Main Purpose of Job:

The Department for Business &Trade (DBT) helps businesses export, supports investment, and champions free trade. Trade is at the centre of government policy and strengthening existing trade relationships are a top priority for the UK government, as they have potential to create new markets for British products and services. Latin America & the Caribbean (LATAC) is an important trading partner for the UK and there is real potential to grow our trade and investment relationship with this region over the coming years.

DBT is looking for an experienced individual to deliver on the regional market access strategy and priorities in Latin America and the Caribbean (LATAC). This role will report to the Regional Director for Market Access, based in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and will work closely with market access and implementation leads across the entire region, as well as with the Bilateral Trade Relations (BTR) team in London. The jobholder will lead on the process to identify, prioritise, and resolve key market access barriers and regulatory issues affecting bilateral trade. They will also monitor the policy environment, identifying barriers facing UK companies and taking this into account in the UK’s wider trade policy objectives in the region. The jobholder will also be the focal point for market access learning & development and communications in LATAC.

This is an exciting time to join the Department for Business & Trade (DBT) and the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) in a new role created in recognition of trade policy’s and market access’s significance to HMG’s prosperity agenda. DBT and the FCDO are working closely together on trade policy to deliver HMG’s international trade and investment strategy, leveraging the FCDO’s overseas network, to promote British trade and investment across the world. This is a great opportunity to be part of an international team that contributes to a high-profile agenda in which Ministers are closely engaged.

The successful applicant will be based in the British Consulate General Sao Paulo, Brazil and report to the DBT Regional Director, Market Access in LATAC. They will work closely with other members of the Regional Trade Policy Network.

Roles and Responsibilities:

Developing the UK’s strategy to identifying, prioritizing and resolving Market Access Barriers (MABs) throughout LATAC, working under the leadership of the Regional Market Access Director and as an active member of the Trade Policy Network. Oversee deployment of tools, strategies, and best-practice across the region to remove Market Access Barriers and ultimately help increase trade with LATAC.

Coordinating the market access work of the Region’s DBT and Economic Diplomacy Teams, designing and driving a campaign approach to tackle common obstacles to UK firms entering LATAC markets. Ensure colleagues are trained and aware of how to raise, log and address Market Access Barriers. They will be responsible for the following areas of work:

1. Delivery of UK’s Market Access Strategy in Latin America & the Caribbean (LATAC)

• Delivering on plans to identify, prioritize and resolve MABs across LATAC, as set out by the Regional Market Access Director.
• Establish a virtual team of market access officers to bring together DBT staff (and some FCDO colleagues) at post; building a plan of intelligence-gathering, analysis and reporting to deepen our understanding of barriers and further areas of potential export growth.
• Ensuring Market Access Barriers are logged and up to date on the DMAS system for all markets, and support efforts to publish MABs where relevant.
• Operate as the liaison point with BTR LATAC team in DBT HQ, helping to communicate priorities, projects, and tasks to teams across the region. Support subject and sector leads to engage with developing policy and analytical approaches from London.
• Work with the Trade Policy Leads across the region to have clear knowledge of how Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) should benefit UK companies and support in MAB resolution. Support implementation efforts and strategies when needed.

2. Market Access Fund – Project Management

• Subject to funding availability and with oversight form Regional Director, lead deployment of market access funding in support of projects and activities as set out in the DBT Regional business plan.
• Ensure funding allocation is fully spent, delivering on strategic market access priorities and with value-for-money, through transparent bidding rounds, monitoring & evaluation of results and clear impact of activities.

3. Market Access Learning & Development

• Support the development of market access capacity-building within DBT LATAC delivering training or information sessions as required.
• Provide the tools, guidance, support, and best-practice to market access officers, including through continuously improving the Learning & Development offer and building capability.

4. Communicating success and links to Trade Promotion

Working with the DBT Regional Communications Team, develop and deliver a strategy for communicating the benefits of working to remove market access barriers, both internally (to DBT HQ, ministers) and externally, to companies. Ensure a database of case studies is kept and used for marketing and communications purposes, with company authorisation, promoting the benefits of newly opened markets and improved regulations.

• Bachelor’s Degree (or equivalent) in Public Policy, Economics, International Relations, International Business, or related subject.
• Relevant experience working on market access issues or in a related field – e.g. in trade policy, economic analysis, regulation or helping to establish and/or relocate a company to a new country.
• Strong interpersonal, communication and relationship/stakeholder management skills.
• Able to deliver positive results through collaboration and networks.
• Excellent written and spoken communication in English.
• Proven experience in Project Management.
• Experience managing budgets.
• Prior knowledge of working with DBT/FCDO Procurement processes