View Vacancy - Economic Diplomacy Officer

Economic Diplomacy is one of the three strategic priorities of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (UK Ministry of Foreign Affairs).

Our primary objectives are to:

• Support Colombian efforts to deliver economic reforms and sustainable growth, strong economic governance, and to remove barriers to growth.

• Boost free trade, tackle global economic challenges and strengthen the rules-based international economic system.

• Use economic levers to improve the UK Government’s foreign policy outcomes and UK business opportunities.

• Support the work of the cross-Government Prosperity Fund and other embassy programmes to achieve sustainable impact on poverty reduction in Colombia and benefits to UK business.

Roles and responsibilities

To achieve the UK’s economic and commercial diplomacy and trade policy objectives in Colombia by working to deliver:

Economic Reform and Sustainable Growth:

• Influence economic policy making in Colombia to achieve a more transparent, stronger, rules-based international economic system and better regulation, through political lobbying, project work and the provision of UK technical expertise.

• Report on and provide advice regarding the UK’s role as an observer to the Pacific Alliance.

• Report and provide advice on decisions regarding Colombia’s accession and commitments to the OECD.

• Work alongside Prosperity Fund colleagues to provide policy support to enable programme activities to maximise their impact and deliver benefits to UK business.

Trade Policy & Market Access:

• Support the trade dialogue between Colombia and the UK to ensure the continuity of the trade relationship post-Brexit. Especifically, support the previous conversations, the formal negotiations, the ratification process and the implementation of a new bilateral FTA between Colombia and the UK.

• Lobby for completion of the ratification of the UK-Colombia Double Taxation Agreement and oversee its implementation by the Colombian government.

• Help UK companies win new business by working with Department of International Trade (DIT), and UK Colombia Trade (UKCT) colleagues to identify and act on existing and anticipated market access issues and constraints facing UK companies in Colombia.

• Influence Colombian trade policy formulation to drive greater competition, support more open markets and ensure compliance with international agreements.

Economic Issues:

• Lead on economic issues within the British Embassy
  

• Lead on the analysis and reporting of economic developments in Colombia (and the region as relevant), identifying key influencing factors and implications for UK policy in Colombia.
  

• Produce a monthly economic report, highlighting key economic developments of interest to internal stakeholders.
  

• Develop and maintain a high-level network of contacts to ensure the Embassy has access to key economic decision-makers in Colombia.

• Contribute to briefings for senior Embassy staff, Ministers and high-level visitors.

• Provide expert advice to inform the Embassy’s strategy for economic engagement with Colombia.

Personal Learning and Development:

• Actively participate in meetings and briefings of relevance to the role.

• Identify and attend opportunities to improve existing skills and/or develop new ones.

• Fulfil requirements of performance appraisal process, including setting a career development plan.

Administration:

• The jobholder will be expected to manage his or her own administrative tasks within the Economic Diplomacy Team.

Corporate:

• Play an active part in the corporate life of the Embassy, including where relevant as a member of Embassy committees, to maximise the overall well-being of staff.

Perform other tasks as requested by the Economic Diplomacy Counsellor.

Resources managed:

Project management. The jobholder may be required to design bids for internal project funding and ensure effective implementation of approved small projects to support the achievement of policy objectives.

Language: Advanced English and Spanich (spoken and written).

Essential on arrival:

• Relevant Batchelor’s Degree, preferibly in Economics.
• At least 4 years of relevant professional experience. Some experience related to engaging successfully with Colombian and international governments, private sector and nongovernmental organisations to achieve results, and lobbying or influencing the development of public policy.
• Able to demonstrate strong interpersonal, communication and relationship skills.
• Solid knowledge of Colombian economic policies and institutional frameworks.
• Ability to develop and work through a strong network of national and international stakeholders.
• Strong judgement and confident taking decisions without direct supervision, working efectively in a team environment.
• Experienced user of MS Office.