Department for International Trade roles (DIT)
Internship
The British Embassy in Paris is part of a world-wide network, representing British political, economic, commercial, development and consular interests overseas.
An exciting opportunity has arisen for six high-potential candidates to intern with the Export Growth team, part of the Department for International Trade (DIT): six positions planned to run for circa six months, from March-September 2022, with some flexibility with start date and duration in line with business requirements and individual candidates’ preferences.
The Department for International Trade (DIT) promotes British trade & investment around the world; helps to build an appetite for British goods and services overseas; and works to break down barriers to trade & investment. Under the direction of the Deputy Director for France – Trade, the interns would join permanent staff in the Export Growth team, which focuses on providing practical support for British exporters.
The internships will be an excellent introduction to how the British Government supports businesses that are internationalising and, more generally, to how the commercial section of an embassy works. There will be opportunities to collaborate with colleagues working across the Embassy on additional cross-cutting and high profile issues, for example economic diplomacy, science & innovation and communications outreach.
We are committed to providing all interns with substantive professional development, both in terms of exposure and impact. The day-to-day work will be demanding and, to get the most from the opportunity, the interns would need to be flexible, committed self-starters able to juggle priorities and work on a wide variety of business sectors to tight timelines. In return for your professionalism and fresh perspective, we offer real responsibility in a supportive, dynamic and collegial environment.
Interns are valued and full members of the team at the Department for International Trade, and we passionately believe that teams are most effective when they reflect the diversity of the people we serve – in France, the UK and beyond. To this end, we particularly encourage applications from candidates who may not have considered a career in commercial diplomacy before, perhaps from traditionally underrepresented socioeconomic backgrounds in France. We also welcome applications from those who – while highly motivated by a career in trade – may incorrectly assume that their academic background or level of competence in the English language would preclude them from making a competitive application for these roles.
Roles and responsibilities:
Interns will gain a combination of research, drafting and advisory skills; analytical and commercial skills, and delivery at pace of a mix of operational and project-based tasks. In particular:
- Provision of tailored information and support to individual UK clients in a cross-section of sectors: including new exporters and companies new to the French market (50%).
- Research into trade and investment trends, new opportunities across France; and prioritised industries and sectors (30%).
- Planning and delivery of commercial events linked to the Europe Regional Trade Plan and established France Prosperity campaigns (20%).
- Full professional proficiency in French, including excellent writing skills* (C1 Level).
- Please note that a high command of the English language is not essential for all the roles.
- Excellent IT skills, with a focus on the suite of Microsoft Office products.
- A keen interest in a career in business or trade – but not necessarily demonstrated through academia.
- Relevant experience, or vocational qualification(s) (whether completed or in progress) in commerce/trade, marketing or allied areas.
- Some experience in a client-facing role, or customer service experience.
- Some experience of working in a project environment or of juggling competing priorities, whether in a work or personal context.
Collaborating and Partnering, Achieving Commercial Outcomes, Managing a Quality Service, Delivering at Pace
1 December 2021
Internship
Full-time, Temporary
35
Europe, Eastern Europe & Central Asia
France
Paris
British Embassy
6
EUR
1000
1 March 2022
These are full-time and temporary internship positions of up to 6 months.
At the beginning of your internship you should be able to provide us with a convention de stage provided by your university/higher education establishment and liability Insurance to cover your period of internship at the British Embassy.
All appointments are subject to professional background check satisfactory security clearance. The successful applicant will be required to provide a copy of his/her passport or national identity card for all nationalities held, an up-to-date criminal record (casier judiciaire) for recent countries of residence (which can be obtained online at https://www.cjn.justice.gouv.fr/cjn/b3/eje20 ), two written proofs of address (utility invoices and/or bank statements) and two references.
Staff recruited locally by the British Embassy in France are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local French employment law and FCDO guidance for Country Based Staff. The posts we offer are not an entry point into the UK’s Diplomatic Service.
Please note that the deadline for applications is 23:55 on the day mentioned in the above field “Application deadline”.
We advise you to allow enough time to complete and submit your full application, since only applications completed and submitted before the deadline will be considered.
Please be aware that the deadline for submitting applications is considered to be the time zone for the country where the vacancy has arisen.
Please be advised that the British Diplomatic Missions will not be able to meet the travel costs incurred when travelling to the interview, nor the costs connected with relocation if offered a job.
Languages: *Please note for more information on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, Teaching, Assessment levels please click on the following link CEFR. Please bear in mind in case you are invited for an interview your language skill is going to be assessed.
To help us track our recruitment effort, please indicate on the application form /in your cover letter where (ngotenders.net) you saw this job posting.