View Vacancy – Senior Trade Policy Advisor (ITA20.433)

Due to COVID-19, you may experience some delay in the progress of this recruitment campaign. We are working hard to minimise any disruption. You may find more information in the Additional Information section below.

The British Embassy in Rome is part of a world-wide network, representing British political, economic and consular interests overseas and is now looking for a Senior Trade Policy Advisor.

To act as Trade Policy expert for the UK Italy network, by: identifying the trade policy aspects of wider political issues; having a strategic overview on barriers to UK businesses; developing appropriate policy responses in conjunction with Whitehall colleagues and other partners as required. 

The successful candidate will strengthen and reinforce our trade policy expertise in Italy. They will work with The Department for International Trade (DIT) who helps UK businesses export, drives inward and outward investment, negotiates market access and trade deals, and champions free trade.

This position will be a role working to the Economic, Social and Trade Policy Counsellor and team, plus wider Embassy colleagues’ engagement with business and trade, The successful candidate will be expected to work independently and be a self-starter with personal initiative and drive, along with strong interpersonal, team working, communication and policy skills and be comfortable working with senior level decision makers. 

This is an exciting policy development role at the heart of the Government’s agenda. The right candidate can help shape the dialogue between HMG and your host country at a pivotal point in trade relations, and candidates will gain experience of bilateral relationships and stakeholder engagement at a critical time for the UK.

Main roles and responsibilities:

• Develop relationships with a range of stakeholders including government, industry and business, to build a network for information and influence;

• Develop and share understanding of trade policy priorities and identify emerging trade barriers;

• Address country-specific trade barriers/market access issues, influencing through established network or through other relevant channels;

• Contribute to regional strategies to address wider regulatory and trade policy issues (e.g. at EU level);

• Work closely with DIT and FCDO colleagues, as well as wider cooperation between different missions and markets across the region, to ensure a consistent approach with UK Government;

• Advise and prioritise where UK Government should focus its resource and attention to address trade policy priorities and trade barriers;

• Assist key Ministerial (and other) senior visits from the UK;

• Support the development of trade policy expertise across the DIT and FCDO network.

• Excellent Italian and English language skills (written and spoken) are required. Strong IT skills, especially Word, PowerPoint and Excel, are needed (C2 level)*;

• Minimum of 3 years’ experience of stakeholder management;

• Experience developing and managing events and communications using traditional and digital tools;

• Excellent interpersonal skills ability to work effectively with a variety of stakeholders, in line with UK Civil Service Values regardless of pressures;

• Flexibility to meet the demands of a varied work schedule and contribute to the wider work of the Italy network;

• Excellent communication skills with internal and external contacts, managing key relationships within a wide and diverse team;

• Interest in, and understanding of, UK and Italy trading landscapes;

• Budget management;

• Drive and enthusiasm combined with the ability to deliver, working as part of a team;

• Resourcefulness and ability to act on own initiative, with an ability to find creative solutions when the unexpected occurs.