View Vacancy - Senior Trade Policy Advisor, Agriculture - UK Mission Geneva (CHEG18.384)

The United Kingdom Mission to the UN & WTO in Geneva (UKMis) represents the interests and policies of the UK at many international organisations. We are currently looking for a Locally-Engaged C4 (L) senior advisor to lead on a number of trade in agriculture issues at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and other international organisations in Geneva, working closely to support the Agriculture Counsellor.

Agriculture issues comprise a key part of the WTO negotiations agenda and will require greater focus and expertise from the UK as a result of the UK’s decision to leave the EU. The regular work through the WTO Committees on Agriculture and Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) measures will also increase as the UK transitions to independent WTO membership, necessitating an even greater focus from the UK Mission.

The job-holder will assist and sometimes lead on the regular engagement with these committees, ensuring that the UK’s full range of interests are represented, while doing the same across all international institutions where such issues are discussed across Geneva.

In addition, there is a need to prepare the ground for a more active role for the UK in the wider environmental files in Geneva through the various international organisations and conventions, and the successful applicant may also have the opportunity to lead on some of this work.

Roles and Responsabilities:

The successful candidate will have two main roles: (i) monitoring and reporting on agriculture activity in the WTO and contributing to UK/EU policy development on agriculture issues, and (ii) working closely with the agriculture counsellor to ensure that, as the UK prepares to leave the EU, the UK’s WTO agriculture commitments are properly accounted for and addressed.

The jobholder will work closely with UKMis colleagues to help deliver the UK’s WTO priorities, build a network of relevant contacts and gather timely, relevant information. The job holder will cooperate closely with other Missions, the secretariats of the WTO and other organisations, business and civil society and business.

The job-holder will also need to be comfortable working with Departments across the UK Government to understand governmental priorities and influence decision-making.

Main Duties:

• Develop a strong network of internal and external stakeholders, to include the WTO Secretariat, other WTO Members and the EU Delegation, UKRep Brussels, relevant Whitehall departments and UK business and civil society.

• Work with colleagues from the Department for International Trade, Department for Environment and Rural Affairs, Department for Exiting the EU and UKRep Brussels, amongst others, to contribute to UK and EU policymaking on agriculture issues.

• Follow and report on agriculture/SPS developments at the WTO, in the negotiating group as well as in each of the committees and wider related discussions.

• Provide strategic advice on the UK’s commitments under each of the Agriculture and SPS Agreements and the implications of the UK’s exit from the EU, and lead on the WTO angle of subsequent policy development. This will involve the deployment of sensitive influencing skills with policy teams in London.

• Help to build capacity in London departments to ensure readiness for independent WTO membership though providing training and regular advice.

• Support colleagues in the Economic Team by covering other WTO-related meetings and events when necessary.

• Support and deliver ministerial and official visits to Geneva.

• Contribute to the corporate life of the Mission.

The job-holder will form part of a newly formed agricultural trade team within the Mission’s ‘Trade in Goods’ team. Although the job-holder will report directly to the Agriculture Counsellor the UK Mission has quite a flat structure and the job-holder will regularly interact directly with the Deputy Permanent Representative and Permanent Representative on important issues within their portfolio.

• Experience working on trade policy issues, and a strong interest in trade and economic policy;
• Strong spoken and written communication skills;
• Excellent interpersonal and team-working skills;
• Ability to work in a multi-cultural environment with respect for diversity;
• Fluency in English, both written and spoken.