View Vacancy - DXB - Senior Trade Policy and Market Access Officer C5(L)

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)
Market Access, Trade Policy

The British Embassy Dubai has a vacancy for a Senior Trade Policy and Market Access Officer under the Department for International Trade (DIT) for a fixed-term contract of two (2) years.

This is an exciting and challenging opportunity in a growing area of DIT work focused on trade policy. The position requires flexibility and enthusiasm to understand UK priorities and work in a wide range of areas, from details of economic regulation to bigger picture overviews of economic trends in the UAE.

One of the UK’s foreign policy objectives is to help build the UK’s prosperity by increasing exports and investment, opening markets, ensuring access to resources, and promoting sustainable growth. The successful candidate for this position will help lead the British Embassy’s work in the UAE in support of this agenda, with particular responsibility for government-to-government liaison to build a strong partnership to address barriers to trade. This will include a focus on, but not limited, to trade policy, regulation, economic reform, and drivers of economic growth including skills and innovation.

The jobholder will also be the Deputy for the region, reporting to the Head of Trade Policy and Market Access based in Saudi Arabia and will contribute to cross-team working with other British Embassies across the GCC. 

 

Duties and responsibilities:

This position is embedded within the DIT’s UAE country team, working across the Post (Embassy) and the region, working in the following areas:

  • Use research and analysis skills, including building an effective network of local contacts, to understand where UK companies may face market access or other challenges in the UAE market; and the tools, including cooperation on regulatory best practice and UK standards, which may be used to address these. The jobholder will work closely with existing DIT Sector Leads on market access issues they have identified and lead on taking forward the issues and continuing to communicate any changes or gains made.
  • Engage businesses and other stakeholders whilst working closely with colleagues across the DIT network (such as Analysis and Policy colleagues in London) to prioritise these barriers based on their economic value, resolvability, and strategic importance to the UK.
  • Work with UAE government departments and other public sector bodies and their UK counterparts on all aspects of market access. As required, help facilitate formal government-to-government (G2G) agreements and arrangements to address challenges and realise opportunities.
  • Produce succinct reports, including for senior staff at the Embassy, visiting ministers and officials, and UK government departments relating to these issues. Identifying key market access and trade policy issues and suggesting solutions on how to work with the UAE authorities and wider HMG (Her Majesty’s Government) on addressing them.
  • Help arrange UK-UAE visits in both directions in support of the above activities.
  • Acting as project manager as required for specific projects. The jobholder will also be required to take on corporate activity across the Post.
  • Work with colleagues in other Posts/ Embassies in the GCC and with teams in DIT’s UK headquarters, as part of the UK’s trade policy agenda in the region, sharing knowledge and best practice, and cooperating where required on specific projects.

The above list is not exhaustive and the jobholder will be required to be flexible and take on other ad hoc tasks as required, including participating in the Embassy’s emergency planning and any response to a crisis. 

 

Key competencies required:

  • Leading and Communicating - Showing our pride and passion for public service, leading from the front and communicating with clarity, conviction, integrity, and enthusiasm. Being visible, establishing a strong direction and a persuasive future vision; managing and engaging with people in a straightforward, truthful and candid way, and upholding the reputation of the organisation.
  • Collaborating and Partnering - Being a team player who creates and maintains positive, professional, and trusting working relationships with a wide range of people within and outside the organisation to help get business done. Working collaboratively, sharing information appropriately and building supportive, responsive relationships with colleagues and stakeholders, whilst having the confidence to challenge assumptions. Being approachable, delivering business objectives through creating an inclusive environment, encouraging collaboration, building effective partnerships including relationships with Ministers and welcoming challenge however uncomfortable.
  • Delivering at Pace - Focusing on delivering timely performance with energy and taking responsibility and accountability for quality outcomes. Working to agreed goals and activities and dealing with challenges in a responsive and constructive way. Building a performance culture where staff are given space, authority, and support to deliver outcomes; and keeping a firm focus on priorities and addressing performance issues resolutely, fairly, and promptly.
  • Seeing the Big Picture - Having an in-depth understanding and knowledge of how your role fits with and supports organisational objectives and the wider public needs. Focusing your contribution on the activities which will meet organisational goals and deliver the greatest value. Scanning the political context and taking account of wider impacts to develop long-term implementation strategies that maximise opportunities to add value and support economic, sustainable growth.
  • Existing knowledge of the UK or UAE economy, and ideally both, with demonstrated ability rapidly to master a wide range of economic and trade issues.
  • Good knowledge of economic and/or trade policy from working in a related role, including relevant higher education qualification.
  • Excellent communication skills in English, both verbal and written. Able to express ideas and messages clearly and concisely and ability to write to a high standard for a wide range of audiences.
  • Excellent interpersonal skills, with confidence to work on their own initiative and a proven ability to engage and influence at a senior level internally and with external contacts, and collaborate effective across Embassy teams.
  • Have a proven record of organisational ability. Ability to prioritise own workload and meet deadlines, without compromising the quality of the work.
  • Strong IT skills and literacy in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams). 
  • Have held a relevant position with significant responsibility in either the public or private sector in the UK or the Gulf region.
  • Experience working in an embassy/ foreign diplomatic mission, international organisation, or large company in a similar capacity.
  • Knowledge and experience of living and working in the Middle East.
  • Project management experience.
  • Arabic language skills, both verbal and written.
6 December 2020
Senior Executive Officer (SEO)
Fixed Term, Full-time
38
24 months
Middle East & North Africa
United Arab Emirates
Dubai
British Embassy
1
AED
29,016
1 February 2021

The Embassy aims to offer an attractive working environment and remuneration package for this role, including: 25 days of leave per annum; on-site swimming pool, gym, and sports facilities (subject to COVID-19 restrictions).

Salary is at AED 29,016 per month.

There are no other allowances payable as part of this package. No accommodation and relocation expenses are payable in connection with this position.

Conditioned working hours are 38 hours per week. Standard working hours are from 07:30 to 15:06, including a lunch break of 36 minutes, from Sunday to Thursday.

The jobholder will be required to be flexible in their approach to hours worked as these will be dictated by operational needs and may involve working outside of normal office hours (evenings/ weekends). Flexible working arrangements may be considered based on operational requirements and agreement with the line manager, and in line with FCDO and Embassy policies.

The successful candidate will be required to transfer their visa under the Embassy's sponsorship.

How to apply:

Interested candidates must attach 1) an updated Curriculum Vitae (CV) and 2) a covering letter/ Motivation Essay of no more than 500 words stating how you meet the requirements of the role.

Your application must also include examples of when you have demonstrated the required competencies in the Competence-Based Questions section of the online application form.

Applications that do not include these information will not be considered.

Closing date for applications is at 23:55 (local time) on 06 December 2020.

Applications received after the stated deadline will not be considered.


Process:

The recruitment process, including security clearance, is expected to take around two months. You may experience some delay in the progress of this recruitment campaign, and we are working hard to minimise any disruption.

Due to the large number of applications we receive, only those shortlisted for the next step of the recruitment process will be contacted. Interviews will be done remotely if the existing situation determines this to be the right course of action.

The start date mentioned in the job advert is a tentative start date and the successful candidate will be required to undergo security vetting procedures. Any offer of employment will be subject to the candidate achieving suitable clearances. 

 

The British Embassy Dubai is an equal opportunities employer, dedicated to inclusivity, a diverse workforce and valuing difference.

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.