The British Embassy Jakarta is a large diplomatic mission delivering a dynamic and rapidly expanding programme of activity to deliver on the UK’s strategic priorities in Indonesia. This is a fantastic opportunity to lead the delivery of trade policy at the embassy.

You will work in the Department for Business and Trade (DBT), which is responsible for promoting UK trade and investment, strengthening the rules-based international order, and delivering the UK’s ambitious trade policy agenda. Trade between the UK and Indonesia is currently worth £3.4 billion, but we are committed to driving that figure up further. You will help deliver this by removing barriers to trade, shaping the Indonesian policy and regulatory environment to be more favourable in areas of future commercial opportunity, and supporting UK companies with their entry into market. We have a deepening government-to-government relationship, including a Joint Economic and Trade Committee (JETCO), and policy dialogues with a range of Indonesian Ministries. This role brings the opportunity to work on market analysis, diplomatic and business engagement, and development programming to help drive trade.

You will be fully embedded in the embassy structure, working particularly closely with the Economics team to deliver on key economic and trade policy priorities. The embassy runs development programmes in areas such as financial services, digital and climate, which are of direct relevance to our trade policy work. You will work collaboratively to utilise all our levers to promote trade policy interests. You will drive trade policy work across the team to oversee delivery of market access campaigns. You will be recognised by colleagues in the UK and across the Asia Pacific overseas network as the point of contact for market access work in Indonesia. You will play a key leadership role in delivering an impactful and successful JETCO.

This role will report to the Deputy Country Director, Trade. You will advise on Indonesian policy and local context to inform the Senior Leadership Team’s strategic approach to trade policy. You will develop and hold meaningful, senior relationships with key stakeholders ensuring UK trade policy priorities are well understood and communicated. This is a senior role within the Department for Business and Trade in the Embassy which brings together all trade policy work within the Mission, working effectively across the DBT team, the wider Mission, the region and with Indonesian senior stakeholders. 

We reserve the right to review, revise or amend the roles and responsibilities from time to time reflecting the changing needs of business.

What the Jobholder will be Expected to Achieve:

• Lead the Embassy’s trade policy work ensuring clear direction of travel for policy priorities, clarity within the Department for Business and Trade and across the wider mission on areas of focus and drive joined up working with other teams within the mission.
• Act as trade policy focal point for the Embassy advising the Ambassador and senior leaders on approaches and priorities with respect to trade policy.
• Lead the Embassy’s trade policy work related to multilateral fora such as the WTO and regional trade agreements such as CPTPP and RCEP. Maintaining contacts with likeminded diplomatic missions and Indonesian stakeholders to keep up to date on Indonesia’s trade negotiations with other countries.
• Work with colleagues across the embassy and UK Government to design and deliver a UK contribution to Indonesia’s OECD assession, particularly in trade in services.
• Deliver an impactful and successful Joint Economic and Trade Committee (JETCO) and sectoral working groups. Ensure that business engagement provides an opportunity for UK business operating in Indonesia/based in the UK to input.
• Take a proactive and strategic role in designing lobbying campaigns to promote liberalisation of the Indonesian market in areas of interest to the UK. Maintain close relationships with DBT sector leads to understand evolving UK commercial capability.
• Take a leadership role in building market access capacity across the team, mainstreaming activity and capability across sector leads and ensuring a consistent and coherent approach.
• Play an active role in the UK government’s regional trade policy network. Share updates, knowledge and insights with colleagues in Indonesia, Asia Pacific and the UK and collaborate on shared objectives.
• Build a broad network of contacts across the Indonesian Government, UK and Indonesian business communities and other influencers to allow us to deliver strengthened trade dialogue and solutions to the market access barriers faced by UK companies.
• Work with the DBT / Embassy communications teams to develop strategic communications campaign to promote trade policy interests and ensure that the benefits of our trade policy engagement are understood by Indonesian and UK stakeholders.

Corporate

• All staff are expected to participate in wider Embassy activities which can include active work on various committees and other corporate roles, as well as play a role in crisis management activities on an ad-hoc basis

We are looking for a proactive self-starter, able to work well under pressure and take a flexible approach to emerging priorities. You will have excellent interpersonal and communication skills to build strong relations within the British Embassy, with UK teams and a wide range of stakeholders in Indonesia.

Candidates should demonstrate:

• A university degree, preferably in trade, economics or international relations related course
• An understanding of trade and economic issues and policies in Indonesia and willingness to continually learn and develop
• Prior work experience in trade, business development or economic roles
• Strong leadership capability, including empowering colleagues and engaging senior external stakeholders
• Positive attitude and proactive approach to working with others
• Strong interpersonal and relationship skills
• Flexible and creative problem-solving skills, and the ability to come up with innovative solutions to complex problems, and coordinate coherent and compelling programmes and projects
• Strong communication skills (written and verbal) and ability to adjust to different audiences
• Strategic awareness
• Ability to prioritise own workload and make adjustments to respond to urgent tasks
• Excellent command of written and spoken English

Language Requirements:

• Excellent working levels in English, both written and spoken
• Evidence of a recent IELTS score above 7.0 will be required at interview
• Level of language required: Operational