Main Purpose of Job:

The British Embassy is recruiting a EO Trade Policy and Market Access Officer to work in the Trade Policy Team and alongside Department for Business and Trade (DBT) colleagues, to support work to grow and deepen the UK-Mexico bilateral trade relationship.  We are looking for an individual (with relative or transferable experience) to lead the Embassy’s market access work and to support bilateral trade policy work. 

Trade and Investment is at the centre of the British government’s foreign policy. Reducing market access barriers, implementing our Trade Continuity Agreement (TCA) with Mexico, negotiations on a new modern and ambitious UK-Mexico FTA, and the UK’s accession to CPTPP, are all priorities for the Embassy given their potential to open and expand markets for British products and services, while providing new opportunities for Mexico with the UK.  Mexico is an important and growing partner for the UK and there is real potential to increase and diversify our trade and investment relationship over the coming years. 

Roles and Responsibilities:

Market Access – Development and delivery of MAB programmes (60%)

• Lead on market access issues affecting UK–Mexico trade, coordinating across a wide range of internal stakeholders including DBT, FCDO and DEFRA Agriculture Attaché. Identify, analyse and understand these barriers in line with DBT’s prioritisation framework to establish their importance to UK trade, likelihood of resolution and opportunities to address them bilaterally and through work with partners.
• Lead, in collaboration with DBT Mexico sector teams, the development and delivery of activity to address priority barriers, including through UK capacity-building with host authorities, SME visits and market analysis. Work in alignment with Regional Market Access team to secure funding, manage budgets and have a shared understanding of the strategies for resolution (including leading the development and implementation of Integrated Action Plans (IAPs)). This involves applying strong project management skills in overseeing implementation, including through engagement with senior stakeholders including in Mexican governments, regulatory bodies, other Embassies, business and industry bodies (as appropriate).
• Lead work with wider DBT team in upskilling on MAB and relevant trade policy issues, alongside effectively tracking market access barriers, and our activity to resolve them, on the DBT Digital Market Access Service (DMAS), updating the Regional team and London periodically on progress of all Mexico priority MABs.

Trade Policy Support (15%):

• As a part of the Trade Policy team the successful candidate will work to deliver wider Trade Policy priorities of the British Embassy; this are a priority policy area for UK Government.
• Undertake research and reporting on the Mexican trade policy environment and local context, providing advice on regional and bilateral trade policy issues, and partner countries approaches to key global and multilateral trade issues. Work as part of a team on reporting, analysis, briefings, and presentations on trade policy and market access issues.
• Support the Trade Policy Director on strategy building, planning, logistics and engagement linked to the UK’s CPTPP accession, negotiations on a new modern and ambitious bilateral UK-Mexico Free Trade Agreement, and implementation and utilisation of the UK-Mexico TCA. This may include organising bilateral trade dialogues, business-to-business activity and supporting DBT Ministerial and Senior Officials’ visits.

Logistics and information Management (15%):

• Working with internal and external stakeholders to organise, manage logistics and facilitate successful bilateral meetings, high-profile events and visits of senior UK government figures; ensuring high quality outcomes including Value For Money (VFM).
• Support the administrative and financial processes of Trade Policy team (budgets, claims, payments etc.) to maintain a healthy level of performance, VFM achieving 100% expenditure and participate in meetings as the team’s Corporate Services Liaison.
• Give advice on and pro-actively innovate and develop the team’s administrative processes and programme management.

Corporate (10%): 

• Support corporate activity at the Embassy in support of its mission statement, Country Business Plans and the Embassy’s agreed values of honesty, respect, inclusion, and professionalism.

Resources Managed:

• 1x Trade Policy Intern

• Be qualified to at least to degree (bachelor’s) level in related field (Economics, International Trade, International Relations).
• Have a good understanding and interest in key national & international policy and trade issues.
• Excellent communication skills in both written and spoken English and Spanish are essential.
• Have excellent communication skills relating to relationship building both internally and externally to the British Embassy.
• Must be able to work with budgets and provide information in an understandable format to stakeholders.
• Excellent data management and analytical skills.
• Should be a proactive and creative self-starter with strong interpersonal skills who has the ability to learn quickly.
• Must be willing to work in constantly changing multicultural environments.
• Be able to adapt quickly to a dynamic working environment where requests can greatly vary