View Vacancy - Senior Trade and Market Access Officer (CHEB22.427)

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)
Department for International Trade (DIT)

The British Embassy in Berne is part of a world-wide network, representing British political, economic and consular interests overseas and is looking for a Senior Trade and Market Access Officer to join the Department for International Trade (DIT) team. 

The successful applicant will work in a highly experienced and motivated cross-Embassy team. This new role will see the jobholder work across both trade policy and trade promotion, supporting the progress of the UK-Swiss Free Trade Agreement whilst also introducing UK businesses to prospective market opportunities and helping to tackle market access barriers.

The Department for International Trade (DIT) promotes British trade and investment around the world; helps to build interest in British goods and services globally; and works to encourage foreign investment into the UK. DIT also brings together policy, promotion and financial expertise to break down barriers to trade & investment and to help businesses to succeed.

Roles and responsibilities:

The jobholder will take a leading role in supporting the progression of the UK-Swiss FTA through being the policy lead on chapters of the agreement (tbc exact chapters), ensuring that they quickly become an expert in the relevant Swiss negotiating positions and applicable domestic regulatory framework. This expertise will be used to advise UK negotiating teams. More widely, they will support the Market Access Adviser to support businesses in accessing the Swiss and Liechtenstein markets. 

Additionally, the jobholder will support business development into the Swiss & Liechtenstein market, working closely with the trade promotion team.  This work may be through managing key company accounts, depending on business need.  

Specifically, the successful applicant will:

  • Develop expertise in trade policy matters relevant to the UK-Swiss FTA and business opportunities in the Swiss and Liechtenstein markets;

  • Develop a sophisticated network within the Swiss government, business community and civil society to gain insight, leverage UK policy objectives and maximise commercial opportunities for UK businesses;

  • Provide support to trade policy and market access team in providing business intelligence and insight – in particular ensuring that sector views are understood by trade policy teams;

  • Provide competent support and advice to British companies wishing to enter the Swiss market with professional business products, services and advice;

  • Deliver against Department for International Trade’s Outcome Delivery Plan;

  • Collaborate with colleagues from across the UK Government, in particular the Department for International Trade, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, and the UK Science and Innovation Network;

  • Organise key events and activities which support British trade work in Switzerland & Liechtenstein including webinars, roadshows, trade missions and Ministerial visits;

  • Analyse and report sector related as well as economic developments in Switzerland & Liechtenstein;

  • Identify and report on market access barriers specific to your sector and more widely when necessary, ensuring that intelligence is fed into FTA negotiations team. 

  • Fluency at C1 level both in English and German or French (according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages*);

  • Experience of either working with businesses or in a policy making environment;

  • Knowledge and understanding of Swiss business and Government;

  • Fast learning, self-starter who can demonstrate initiative, resilience, and project management skills;

  • Good communicator, written and verbal;

  • Confident in using platforms such Office 365 and CRM;

  • A team player with a collaborative approach who can work successfully within a geography and ‘virtual team’ to achieve common objectives.

  • A second Swiss national language at C1 level (according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages*) would be advantageous;

  • Analytical skills acquired in an international market context with a consultative sales approach to achieving results;

  • Formal qualifications in business/economics/finance or equivalent relevant work experience;

  • Experienced networker with established relationships in Switzerland & Liechtenstein within at least one key industrial sector, or relevant equivalent experience in either Government, Embassy or civil society organisation;

  • An understanding of trade policy / market access barriers / trade related regulation;

  • Experience of working in an international trade promotion environment;

  • Ease in using social media channels for business purpose.

Seeing the Big Picture, Making Effective Decisions, Managing a Quality Service, Communicating and Influencing
3 October 2022
Executive Officer (EO)
Full-time, Permanent
40
Europe, Eastern Europe & Central Asia
Switzerland
Berne
British Embassy
1
CHF
8,052.40 CHF gross per month (payable 13 times per year)
1 November 2022

This is a full-time and permanent contract of 40 hours per week.

Gross monthly salary is CHF 8,052.40. 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.

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.

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

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.

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.