View Vacancy - Senior Trade Officer (CHEB20.267)
Note: 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 Department for International Trade (DIT) at the British Embassy in Berne is looking to hire a Senior Trade Officer to lead on the crosscutting technology sector.
The jobholder will lead business development into the Swiss market, focused on trade opportunities for UK companies as well as identifying market access barriers. Proven technical know how and commercial delivery skills are required. Confident and competent interaction with senior decision makers in companies will be essential, along with the ability to achieve impact at public events and deliver effective promotional messages on UK strengths.
Roles and responsibilities:
- Provide competent support and advice to British tech companies wishing to enter the Swiss market;
- Deliver against DIT’s business plan;
- Build strategic relationships with organisations (private and public), that increase British trade by identifying export opportunities and future economic partnerships;
- Lead on the development of effective partnerships and networks with Swiss and Liechtenstein stakeholders such as industry, investors, academia and organisational bodies;
- Collaborate with colleagues from across the UK Government, in particular the Department for International Trade, as well as national and regional Swiss and Liechtenstein entities;
- Organise key events and activities which support British trade work in Switzerland and Liechtenstein including webinars, roadshows, trade missions and Ministerial visits;
- Analyse and report sector related as well as economic developments in Switzerland and Liechtenstein.
- Business related degree and/or equivalent experience in trade development roles;
- Experienced networker with established relationships in Switzerland and Liechtenstein within at least one key industrial sector (Technology, Engineering, Advance Manufacturing, Professional Services, Security);
- Knowledge and understanding of Swiss business;
- Analytical skills acquired in an international market context with a consultative sales approach to achieving results;
- Fast learning, self-starter who can demonstrate initiative, resilience, and project management skills;
- Good communicator, written and verbal;
- Confident in using platforms such Office 365, CRM;
- A team player with a collaborative approach who can work successfully within a geography and ‘virtual team’ to achieve common objectives;
- Fluent in English (oral and written) and in French or German (oral and written).
- An understanding of trade policy / Market Access Barriers;
- Knowledge of the role government plays in international trade;
- Experience of working in an international trade promotion environment;
- Ease in using social media channels for business purpose.
All applicants should have permission to live and work in Switzerland. Applicants must hold a full passport valid for at least 12 months for any EU / Schengen country.
EU nationals do not require visa sponsorship.
This is a part -time permanent contract of 32 hours per week (80% contract).
Gross monthly salary is CHF 6,441. In addition, staff are entitled to a 13th month salary pro rata. The annual leave entitlement is 25 days per year pro rata and the Embassy also enjoys a maximum of 14 Swiss/ UK public holidays per year.
The successful candidate will be subject to professional background and security clearance.
The successful candidate must have pre-existing work authorisation for Switzerland in order to apply. All applicants should have the right to live and work in Switzerland.
Staff recruited locally by the British Embassy are subject to terms and conditions service according to Swiss employment law.
Additional 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 note Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, Teaching, Assessment indicates Level C2 as Mastery or proficiency Level which comprehends that a person can understand with ease virtually everything heard or read; can summarize information from different spoken and written sources, reconstructing arguments and accounts in a coherent presentation; can express themselves spontaneously, very fluently and precisely, differentiating finer shades of meaning even in the most complex situations. For more information please click on the following link CEFR. Please bear in mind that your language skills will be assessed if you are invited for interview.
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 note that the deadline for applications is 23:55 on the day mentioned in the above field “Application deadline”.
FCO does not pay for travel related expense incurred in interviews (including Security Check) or accept any financial risk, including cancelation or reschedule costs. The FCO will not meet the costs connected with relocation if offered a position.
This opportunity is closed to applications.
