View Vacancy - AUS (Canberra) - Trade Policy Officer, C4(L)

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 HMG’s prosperity agenda. DIT and the FCO are working closely together on trade policy to deliver HMG’s international trade and investment strategy, leveraging the FCO’s overseas network, to promote British trade and investment across the world.  Trade is becoming an increasingly important part of foreign policy as we prepare to leave the EU and establish the UK as an independent trading nation. Working in a joint DIT-FCO role brings together the opportunity to work on trade policy overseas, including market analysis, trade promotion and financial issues to help break down barriers to trade and investment. This is a great opportunity to be part of an international team that contributes to a high profile agenda in which Ministers are closely engaged.

The main purpose of the job is to support UK prosperity by enhancing bilateral trade and investment links between the UK and Australia.

The job holder will play a key role in shaping and delivering UK trade policy objectives in Australia as the UK prepares to leave the EU. Together with other colleagues in the High Commission’s economic diplomacy team, they will engage with a range of stakeholders in Australia and provide policy advice to a number of UK government departments, most notably the Department for International Trade. They will help to drive the newly established bilateral trade working group, which ministers have announced will explore the parameters of a possible future free trade agreement. This will include building a detailed understanding of the Australian market and working with trade and investment officers across the UK’s Australia Network to identify key challenges and opportunities for UK businesses. They will support visits by UK ministers and senior officials in both directions, have opportunities to develop and run innovative projects, and contribute to the wider work of the Australia Network.

The successful applicant will be able to demonstrate trade policy experience, strong strategic awareness, excellent written and oral communication skills, the ability to develop productive relationships and think creatively about how to achieve policy objectives, and a strong track record in delivering results.

The jobholder will need to be adaptable to emerging organisation priorities and may be called upon to assist in other portfolios as required.

Responsibilities will include:

Lead activity to prepare for and support future bilateral negotiations between UK-Australia:

• Work with ITI and external organisations to build a network of stakeholders in Australia, proactively engage with these stakeholders - collating, analysing and disseminating information to departments in the UK.
• Lead monitoring and reporting on an EU FTA with Australia and any other live negotiations between Australia and other third parties.
• Provide analysis of Australian domestic policy changes and possible impacts this may have on a future bilateral relationship with the UK.
• Lead delivery and logistics of high level Trade Working Groups and other significant bilateral committee meetings in Australia and the local Prosperity Committees.

Undertake activity that will support and build the wider UK-Australia Trade and Investment relationship:

• Lead reporting and coordination of cross Government policy and lobbying on the transfer of the air services agreement and sub-treaty arrangements (e.g.  MoUs)
• Coordinate engagement and activity with all UK prosperity stakeholders and the commercial sector to ensure key post-Brexit commercial opportunities are maximised. This will include analysing the techniques and approaches used to ensure they best support trade (and wider HMG) outcomes.
• Lead reporting to support development of future UK trade policy on general policy issues, including: rules of origin definitions, government procurement anomalies (i.e. Commonwealth v. state issues) and use of scientific and other standards; plus lead reporting and help develop future engagement strategy on sector policy issues for: health, education, digital trade and migration (mode 4, working holiday makers and work permits).

This is a full time role that may be based in Canberra, Melbourne or Sydney.

• Demonstrated trade policy experience, possibly with a degree in trade policy, economics or a related subject, or equivalent expertise acquired through work experience
• Good understanding of Australian trade policy and the ability to explain complex trade issues to non experts
• Familiarity with recent developments in Australian domestic and international economic and trade policy