View Vacancy - Trade Policy and Market Access Advisor (KAZ24.342)

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 Astana is part of a world-wide diplomatic network, representing British political, economic and consular interests overseas. The British Embassy in Astana is looking for a successful candidate to fill in a permanent role as a Trade Policy and Market Access Advisor. The job holder will be responsible for leading on market access issues in Kazakhstan for UK businesses by understanding the current policy and regulatory frameworks Support UK companies experiencing business environment issues in Kazakhstan and improve trade access issues between the UK and Kazakhstan.

Why should you apply?

Our new Trade Policy and Market Access Advisor will be responsible for leading on market access issues in a rapidly changing and reforming economy by understanding the current policy and regulatory framework. Here, the aim is to increase the number of British companies entering the market, improve trade access issues between the UK and Kazakhstan, and promote free trade by, for example, engaging with the World Trade Organisation’s policies and processes.

This is a high profile, outward facing role, which requires strong interpersonal skills in order to develop and maintain high-level relationships across business and Government stakeholders in Kazakhstan and the UK. The jobholder will also build and utilise a significant support network in Kazakhstan and the UK, across both governments and trade bodies, as well as international trade and development organisations.

Main responsibilities will include: 

1.      Market Access Lead (40%)

  • Lead on resolving priority Market Access barriers already identified in Kazakhstan.
  • Working with UK businesses and other stakeholder to identify new trade barriers in Kazakhstan, and coming up with creative solutions to resolve them.
  • Supporting Embassy and DBT colleagues in wider Bilateral and Multilateral Trade Relations (including the annual UK-Kazakhstan trade dialogue, and engagement with WTO processes)

2.       Business Environment (40%)

  • Monitoring and developing in depth understanding of Kazakh Government regulatory and policy frameworks impacting UK trade and investment.
  • Developing & implementing G2G and B2B engagement plans on our priority issues.
  • Lead on ad hoc business support for companies experiencing challenges in-market.

 3.      Trade Policy (20%)

  • Supporting Embassy and DBT colleagues in wider Bilateral and Multilateral Trade Relations (including the annual UK-Kazakhstan trade dialogue, and engagement with WTO processes)
  • Support the Country Director, Ambassador, Trade Commissioner and UK Ministers in negotiations and high-level engagements, through drafting briefings and providing high quality technical advice.  

Our ideal candidate shows:

  • Excellent oral and written communication skills in English, Russian (C1 level*) and native Kazakh speaker.

  • At least 3 years professional work experience in relevant area, preferably with exposure to policy making, business development, or marketing.

  • An extensive knowledge and understanding of the business environment in Kazakhstan, including Kazakh Government structure and policy.

  • Ability to set and meet own priorities and work with limited supervision.

  • Ability to work effectively under tight deadlines, along with resourcefulness in solving problems.

  • Good interpersonal and networking skills, including the ability to deal comfortably with high level officials and contacts.

 

It will be a plus:

  • Good knowledge and understanding of UK business environment.

  • Prior experience of working with or within the private sector, government, diplomatic mission or international organization.

Communicating and Influencing, Delivering at Pace, Seeing the Big Picture, Working Together
26 September 2024
Executive Officer (EO)
Full-time, Permanent
36
Europe, Eastern Europe & Central Asia
Kazakhstan
Astana
British Embassy
1
USD
$2,164 (gross) monthly
monthly
2 December 2024

This is a full-time, permanent position of 36 hours per week, from Monday to Friday.

Employees are entitled to annual leave entitlement pro-rata based on 25 days total per calendar year. In addition, the Embassy observes up to 14 days public holidays marking different Kazakh and UK holidays.

The successful candidate will be subject to confirmation of a professional background check and security clearance.

All applicants should have the right to live and work in Kazakhstan. The British Embassy does not sponsor applications for work permits

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

Learning and development opportunities: All employees of the British Embassy Astana can access learning in the Foreign & Commonwealth Office’s Diplomatic Academy. The Diplomatic Academy offers a comprehensive range of training courses, both online and classroom based, for personal development. The British Embassy Astana promotes a continuous learning culture. 

Medical benefits - The Embassy pays contributions to a local private medical scheme on behalf of all staff.

Visa / passport requirements: must currently hold the independent right to live and work in Kazakhstan 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 this country.

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: Common European Framework of Reference for Languages*: Learning, Teaching, Assessment indicates Level C1 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 in case you are invited for an interview your languages skills are going to be assessed. 

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.