View Vacancy - Senior Trade Policy Officer

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Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Policy & Political roles)
Economic and Prosperity

Main purpose of job:

 

As the UK prepares to leave the European Union (EU), for the first time in more than 40 years it will be in charge of its own trade policy. With this independence, Britain has the opportunity to expand its trade relationships and market access with key partners across the world.

 

Mexico, a staunch free-trader, and the highest placed Latin American country in Ease of Doing Business rankings, is a natural partner of choice for the UK. In 2016, the trade balance between the UK and Mexico totalled £3.8bn, a 6% increase since 2015. Despite this encouraging upward trend, there remains great potential and momentum (on both sides) to expand and develop this relationship in the coming months and years.

 

In support of this ambition, we are seeking a motivated and highly performing individual, to provide expert trade support, analysis, and policy development, to help drive UK-Mexico trade policy work.

 

The successful applicant for this (new) role will: (i) support and participate in regular UK-Mexico Trade Working Group discussions on the future UK-Mexico trade relationship; (ii) provide expert analysis on Mexico’s trade agreements, priorities, and relationships; (iii) oversee market intelligence and access work, developing effective relationships with businesses, regulators and institutions; and (iv) help shape the direction and content of the new Global Trade Prosperity Fund programme in Mexico, working with the government, industry and businesses to reduce non-tariff barriers to trade.


The role will mean working closely to the Head of Economic and Trade Policy in the Embassy, and with Department for International Trade and Foreign and Commonwealth policy leads. It is an ideal position for someone keen to work in the heart of trade policy development, and to build their analytic and diplomatic skills.




Roles and Responsibilities:


 



You will work on the development of UK-Mexican trade policy – with the ultimate aim of increasing bilateral trade between the UK and Mexico. You will do so by:



 


  • driving work via the UK-Mexico Trade Working Group on the future UK-Mexico trade relationship -   including through preparation of analysis and position papers to support discussions and future formal negotiations;

 


  • being the Embassy’s expert on Mexican Trade Policy, delivering reporting and analysis that informs HMG's understanding of, and policies towards, Mexico and its regional partners (including NAFTA, CPTPP and Pacific Alliance countries), highlighting any impacts or opportunities related to the UK/Mexico bilateral relationship;

 


  • developing and overseeing market access and intelligence work in Mexico, developing effective relationships with businesses, regulators and institutions, and working with DIT, to support UK business in Mexico;

 


  • provide policy input to a cross-Embassy Trade Virtual Team in support of the development and delivery of the Mexican element of the Global Trade Prosperity Fund Programme – focused on customs facilitation, regulations, standards, and intellectual property;

 


This is a busy but interesting role suited to a proactive and creative self-starter with strong interpersonal skills, who has the ability to learn quickly. You will need to prioritise in a fast-paced work environment, working largely unsupervised, and delivering to deadlines and agreed targets. You will need to have strong networking skills, forging new relationships, to build and maintain a wide and influential network of contacts across government, business, academia and civil society.


 


You will line manager one assistant desk officer and countersign an intern.   You will also be expected to participate in wider Embassy corporate activities, which can include participation on various Embassy committees and other adhoc roles, as well as playing a full role in crisis management response and activities.


 



Essential on arrival:

 

  • Have a bachelors degree in a related subject

  • Work experience in public policy

  • Experience working with Mexican and international (preferably UK) trade and economic databases

  • Experience on data mining and Excel

  • Experience analysing and providing high level reports on key policy issues

  • Ability to translate complex and technical issues into readable papers for wider audiences

  • Excellent interpersonal, written and oral communication skills in English and Spanish

Desirable:

 

  • Knowledge of statistical software (Stata, Eviews, SPSS)

28 June 2018
Higher Executive Officer (HEO)
Full-time, Fixed term, with possibility of renewal
38
Latin America and Spanish speaking Caribbean
Mexico
Mexico City
British Embassy
1
41,670 pesos
6 August 2018

Language requirements:

 

Language: Excellent working levels of English and Spanish both written and spoken, which will be tested before and during interviews for candidates reaching that stage of the recruitment process.


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This opportunity is closed to applications.