View Vacancy - Senior Trade Policy Strategy Adviser

Main purpose of job:

The British Embassy in Washington, DC is seeking a Senior Trade Policy Advisor to join its Trade Team. The team deals with all bilateral and multilateral trade issues and works to promote the UK’s trade policy interests and inform UK policy development. The UK’s vote to leave the European Union, its development of a sovereign trade policy capability, and the likely pursuit of a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the US makes this an especially exciting time.

The successful candidate will report to the head of the Trade Team. The primary purpose of the role is to develop and implement a strategy to build support for a strengthened UK-US trade and investment relationship (including a potential future UK-US Free Trade Agreement) across the US. Taking a step-back from the daily developments in trade policy in Washington, your role will be more strategic: you will work with the network of British Consulates across the US to build a comprehensive picture of trade policy, opinions, and opinion formers beyond the DC beltway. You will use this knowledge to help shape the UK’s trade policy priorities, identify priority audiences, and develop tailored messaging to build support for increased UK-US trade across the US.

The role will involve engaging with a wide range of stakeholders in DC and the surrounding states (Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland and Delaware), including the Federal Administration, State-level Governments, business and Congress. You will work closely with policy leads in London, as well as with other sections in the Embassy and the UK’s network of Consulates-General across the US.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Develop and deliver (through the UK’s Network in the US) a strategy to build support across the US for a strengthened UK-US trade and investment relationship, including a future FTA, through:

• Coordinating a network of colleagues in Washington and across the US to build a comprehensive picture of the trade and agriculture policy debate in different States, Congressional Districts and cities; assessing how the UK is seen in this context; and identifying key influencers/stakeholders;
• Researching and reporting on the trade and agriculture policy debate in Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland and Delaware, identifying key influencers/stakeholders.
• Providing intelligent, targeted questions/parameters for the US network which will help build the basis of a strategy and coordinate input and reporting.
• Ensuring the virtual team across the US is developing a broad network of relationships with the right contacts to deliver UK policy objectives.
• Working with Communications colleagues to develop and build an implementation plan for messaging that showcases the strength of the UK-US trade and investment relationship and is targeted at influential audiences.
• Developing and overseeing activities to support the UK-US strategy as part of the US Network’s Prosperity Fund.
• Designing and delivering visit programmes for British Ministers and senior officials to Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland and Delaware in support of the UK-US strategy.
  

Essential on arrival:

• A minimum of 8 - 10 years relevant commercial, government or NGO experience is required.
• A minimum of a bachelor's degree in a relevant field is required, a graduate degree is preferred.
• The successful candidate would ideally have detailed knowledge of some or all of the following: trade policy; stakeholder engagement; Congress and the Administration; and the US legislative/regulatory process.
• Must be a proven self-starter with the ability to work independently and as a part of a team.
• Excellent communication skills (both written and oral) and a proven track record of translating a wide range of data and political reporting into concise briefing is essential.
• Attention to detail, strong judgment, problem-solving abilities and service delivery.