View Vacancy - Deputy Head of Economic Diplomacy, British Embassy Bogotá

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.
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Policy & Political roles)
Economic and Prosperity

Main purpose of job:

To be the deputy team leader of the 13-strong Economic Diplomacy team, with strategic oversight of all strands of the UK’s engagement with Colombia across the economic agenda, including direct supervision of economic, business environment, trade policy, global issues and science and innovation work.  To supervise climate change and energy work when the team leader is away.

Economic Diplomacy is one of the three strategic priorities of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (UK Ministry of Foreign Affairs). Our primary objectives are:

  • To support Colombian efforts to deliver economic reforms and sustainable growth, strong economic governance, and to remove barriers to growth.
  • To boost free trade, tackle global economic challenges and strengthen the rules-based international economic system.
  • To use economic levers to improve the UK Government’s foreign policy outcomes and UK business opportunities.
  • To support the work of the cross-Government International Climate Fund (ICF), Prosperity Fund (PF)  and other embassy programmes to achieve sustainable impact on poverty reduction in Colombia and benefits to UK business.

What will the jobholder be expected to achieve?

To develop and maintain strategic links with key Colombian ministries and other relevant influencers (e.g. Congress, businesses, academia) in order to strengthen economic relations between the UK and Colombia.

To deliver the Economic Diplomacy elements of the Country Business Plan and Regional Trade Plan, ensuring that the team’s programme spend is leveraged effectively to achieve the Post’s prosperity and commercial objectives.  Specifically, to supervise the team’s Economic, Trade Policy, Market Access, Global Issues and Science & Innovation work.  This includes, but is not limited to: political lobbying; project work and the provision of UK technical expertise; ensuring the team delivers regular, high quality reporting; advice on the Pacific Alliance and Colombia’s OECD accession; supporting continuity of the UK-Colombia trade relationship post-Brexit; helping overcome market access issues facing UK companies in Colombia, strategic oversight of delivery of the £30m Newton-Caldas Fund to promote science and research collaboration. 

To lead on coordination with the Prosperity, Political and International trade teams to maximise attendant opportunities for UK companies (secondary benefits) from Embassy-wide programme spend, representing the team on the Embassy’s Economic Horizons Board and Programme Board.

To play an active role in the Post Management Board and Programme Board, ensuring the Embassy delivers the highest standards of financial, programme and people management.

Deputising for the head of team, including where necessary leading on Ministerial or other VIP visits.  

Team and Personal Learning and Development:

Responsibility for building and implementing a team learning & development strategy, identifying and leveraging opportunities to improve existing skills and/or develop new ones.

Other tasks as required by Embassy senior management. 

Resources managed (staff and expenditure):

  • Line Manager for 1 x C4 and 2 x B3; Countersigning Officer for 3 x A2 and 1 x A1, including two staff based in Medellin and Baranquilla.  NB the precise configuration may vary as the team structure develops. 
  • Supervision of team travel and official entertainment budgets.  
  • Possible responsibility for certain programme funds (to be confirmed).

Language requirements:

English and Spanish.  Spoken and written to an advanced level in both languages.

Essential on arrival:

  • Batchelor’s or Master’s Degree, and/or relevant experience.
  • At least 4 years of experience engaging successfully with Colombian and international governments, private sector and nongovernmental organisations to achieve results, and lobbying or influencing the development of public policy.
  • Able to demonstrate strong leadership, interpersonal, communication and relationship skills.
  • Solid knowledge of Colombian economic, science and climate policies and related institutional frameworks.
  • Ability to develop and work through a strong network of national and international stakeholders.
  • Strong judgement and confidence to take decisions without direct supervision, and working effectively in a team environment.
  • Experienced user of MS Office.
  • Experience working on international economic, science or climate issues.
  • Experience working with Congress and relevant network.
  • Knowledge of rules-based international systems, structural reform and market access issues.
  • Experience working with or in the UK.
  • A proven ability to understand and effectively communicate technical issues in written English to a wide UK audience
  • Budget and programme management experience.
28 January 2019
Senior Executive Officer (SEO)
Full-time, Fixed term, with possibility of renewal
35
Latin America and Spanish speaking Caribbean
Colombia
Bogota
British Embassy
1
COP
10,748,517 (plus benefits defined by Colombian law), subject to experience and qualifications, possible renewal after six months at the same salary
18 March 2019

Learning and development opportunities:

The Embassy offers a wide range of learning and development opportunities throughout the year.

Working patterns:

The Embassy encourages flexible working and welcomes requests for flexible working arrangements.

Other information:

The jobholder must be prepared to undertake work-related national and occasional international travel, including for  learning & development purposes. 

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.