these priority sectors: digital economy, financial services, energy/climate change;
- Creativity and ability to see the big picture and spot opportunities;
- Strong intercultural skills;
- Good IT skills;
- Flexibility to travel domestically, and in Europe.
This is a full-time position (35 hours net per week), on a 1 year + 1 year fixed-term contract (if possible), subject to a 30 days probation period.
The British Embassy in Lisbon aims to offer an attractive working environment and remuneration package for this role of € 27,861.82 per year gross annual salary paid in fourteen instalments, provided that the individual in question is subject to individual income tax (IRS) in Portugal on the employment income in question or, alternatively, is subject to income tax on such income in the UK; plus a monthly meal allowance of 134.00 Euros.
All staff recruited locally by the British Embassy in Portugal are subject to local Portuguese employment law as well as internal regulations in force at any given time.
The successful candidate will be subject to a professional background and security clearance and must have pre-existing work authorisation for Portugal in order to apply.
All applicants should have the right to live and work in Portugal. The British Embassy does not sponsor work permits.
The Embassy will not consider applications from existing staff who have not successfully completed their probation period or, in the case of staff on temporary contract who have not yet completed two thirds of their contract.
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.
Please be advised that 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.
This opportunity is closed to applications.
