Department for International Trade roles (DIT)
DIT
Main purpose of job:
The Department for International Trade’s Asia Pacific (DIT APAC) region covers 14 diverse markets, stretching from Myanmar to New Zealand (full list below). Across DIT APAC, “market access” – overcoming practical, legal, and regulatory barriers which impede UK businesses seeking to trade – is a high-profile objective, growing in importance. DIT APAC has identified more market access challenges than any other DIT region globally.
In response, DIT APAC and teams at DIT HQ in London are prioritising activity on market access, as part of a wider, ambitious trade policy and promotion agenda across the region. We are increasingly using a data- an evidence-driven approach to identify and understand barriers to businesses, and are taking more strategic and hands-on approaches to resolve barriers, including on a regional basis. We will be working more closely than ever before with business and the private sector, and making sure we can reliably track and monitor our progress.
This analysis-focused role is crucial to delivering this strengthened approach to market access across DIT APAC. It forms a key part of the new Asia Pacific Market Access Hub, led by the Regional Market Access Counsellor. The post-holder will lead on our regional analysis and assessment of market access barriers, and will work closely with colleagues across the region, using evidence and analysis to strengthen their delivery of market access advocacy campaigns.
Experience of applying economic and analytical skills in a trade policy or business advocacy environment is essential, along with strong teamworking and communication skills and a positive, proactive mindset.
Based in the British Embassy Tokyo, alongside other members of DIT Asia Pacific’s cross-cutting regional trade policy team, the post-holder will play a full role in the Embassy’s wider mission and priorities. Close partnerships with colleagues in London, UKMis ASEAN, and across DIT APAC will be essential. Depending on Covid-19 restrictions and available budget, there may be some opportunities for travel around the DIT APAC region, to support individual posts to advance their market access priorities.
DIT APAC covers Australia, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Myanmar, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam.
Roles and responsibilities / what will the jobholder be expected to achieve?:
- Analysis of regional market access barriers and trends – act as first-line analyst within DIT APAC on market access. Strategically and proactively deploy analytical expertise to carry out initial identification and scoping of the the impact of existing or potential market access barriers, interpreting those findings to support the wider DIT APAC team and seniors. Produce accessible and engaging data and evidence products, including through use of data visualisation tools.
- Reporting and evaluation of DIT APAC market access barriers – take responsibility for tracking progress on priority market access barriers across DIT APAC. Develop and implement data-driven M&E tools to help effectively measure our impact, reporting and interpreting results to DITA APAC governance forums.
- Network leadership – support the Market Access Counsellor in providing guidance and leadership to the DIT APAC network of staff, by coordinating a core group of market access experts across the region. Provide detailed training and capacity-building on the use of analysis and evidence to support advocacy campaigns.
- Delivery of market access campaigns – where appropriate, lead on designing and delivering regional campaigns on multi-market or cross-cutting market access barriers. In other cases, provide detailed delivery support to particular countries in the APAC region, focused particularly on providing rationale to underpin campaigns to resolve barriers, including through use of data visualisation tools.
- Business, academic, and external engagement – represent DIT APAC in strategic and coordinated engagement with partners in the private sector and academic, structuring and building relationships to deliver our market access campaigns and objectives. Scoping and delivering deeper, longer-term market access partnerships or coalitions with certain business sector organisations.
Depending on budgets, there may also be an opportunity to manage or advise on some programme funds, to enable additional research, engagement, or other activities to support DIT APAC’s market access objectives. The post-holder will also be expected to take on a cross-cutting corporate contribution, either within British Embassy Tokyo or across DIT APAC.
Resources managed (staff and expenditure):
Depending on available budgets, there may be some opporunity to manage or oversee programme funding to support market opening activity across DIT APAC.
Required Competencies:
- Making Effective Decisions
- Leading and Communicating
- Collaborating and Partnering
- Engaging Internationally
Learning and development opportunities (and any specific training courses to be completed):
The British Embassy offers comprehensive learning and development opportunities that will be fully available to the jobholder. We regularly run both work area specific training, as well as more general skills development in project management, finance, and leadership. Each year the job holder will be encouraged to use 5 development days to pursue job related and personal development goals.
All staff are required to take a role in the embassy’s crisis preparation and response. Full training will be provided for this and regular opportunities will be available to test and develop your skills.
The jobholder will have access to the UK government’s extensive Trade Faculty training offer, including online training, lectures, discussions and in-depth specialist courses. A wide range of training to develop personal competences is also available through the FCDO and DIT regional training centres.
This position is 1 year fixed-term with possibility of renewal
Essential on arrival:
- Strong written and oral English communication skills;
- Proven experience of applying analytical skills in a trade policy, trade promotion, or business advocacy environment;
- Strong command of economic analytical techniques and tools, including data visualisation tools;
- Experience of working with government and business.
Language requirements:
Language: English
Level of language required: Fluent
- Project management skills or experience;
- Strategic communications or campaign experience, building and implementing engagement plans to achieve objectives;
- Experience of matrix working with teams spread across several locations;
- Relevant academic qualifications – such as in economics or similar analytical fields
Making Effective Decisions, Leading and Communicating, Collaborating and Partnering, Engaging Internationally
9 November 2021
B3 (L)
Full-time, Fixed term, with possibility of renewal
37.5
Asia Pacific
Japan
Tokyo
British Embassy
1
JPY
462,344 JPY per month (6,472,816 JPY per year including guaranteed bonus equivalents in June and December)
31 December 2021
- 1 month salary bonus equivalents payable in June and December
- (Note: Salary may be reduced due to tax status)
- Commuting allowance of up to JPY35,000 per month (paid on an actual cost basis)
- 25 days paid annual leave (calculated pro rata)
- Health Insurance and Employee pension (kenko hoken/kosei nenkin)
- Employment Insurance (koyou hoken)
The applicant must have work authorisation for Japan however if a foreign national, the British Embassy/Consulate General will support a visa application if required.
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.
The start date mentioned in the job advert is a tentative start date and the successful candidate will be required to undergo security vetting procedures. Any offer of employment will be subject to the candidate achieving suitable clearances.
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