The British Embassy Riyadh has a vacancy for a Trade Policy Officer and Delivery Lead on a fixed-term contract for one (1) year. There is a strong possibility of extension of the contract depending on performance and operational requirements.

This is an exciting opportunity to join the Trade Policy team and the jobholder will work across the team to contribute to the successful delivery of trade policy objectives. This role will lead on the delivery and project management side of the team.

The jobholder will lead on delivering the UK trade policy project planning and logistical support. This will include the organisation and delivery of senior delegations from the UK of up to 80 people at a time. They will lead project delivery function across the Embassy and with London.

Sitting within the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) Policy Team, the jobholder will also be involved in trade policy work, including working closely with UK government colleagues and UK businesses.

The role suits those with an ability to form strong working relationships, build a joint vision, and consistently track delivery against that to support the delivery of the Department’s objectives. 

Duties and responsibilities:

• Lead on all logistical planning, including inward and outward visits of (80+ senior officials).
• Lead on the wider policy, strategy, and engagement and delivery work of the team, including producing and updating project reports and schedules, and ensuring these are fed into wider embassy work and planning.
• Key stakeholder engagement working with wider Trade Policy team, London DBT HQ, and Ministerial Offices.
• Provide high-quality updates, both verbally and in writing, demonstrating excellent drafting skills due to the senior audiences.
• Creating and ensuring the project management systems are up-to-date and fit-for-purpose.
• Lead on reporting of trade policy objectives, including providing progress updates to the Ministers and senior officials across Whitehall.
• Managing regular team project meetings, using these to highlight risks and mitigation plans, discuss work stream actions and workloads, and communicate purpose and direction to the team, senior leadership, and DBT stakeholders.
• Day-to-day oversight of work stream progress, ensuring stakeholders across the project are kept on track and are able to deliver against milestones.
• Ensure effective governance for trade policy objectives and lead on record management process.
• Ensure the team’s security controls are in line with the wider HMG requirements.
• Support the central Briefing Hub including production of briefings for senior officials in DBT.

The above list is not exhaustive, and the jobholder will be required to be flexible and take on other ad hoc tasks as required, as this is a new and growing area of work. The job description may be reviewed to meet changes in business needs. The jobholder may also take on other ad hoc tasks as and when required, including participating in the Embassy’s emergency planning and any response to a crisis.

Key behaviours required:

• Delivering at Pace – Taking responsibility for delivering timely and quality results with focus and drive.
• Communicating and Influencing – Communicate purpose and direction with clarity, integrity, and enthusiasm. Respect the needs, responses, and opinions of others.

Eligibility:

• The successful candidate must be able to secure a local residence and work permit in Saudi (iqama) OR already have the right to work and reside in Saudi.
• The British Embassy provides visa sponsorship. The successful candidate will be required to transfer their visa under the Embassy’s sponsorship.

• Knowledge and understanding of project management, engagement, and delivery of high-level visits with large delegations.
• Experience of managing external relationships with key stakeholders and building influence with multiple stakeholders in public and private sectors.
• Excellent communication skills in English, both verbal and spoken. Able to express ideas and messages clearly and concisely, both orally and in written communication. The jobholder will be expected to deliver briefings, project plans, presentations and research to a senior readership.
• Strong strategic thinking, communicating and influencing, and problem-solving and judgment skills.
• Flexible, resilient, decisive, and calm under pressure. With a proven track record of delivering results to a high standard within tight deadlines.
• Excellent organisational and self-management skills to respond effectively to tight – and changing – deadlines and priorities.
• Ability to operate independently as well as work effectively within a team, utilising support from seniors when needed.
• Strong IT skills and literacy in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, Outlook).