View Vacancy - Senior Trade Policy Adviser, British Consulate General Houston

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)
Commercial Diplomacy, Political

The British Network in the US is seeking a Senior Trade Policy Advisor to join the British Consulate General in Houston.

The officer, while based at the Consulate General, would work closely with the Trade Policy Team based in the British Embassy in Washington DC. The Trade Policy Team deals with all bilateral and multilateral trade issues and works to promote the UK’s trade policy interests and inform UK policy development. The UK’s vote to leave the European Union, its development of a sovereign trade policy capability, and the likely pursuit of a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the US makes this an especially exciting time.

The successful candidate will report to the Consul General in Houston and to the Trade Policy Team in DC. The primary purpose of the role is to support the development and implementation of a strategy to build support for a strengthened UK-US trade and investment relationship (including a potential future UK-US Free Trade Agreement) across the US. The officer will be expected to travel regularly to, and build a comprehensive picture of trade policy, opinions, and opinion formers in the 7 States in their geographical region (Texas, New Mexico, Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Arizona and Utah).  You will use this knowledge to help shape the UK’s trade policy priorities, identify priority audiences, and develop tailored messaging to build support for increased UK-US trade across the US, and ultimately, successful passage of a UK-US FTA. 

The role will involve engaging directly with a wide range of stakeholders across your geographical region including state, city and local-level governments, business, business associations, and Congress.  You will work closely with the strategy co-ordinator and other members of the Trade Team based in DC as well as with policy leads in London.  You will collaborate with the dynamic and diverse team within the Consulate and across the wider network, including those covering:  trade and investment promotion, science and innovation, political affairs, energy and tech policy and communications and marketing. Working with this team, you will help prepare programmes for senior British visitors to your region, ensuring that the visits are tailored to achieve maximum positive effect for the UK’s trade policy interests.  There will also be opportunities to get involved in the wider corporate agenda in the Consulate (e.g. crisis response, learning and development).

What will the jobholder be expected to achieve?

Support the development and delivery of a strategy to build support across the US for a strengthened UK-US trade and investment relationship, including a future UK-US FTA. In your specific region you will:

  • Build an understanding of and expertise in the trade and agriculture policy debate in each of your states, Congressional Districts and cities; provide regular advice and detailed reporting to the Consuls General in Houston and Los Angeles (the latter for Utah and Arizona), Her Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for North America (HMTC), Trade Policy team in DC, other Consulate colleagues and direct to London on developments – including how the UK is seen in the context of the trade/economic debate in your region;
  • Identify key local influencers/stakeholders and develop broad, deep and effective networks of contacts (including local politicians, legislators, business and agriculture policy representatives, think tanks, media and other interest groups). Advise the Consuls General, HMTC and Ambassador on senior relationships they should build locally to help drive forwards UK trade and agriculture policy priorities (e.g. Governors, Senators, Congressmen, Mayors, senior business leaders etc.) to influence views on trade policy and the UK;
  • Understand and report on established or emerging market access barriers affecting British firms; and with other prosperity colleagues develop and deliver lobbying strategies on behalf of the UK government to address emerging trade issues;
  • Work with communications and prosperity colleagues to refine and deliver messaging that showcases the strength of the UK-US trade and investment relationship and is targeted at influential audiences;
  • Develop and deliver activities to support the UK-US strategy as part of the US Network’s Prosperity Fund;
  • Working with other Consulate colleagues, design and deliver impactful visit programmes for your Consuls General, HMTC, Ambassador, British Ministers and other senior visitors and ensure they understand the regional views on trade and how best to establish the UK as trade and investment partner of choice.
  • A minimum of 8 - 10 years relevant commercial, government or NGO experience is required.
  • A minimum of a bachelor's degree in a relevant field is required, a graduate degree is preferred. 
  • The successful candidate would ideally have detailed knowledge of some or all of the following: trade policy, economics, stakeholder engagement; Congress and the Administration; and the US legislative/regulatory process.
  • Must be a proven self-starter with the ability to work independently and as a part of a team.
  • Excellent communication skills (both written and oral) and a proven track record of translating a wide range of data and political reporting into concise briefing is essential. 
  • Attention to detail, strong judgment, problem-solving abilities and service delivery.
  • Detailed knowledge of some or all of the following: trade policy; agriculture policy; economic policy; business policy; Congress and the Administration; and the US legislative/ regulatory process.
  • Previous campaign related work would also be an advantage.
30 January 2019
Grade 7 (G7)
Full-time, Permanent
40
Americas, Caribbean & Overseas Territories
United States
Houston
British Consulate General
1
USD
82,649
25 March 2019

The British Network offers a strong benefits package.  This package includes medical, dental, vision, life, long term and short term disability insurance, a 401(k) retirement savings plan, generous vacation and leave time, and an enriching training package.

Specific learning and development opportunities: UK’s Trade Policy Foundation Course.

Under US State Department requirements, the British Network may only employ, as non-diplomatic staff, persons who are US citizens, US Green Card holders or A visa holders*. If you hold a visa other than an A visa you are not currently eligible to work at the Embassy.  Please refer to our website for information on exceptions to this policy at www.ukinusa.fco.gov.uk.  All candidates will be subject to background checks and security clearance. 

*A visas are acceptable at the Embassy and Consulates. 

This position at the British Consulate General in Houston is one of six Senior Trade Policy Officers being recruited by the British Network in the US.  Positions are also available at the British Consulates General in New York, Los Angeles, Atlanta and Chicago.  By responding to this advertisement, you are applying for the position in Houston.  To apply for any of the other positions, please apply separately to the relevant job advertisement. 

At present confirmed funding for the position runs for two years, but we envisage this role to be multi-year through the life of the influencing strategy.

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.