View Vacancy - Trade for Development Policy Attaché (CHEG475)

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Other British Government Departments (Partners across Government, including UK Visas)
Do not use - DFID (Department for International Development)

The United Kingdom Mission to the United Nations (UN) & World Trade Organisation (WTO) in Geneva represents the interests and policies of the UK at many international organisations and is currently looking for an experienced and highly motivated Trade for Development Policy Attaché.

The next few years will be critical for the UK as a major global actor in trade and development. 2017 will also be a year of implementing key agreements that have shaped the global trade and development consensus (including the UN Global Goals), and negotiating a new package of global trade measures through the 11th WTO Ministerial Conference in Buenos Aires. Managing a smooth UK exit from the European Union will require an extensive range of analysis, diplomatic outreach and engagement to advise Ministers on the best options for future UK trade and development policy.

You will lead DFID’s engagement in Geneva on trade and development, while providing innovative and high-level policy advice to HMG colleagues on key negotiations, aid programmes and strategies linked to UK and EU trade and development objectives. Geneva is a global hub for trade and development, and you will be in a position to influence not just a global debate on these issues, but also over £1 billion per year worth of UK aid for trade programmes being implemented in the poorest and most vulnerable countries.

The purpose of this post is to support DFID/DIT/FCO engagement in Geneva on trade and development. The jobholder will undertake research, proactively engage with stakeholders and provide policy advice to HMG colleagues on key negotiations linked to UK and EU trade and development objectives.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Trade Negotiations and Development at the WTO

  • Within the WTO, the jobholder will support the UK’s engagement on the development aspects of the multilateral trade negotiations. S/he will represent the UK on the WTO Committee on Trade and Development (regular, dedicated and special sessions). In the lead-up the 11th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC11), s/he will provide strategic analysis and advice on the development aspects of the various negotiating areas (e.g. agriculture, non-agricultural market access and services), particularly those relevant to the Least Developed Countries (LDCs), such as rules of origin, duty-free/quota-free access, and special and differential treatment;
  • Outside of the Ministerial Conferences and within the regular work of the WTO, the jobholder will provide innovative provide policy ideas and strategic guidance on how the UK can support development outcomes in key WTO bodies – particularly those related to agriculture, SPS/TBT standards, Trade Policy Reviews, Services and Accessions. S/he will undertake research on WTO and other Geneva-based negotiations to identify potential future development ‘wins’, and potential future development gaps. The jobholder will also represent the UK in other WTO bodies related to trade and development, including: Working Parties on Accession; LDC Sub-Committee; Working Group on Trade, Debt and Finance; and Working Group on Trade and Transfer of Technology;

Support on aid-for-trade programmes and wider trade/development issues

  • Where required, the jobholder will provide support to the UKMIS Senior Trade for Development Policy Advisor to:

(a) manage the UK’s Aid for Trade portfolio in Geneva. This will occasionally require the jobholder to monitor and report on the operations of DFID-funded aid for trade agencies and programmes in Geneva, and represent the UK Government externally in donor meetings;

(b) support the UK’s position at the WTO Committee on Trade Facilitation, including linkages to DFID’s support to programmes on trade facilitation;

(c) engage on Commonwealth issues related to trade and development, in particular with the Commonwealth Small States Office in Geneva.

The jobholder will be keeping a watching brief on other trade-related agencies, think-tanks and NGOs to inform DFID colleagues of any issues, opportunities and events of policy interest. S/he will lead on delivery of some visits by DFID and DIT Government officials. 

Support wider Team and corporate business

From time to time, the jobholder will provide holiday cover for team members, and participate in corporate events to ensure smooth running of the Mission, particularly during senior/Ministerial visits and major conferences. S/he will take corporate responsibility in the office, such as serving on one of the various cross-Mission committees.

  • S/he will need to have a university degree, ideally in economics, international trade or development studies;
  • The job-holder will need to be pro-active and have a positive and can-do attitude; will need to have good judgement, interpretive ability, strategic (planning ahead) thinking skills, and be a team player;
  • S/he must be able to work in an independent manner within agreed objectives, available guidance and policy steers from London-based colleagues;
  • The jobholder must be able to effectively communicate and engage with external and internal partners of all backgrounds and professional seniority; excellent drafting skills, and able to take notes quickly, providing clear and concise reports and analysis on trade, development and economic policy and programme issues.

Ideally, the jobholder would have a prior general knowledge of international development policy and practice, especially related to trade and development policy, as well as prior knowledge of the workings of the WTO and the EU. Prior experience within a Geneva-based trade and development organisation would be a plus.

1 October 2017
Executive Officer (EO)
Fixed Term, Full-time
40
Europe, Eastern Europe & Central Asia
Switzerland
UK Mission to the Office of the United Nations, Geneva
International Organisation Delegation
1
1 November 2017

This is a full-time two-year fixed-term contract for 5 working days, at B3 level. This position will be funded by the Department for International Development (DFID).

The successful candidate will be subject to professional background check, security clearance and 3 months probation period.

Staff recruited locally by the UK Mission for the United Nations in Geneva are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local Swiss employment law.

The  UK Mission supports Learning and Development for all staff, through the use  of personal development plans, supported by a funding allocation for training opportunities. This approach covers both personal skills and subject-matter knowledge.

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 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.