View Vacancy - Assistant to the Deputy Trade Commissioner for Europe and Country Director (DEU23.268)

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 Business and Trade roles (DBT)
Department for Business and Trade (DBT)

Are you interested in a career in international affairs? Where you can make a difference as part of a fast-moving, high profile and international environment? Curious about what trade relations between the UK and Germany look like in practice? Then join us at the UK’s Department for Business & Trade (DBT) in Germany!

We are looking for an Assistant to provide administrative support to the Deputy Trade Commissioner for Europe in their dual role as Country Director for the Department for Business & Trade (DBT) team in Germany.

This is a key position working at the centre of one of the Germany Network’s biggest teams, with around 40 DBT staff based at the Embassy in Berlin and the Consulates-General in Düsseldorf and Munich.

You will be responsible for the coordination of the Director’s diary as well as organisation of the Director’s programme and briefing. You will help ensure the smooth running of the DBT Germany team, including supporting team activities, projects and senior visits.

We’re looking for someone who is a team player and able to develop effective relationships with colleagues, as well as with offices of key businesses and stakeholders on behalf of DBT Germany. This position offers scope to work collaboratively with colleagues across the Embassy and the DBT International Trade network in Europe and in the UK.

 As part of the DBT team, you will have the chance to take part in our broad and varied corporate and learning and development opportunities. What we ask in return is that you bring excellent communication and time management skills, be highly organised and able to juggle competing demands in a fast-paced working environment.

About DBT

The UK’s new Department for Business and Trade brings together the business focused functions of the former Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and the Department for International Trade (DIT). Our mission is to encourage trade and investment between the UK and Germany and improve market access for businesses. This is critical to our economies, supporting millions of jobs, driving economic growth and improving living standard across the globe, whilst at the same time promoting wider goals – e.g.  improving economic security, championing diversity and inclusion in how we do business, or tackling climate change and delivering Net Zero. For more information about DBT’s objectives, see here.


Main duties and responsibilities:

  • Manage the DBT Country Director’s diary, including scheduling of all internal and external meetings and appointments;

  • Coordinate the preparation of briefing papers and presentations for the Director’s external meetings and speaking engagements, ensuring smooth coordination with other team members based across Germany and Europe;

  • Organise visit programmes and transport arrangements for the Country Director in Germany and in the UK, including VIP and senior visits;

  • Manage English and German written correspondence and telephone enquiries and provide administrative support on behalf of the Director, including arranging team meetings and video conferences;

  • Maintain the Director’s contacts database;

  • Manage the Director’s expenses and travel budget;

  • Provide administrative support to the DBT Germany team, including setting up meetings, drafting and circulating meeting agendas and recording minutes;

  • Provide general office management for the DBT team in Berlin;

  • Carry out other duties that may reasonably be required and which are in accordance with the grading and core competencies of the job.

Any other duties that may reasonably be required in support of the wider work of the Embassy, including crisis work.


  •  Fluency at C2 level in English and German, both spoken and written, according to the CEFR framework*, or equivalent;
  • Previous experience in a similar role, i.e. administration and supporting a senior leader;

  • Strong organisational skills;

  • Excellent time management and prioritisation skills;

  • The ability to respond flexibly to competing demands;

  • Expert user of applications such as Word, PowerPoint and Excel;

  • Have an interest in business, economics and/or supporting the UK-DE bilateral relationship;

  • Keen to work within an international setting and a good team player;

  • Drive and enthusiasm, combined with the ability to deliver, working as part of a team;

  • Resourcefulness and strong research skills with the ability to act on your own initiative to find creative solutions to problems;

  • Excellent communication skills to work with business contacts and a wide and diverse DIT team;

  • Happy to engage in a wide range of tasks;

Making Effective Decisions, Managing a Quality Service, Delivering at Pace, Working Together
11 June 2023
Administrative Officer (AO)
Full-time, Fixed term, with possibility of renewal
37.5
Europe, Eastern Europe & Central Asia
Germany
Berlin
British Embassy
1
EUR
4,022
17 July 2023

This is a fixed-term 2 year contract with the possibility of a permanent contract subject to performance and funding.

Our Learning & Development environment: The British Government Germany Network has a strong ethos of Learning & Development, including our Learning & Development Week. In addition, there will be many opportunities for support, including mentoring, coaching, job shadowing and secondments and dedicated L& D days. This is in addition to the induction programme offered to all staff.

The successful applicant will be encouraged to be actively involved in the corporate life of the Embassy, contributing to the wider objectives of the British Government’s Germany Network and supporting a positive working environment.

The successful candidate will be subject to a professional background check and security clearance. The successful candidate must have pre-existing work authorisation in Germany in order to apply.

Staff recruited locally by the British Embassy are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local German employment law.

Visa/work permit requirements: Candidates must currently hold the independent right to live and work in Germany and be prepared to ensure that right remains throughout the scope of the contract. Please note that it is your responsibility to ensure you meet the legal requirements to live and work in this country.

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 Government Germany Network 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.

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.