Main purpose of job:

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) is responsible for promoting UK trade and investment with the rest of the world. We are the department for economic growth. We support businesses to invest, grow and export, creating jobs and opportunities across the UK. 

The overseas network is a vital asset in delivering the UK’s trade and investment ambitions. Embedded within British embassies and high commissions, our trade teams—led by HM Trade Commissioners—work in close coordination with diplomatic staff to promote UK exports, attract investment, and improve market access. Through commercial diplomacy, they build strategic relationships, provide expert market insight, and support UK businesses to navigate local conditions and seize opportunities. This integrated approach ensures our efforts align with broader UK priorities, including sectoral growth, supply chain resilience, and clean energy transition.

The DBT team across Latin America and the Caribbean (LATAC) is led by Jonathan Knott CMG, The HM Trade Commissioner for Latin America and the Caribbean, and his team is responsible for:

• growing the overall trade and investment relationship between the UK and LATAC markets
• improving market access for British companies, including small and medium sized businesses (SMEs)
• developing trade policy.

Information about the role: 

Market Access & Trade Policy Manager will be responsible for leading and coordinating market access work across the Latin America and Caribbean (LATAC) region. Operating under the direction of senior management, the HEO will manage a discrete area of work, applying strategic thinking, discretion, and analytical skills to deliver impactful outcomes. This role involves identifying and addressing market access barriers, supporting the implementation of DBT LATAC’s trade policy and export strategies, managing stakeholder relationships, and helping UK businesses navigate regulatory and policy challenges in LATAC markets.

Roles and responsibilities: 

MARKET ACCESS

• Support the delivery of the UK’s Trade Policy and Market Access agenda in LATAC, managing a defined portfolio of market access issues or supporting regional exports campaigns under the direction of senior leadership.
• Lead on specific market access projects or initiatives, including identifying and addressing non-tariff barriers, coordinating with relevant stakeholders, and drafting project plans and reports.
• Monitor and analyse developments in LATAC and regulatory environment, providing timely and accurate reporting to inform UK business and policy stakeholders.
• Build and maintain effective working relationships with key stakeholders, including local government officials, trade associations, and UK businesses, to gather intelligence and promote UK commercial interests.
• Contribute to the planning and implementation of market access funding activities, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives and value for money.

TRADE POLICY

• Act as a point of contact for engagement with LATAC authorities on trade-related matters, supporting senior colleagues in maintaining relationships with ministries such as Foreign Trade, Foreign Affairs, and Economy & Finance.
• Support the promotion and implementation of existing trade agreements and institutional frameworks between the UK and LATAC including through stakeholder engagement and awareness-raising activities.
• Track and report on relevant trade policy developments, such as Free Trade Agreements, WTO initiatives, and regional integration efforts, contributing to internal briefings and regional reporting.

TEAMWORK AND COLLABORATION

• Work collaboratively with colleagues across the British Embassy and the wider DBT LATAC network, contributing to cross-cutting initiatives and regional coordination efforts.
• Support the team’s performance and knowledge-sharing culture, including mentoring junior staff or interns where appropriate.
• Contribute to internal planning, reporting, and evaluation processes, including business planning and performance reviews.

ADDITIONAL EXPECTATIONS

• Exercise sound judgment in managing competing priorities and making operational decisions within defined parameters.
• Provide expert advice and analysis to senior colleagues, drawing on research and stakeholder input.
• May be responsible for managing a small team or budget, ensuring compliance with relevant policies and procedures.
• Collaborate with FCDO colleagues, both in the UK and across UK Missions in the LATAC region, to inform upstream “market-making” interventions that support partner country objectives and create commercial opportunities for UK industry.

Language requirements:  

Language:  English, Spanish  

Level of language required: Fluent written and spoken (CEFR C1 essential; C2 in at least one language preferable)  

Essential on arrival: 

• Relevant experience working on market access issues or in a related field- e.g. in trade policy, economic analysis, regulation.
• Excellent presentation and communication skills.
• Previous experience of managing staff, including to implement and monitor strategic workplans.
• 5 years of relevant work experience, such as but not limited to: building  professional relationships and build trust with a wide range of contacts from different backgrounds including at senior levels.
• Knowledge of LATAC/ UK policy and business landscape.
• Experience of account and/or project management
• Fluent in Spanish and English (both written and spoken);