View Vacancy - Senior Trade Advisor - Defence, Security & Tech (NLD21.392)

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)
DIT

Due to COVID-19, you may experience some delay in the progress of this recruitment campaign. We are working hard to minimise any disruption. You may find more information in the Additional Information section below.

The British Embassy, based in The Hague, is part of a worldwide network of 230 Diplomatic Posts, representing British political, economic and consular interests overseas. We are looking for a (Senior) Trade Advisor based at the Embassy to join the Department for International Trade (DIT) team.  

 Working for the Department for International Trade, you will contribute to the UK’s prosperity and strengthen the UK-NL trade relationship by actively supporting UK exporters and connecting them to Dutch clients. You will drive the development of UK trade in the Netherlands in three assigned sectors, working on export promotion campaigns with colleagues across the UK and other European markets. The job holder will seek to expand networks of commercial partners, looking to uncover the next market opportunities for UK business. The Trade team works to agreed targets across a range of sectors, including Life Sciences, Advanced Manufacturing, Food and Drink, Renewable Energy, Digital Economy and Financial Services. This position will primarily focus on the promotion of Defence, Security and Technology.

This is a challenging and varied role and presents an excellent opportunity for an ambitious and commercially driven professional with excellent account management skills and commercial drive.  Applicants should ideally be able to start as soon as possible.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

  • Ensure up to date knowledge of key players and developments in assigned sectors; preparing market briefings and industry notes to share with internal and external stakeholders.  
  • Providing professional advice and support to UK companies wishing to develop business in The Netherlands; handling enquiries from businesses and conducting bespoke market research.
  • Develop and deliver marketing and business development activities, highlighting the strengths of the UK’s sector propositions such as (virtual) network events, trade missions and social media activities.
  • Establish strong relationships with stakeholders in the assigned sectors, including commercial partners, business and trade associations and government institutions, both in The Netherlands and in the UK.
  • Full professional proficiency in English, including excellent writing skills (written and spoken, minimum of C1 level for CEFR framework*);
  • Independent user in Dutch (minimum of C1 level for CEFR framework*);
  • Bachelor degree, Business/Economics or applicable subject
  • Proven IT skills, including capabilities in digital project management and MS Office (Word, PowerPoint and Excel);
  • Formal qualifications and/or experience in business/economics/finance or marketing in an international setting.
  • Good project management, including an eye for detail, to ensure that all aspects of service delivery are thought through carefully;
  • Excellent communication skills to work well with commercial clients, external contacts and a wide and diverse Europe team;
  • Customer focus: a concern for quality and drive for continuous improvement in the service provided;
  • Resourcefulness and ability to act on own initiative, with an ability to find creative solutions;
  • Experience in a customer facing role
  • An understanding of the UK and Dutch business environments
  • Commercial experience in one of the following sectors: Defence, Security and/or Technology
  • Practical experience with organising events
28 September 2021
Executive Officer (EO)
Fixed term, with possibility of renewal
36
Europe, Eastern Europe & Central Asia
Netherlands
The Hague
British Embassy
1
EUR
€3,855.50
1 November 2021

The successful candidate will initially be offered a time of employment contract at B3 level. The base salary for this position is € €3,855.50 gross per month, based on a working week of 36 hours. In addition, an 8% holiday bonus and a monthly working from home allowance are payable. Actual commuter travel expenses up to a limit or a monthly set travel  allowance  for commuter costs are payable depending on the role and how often office work is needed. The Embassy currently applies a performance based bonus pay model for local staff.   

Applicants must be legally entitled to work in The Netherlands.  

The successful candidate will undergo a professional background check; Any job offer is also provisional to a successful security clearance check. 

The Embassy encourages a culture of continuous learning.  All employees have access to the Civil Service Learning platform which gives access to training to improve job specific skills. Employees are entitled to a minimum number of annual training days.  

The British Embassy promotes and demonstrates the key values of Professionalism, Respect and Honesty.  

The  job description is subject to changes and may evolve over time and in response to changing circumstances.  The role exists as part of a team and all staff are expected to be flexible in supporting colleagues, particularly at busy times. 

Under the terms of the UK/NL Double Taxation Convention (Article 18 1(b)(ii),  UK nationals who move to The Netherlands to take up their new role at the Embassy/Consulate and UKB spouse who start working at the Embassy with no previous record of working in the Netherlands since the arrival of the UKB partner they accompany,  will be placed on a tax abated salary if deemed to be eligible for Dutch income tax exemption on their salary. 

Qualifying staff will have no Dutch income tax levied on their salary and will therefore be paid an abated salary reduced  by the applicable  tax they would have had to pay if that local liability had existed. A tax abated salary ensures a fair and comparable take home pay. 

Staff on tax abated salaries cannot claim tax benefits in The Netherlands but they are fully and comprehensively covered for social security and deemed to be resident local staff for all intents and purposes.

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.

Please be advised that 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 on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, Teaching, Assessment  levels  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.

Information due to COVID-19:

  • You may experience some delay in the progress of this recruitment campaign and we are working hard to minimise any disruption;
  • Interviews will be done remotely if the existing situation determines this to be the right course of action;
  • Starting date may be delayed depending on circumstances at the time and it will be agreed with the selected candidate.

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.