View Vacancy - Senior Trade Adviser (Food & Drink and Sustainable Agriculture) - DBT The Netherlands (NLD25.148)

The British Government is an inclusive and diversity-friendly employer.  We value difference, promote equality and challenge discrimination, enhancing our organisational capability. We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We do not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, colour, ethnicity, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, age, veteran status or other category protected by law. We promote family-friendly flexible working opportunities, where operational and security needs allow. The FCDO operates an agile workforce and to facilitate this, you may be required to undertake other duties from time to time, as we may reasonably require.
Department for Business and Trade roles (DBT)
Department for Business and Trade (DBT)

Who We Are:

The British Embassy in The Netherlands is part of a world-wide network, representing British political, economic and consular interests overseas. It is also part of the UK’s Netherlands Network. The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) at the British Embassy in The Netherlands is currently looking for a Senior Trade Adviser (Food & Drink and Sustainable Agriculture).  DBT is a UK Government department which helps build an appetite for British goods and services globally, promotes and finances international trade and investment, and champions’ global free trade.

Main purpose of job:

We are looking for a new colleague to join the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) team at the British Embassy in The Hague.

As Senior Trade Adviser you will help UK companies to grow their exports in the Netherlands and work with colleagues in the UK and across Europe to develop and deliver strategic export campaigns. In this role you support UK businesses in the Agriculture, Food and Drink sector entering and growing sales in the Dutch market. Your daily work is a combination of proactive and reactive export promotion work in combination with market intelligence reporting. In addition, you will also focus on market access issues that affect UK exporters when exporting to the Netherlands.

You will:

  • Proactively identify export opportunities (demand scoping, tenders) and share them with your UK network;
  • Provide direct support to companies reaching out to DBT with questions about exporting;
  • Engage with and grow your Dutch network to open doors for suppliers;
  • Contribute to developing long term export strategies and campaigns;
  • Organise meetings and trade events to connect suppliers with potential buyers;
  • Promote products and services made in the UK;
  • Inform colleagues in the UK through market briefings;
  • Identify and solve market access barriers faced by exporters.

The role is a great opportunity for a talented and highly motivated individual to make a real impact in bilateral trade relations and gain working experience at an Embassy. The role is based at our office at the British Embassy in The Hague which is part of a worldwide network of 230 Diplomatic Posts, representing British political, economic and consular interests overseas.

What will you be expected to achieve?

Building partnerships with and account managing key Dutch and UK stakeholders in the public and private sector, focusing on the areas of Agriculture, Food and Drink.

Conducting market research and preparing periodical briefing reports for your sectors.

Identifying and reporting on market access barriers.

Organising and delivering trade events and supporting other events to deliver the trade agenda in your sectors.

Working with Trade colleagues in delivering cross-sectoral trade promotion activities in your two sectors.

Essential on arrival:

  • Full professional proficiency in English, written and spoken, minimum of C1 level for CEFR framework*;
  • Professional proficiency in Dutch, minimum of B2 level for CEFR framework;
  • Work experience in an international business environment;
  • Work experience in a business development, market research or relevant policy role;
  • A good understanding of doing business in the Netherlands;
  • Work experience in, or a good understanding of, at least one of the following sectors: Agriculture, Food and Drink.

Desirable:

  • Work experience at a Dutch or British company or organisation;
  • Experience with organising events;
  • A good understanding of Dutch government policy in the fields of Agriculture, Food and Drink;
  • A good understanding of the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement and the impact it has on the  Agriculture, Food and Drink sectors.
Delivering at Pace, Making Effective Decisions, Managing a Quality Service, Seeing the Big Picture
13 May 2025
Executive Officer (EO)
Full-time, Fixed term, with possibility of renewal
36 hours per week.
Europe, Eastern Europe & Central Asia
Netherlands
The Hague
British Embassy
1
EUR
4481.55 (gross)
monthly
1 July 2025

This is a full-time fixed-term position for 12 months with the possibility of renewal. Working hours are Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 17:00 with a flexible working hours arrangement.

We offer a benefits package including: 

  • Travel (commuter) allowance 
  • Defined contribution Pension Scheme 
  • Performance related bonus 
  • A minimum of 25 days annual leave per year
  • UK and Dutch public and privilege holidays 
  • Access to the FCDO learning & development (L&D) platform
  • Annual L&D leave entitlement
  • The opportunity to work in an international environment;

Europe DBT network and the Embassy in the Netherlands are a rewarding and exciting place to work, offering:

  • Scope for personal and professional development: Excellent networks and opportunities for support, including mentoring, coaching, job shadowing and secondments;
  • Strong offer for learning and development, including dedicated L&D days;
  • An equal, diverse and engaged workplace;
  • Work-life balance.

Job conditions: The job description is subject to changes and may evolve over time and in response to changing circumstances. The role exists as part of a team and all staff are expected to be flexible in supporting colleagues, particularly at busy times. The Embassy promotes and demonstrates the core values of Professionalism, Inclusivity, Honesty and Respect in all that we do. We are an equal opportunity employer, and all members of the team are expected to treat each other with respect. We value great teamwork, and we ask that everyone contributes to create a positive atmosphere at work.   

Equal employment

We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, colour, ancestry, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability or gender identity. We particularly encourage applications from candidates with protected characteristics. DBT Europe Network want to maximise the potential of everyone who chooses to work for us, regardless of their background.

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Our recruitment process is underpinned by the principle of appointment on the basis of fair and open competition and appointment on merit, as outlined in the Civil Service Commissioners’ Recruitment Principles.
For further information on bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission please visit their web pages: Click here to visit Civil Service Commission/Complaints

The successful candidate will be subject to professional background check, security clearance and 1 month probationary period.

The successful candidate must have pre-existing work authorisation for the Netherlands in order to apply.

Staff recruited locally by the British Embassy in The Hague, are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local employment law.

Visa/work permit requirements: Candidates must currently hold the independent right to live and work in the Netherlands and be prepared to ensure that right remains throughout the scope of the contract. Please note that it is your responsibility to ensure you meet the legal requirements to live and work in the Netherlands. The successful candidate will be required to provide a BSN (citizen service number) on their start date and will need to arrange and pay for their own travel and accommodation, as well as any other living costs.

Please note that it is your responsibility to ensure you meet the legal requirements to live and work in this country.

Start date is an indicative target start date.  

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 advised that the British Embassy will not be able to meet the travel costs incurred when travelling to the interview, nor the costs connected with relocation if offered a position.

*Please note for more information on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, Teaching, Assessment levels please click on the following link CEFR. Please bear in mind in case you are invited for an interview your language skill is going to be assessed.

The job description is subject to changes and may evolve over time and in response to changing circumstances.  The role exists as part of a team and all staff are expected to be flexible in supporting colleagues, particularly at busy times.

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.