View Vacancy - INTERNAL Senior Economic & Trade Policy Officer

Main purpose of job:

Producing high quality, well-focussed economic analysis and policy thinking on Argentina’s economic reform agenda, to support the UK’s understanding of the economic situation in Argentina. 

The job holder will have day-to-day responsibility for producing briefing on economic issues in support of the UK’s objectives in Argentina. He/she will also need to establish relationships with policymakers, economic experts and opinion formers to gather information and to express the UK’s position.  He/she will play a key role in supporting our advocacy and projects designed to create a more open, transparent, rules-based economic environment that provides opportunity for UK commercial interests. The jobholder will also lobby the Argentine authorities on economic/trade policy/multilateral issues of importance to the UK Government.

The job holder will also provide strategic trade policy support to the DBT Mercosur Director based in Brasilia and to VSEP colleagues elsewhere in the Mercosur region, acting as country lead in Argentina for trade policy and analysing Mercosur’s internal dynamics and external trade negotiation approach ahead of a potential UK-Mercosur FTA.

Roles and responsibilities :

This is an exciting job in a priority area of the UK’s foreign policy agenda.  This is a high-profile role within the Embassy and the DBT LATAC network and is central to the UK’s commitment to create the conditions for prosperity, both domestically and overseas. There is lots of interest among policymakers and the economic community in the UK in our work in Argentina, and this role will offer an opportunity to access influential figures in the Argentine government and other Mercosur countries, as well as from the UK.

Economic Analysis and Policy Engagement – Argentina (60%)

·         Provide high quality and timely reporting on developments and trends in the Argentine economy (including development indicators) and on the identification of opportunities and risks in Argentina’s handling of its macroeconomic constraints.

·         Provide strategic advice to develop the UK-Argentine bilateral economic relationship and understand Argentina’s objectives and negotiating positions at G20 and IMF

·         Engage with contacts in the Argentine federal, provincial and city governments and in advisory organisations to identify areas of collaboration with the UK in order to advance the government’s economic reform agenda. 

·         Develop a resilient network of contacts at the Central Bank, think-tanks, consultancies, business chambers and multilateral banks to support delivery of wider UK political, global issues, policy delivery and climate change objectives.

·         Support the development, delivery and evaluation of projects focussed on issues the UK considers as priorities for economic reform.

·         Provide support to visits by Ministers and high-level officials through briefings and presentations, and organising meetings with government officials and economic experts.

·         Become an active member of the FCDO Economics Community and support expertise and knowledge sharing to upskill colleagues in the wider network.  

Mercosur Regional Trade Policy (35%)

·         Country lead for Trade Policy in Argentina, providing strategic support to DBT Mercosur Director in Brasilia and DBT Southern Cone Director in Buenos Aires. Oversee trade policy activity, analyse developments and identify opportunities for a positive trading relationship with Argentina.

·         Maintain the market access database of trade barriers facing Argentine companies, collating information from the DBT, Prosperity and regional market access teams. Provide support to UK market access interests through WTO committees. Support regulatory diplomacy efforts to achieve UK supply-chain resilience, clean growth and climate change objectives.

·         Provide strategic support to DBT Mercosur Director, in developing UK strategy towards Mercosur countries. Support and analyse policy developments and delivery of bilateral trade dialogues/deals. Monitoring regional trade developments, including political-economic dynamics within Mercosur, analysing implications for UK interests ahead of a potential UK-Mercosur FTA negotiation. Support design and implementation of LATAC Trade Policy L&D strategy.  

·         Provide trade policy support to British Embassies in Montevideo and Asuncion through periodic analysis of their respective economies.

Corporate (5%)

·         Manage economic section budget. Manage Market Access intern.

·         Contribute to corporate objectives through participation in embassy committees.

This role would be ideal for a candidate with a high level of economic expertise who has experience in an international environment or multilateral institution.  The successful candidate will need to have initiative, strong analytical skills, the ability to explain complex issues clearly, a collaborative attitude, and excellent written and oral English, Spanish and Portuguese. We are looking for a candidate who can engage effectively internationally, and influence with impact and authority. The British Embassy offers a wide range of professional training and development opportunities and is a friendly, supportive and fun place to work.  The Embassy supports flexible working.  Above all, this role offers the successful candidate an opportunity to make a real difference in the UK relationship with Argentina and Mercosur and support the region’s future development.

Essential on arrival:  

·         Degree in Economics (or related field) or equivalent 3 years work-experience in an applied economics or policy context;

·         Knowledge of the Argentine domestic economic context; 

·         Contacts in relevant Argentine government departments, think tanks, academia and the private sector;

·         Have a strong understanding of Advanced Trade Policy principles with significant relevant experience working on trade policy issues (or in a related field).

·         Excellent written and oral communication skills, suitable for a fast-paced foreign policy environment;