Multilateral Trade Advisor

Promoting the rules-based trading system is a strategic objective for the Department for International Trade. The role of those officials working on WTO and Multilateral priorities is to influence global trade rules and manage the UK's relationship with the WTO and other multilateral fora. We look to use the UK’s voice at the WTO to advocate for, and reform, the rules-based international system.
- **WTO Market Access**: Tackling market access barriers for UK firms is a key departmental objective. The team is currently shaping how the rest of Government can use the WTO to address market access issues, tackle unfair practices and champion opportunities for British businesses.
- **WTO Accessions**: A core aspect of promoting the rules-based system relies on countries joining and participating in the WTO’s frameworks. This would involve planning how the UK negotiates the terms of WTO Membership with acceding countries, identify appropriate development/market access opportunities, and explain our work to the rest of Government, including Ministers.
- **Shaping UK positions at the General Council**: The General Council is the highest decision-making body at the WTO and the UK is represented at the meeting by the Permanent Representative in Geneva. Our contributions at the General Council dictate how the rest of the WTO Membership perceives us.

The second role, sitting within the Tariffs, Imports, Professions and Strategy (TIPS) team, will focus specifically on the Goods trade within the WTO, in particular:

- **Managing the UK position at the Committee for Market Access**: Crafting UK statements on a variety of political and technical issues, working with policy experts across Government and closely aligning with colleagues overseas.
- **Tackling Market Access Barriers**:Seeking out issues faced by UK traders that are suitable for raising in the WTO Committee space, and negotiating with other countries to remove these issues, having a real impact on UK businesses.
- **Agreement of the UK Goods Schedule**:Finalising and implementing the ongoing negotiations the UK is undertaking to agree its WTO obligations and Commitments.

For this role, the Department will not consider sponsoring a visa or issuing a Certificate of Sponsorship. Please note we are unable to offer advice on any Visa and Immigration cases.

**Job description**
- Develop and maintain strong relationships with colleagues within the Department and across Government - in particular the UK Mission Geneva and regional team leads - to co-ordinate and deliver the UK’s multilateral trade policy priorities at the WTO in relation to market access objectives.
- Establish the necessary mechanisms to support cross-Whitehall coordination on key areas of WTO multilateral trade policy, proactively driving change and finding solutions to advance UK priorities.
- Deliver UK multilateral trade policy objectives at high profile meetings, at the WTO and with senior officials and ministers.
- Develop strategies and campaigns in line with WTO policy priorities and UK objectives for multilateral positioning, working to understand and influence trading partners around the world.
- Collaborative team player, able to lead, engage, influence, and build relationships with a wide range of stakeholders.
- Strong written, verbal, and presentational skills, with the ability to present complex issues clearly and succinctly to ministers and senior stakeholders across Government.
- Strong planning, project management and organisation skills.

Please be aware that this role can only be worked from within the UK and not overseas.

Informal hybrid working arrangements will be available as agreed with the vacancy manager and in line with the requirements of the role.

Most DIT employees will be working a hybrid pattern, spending 2-3 days a week (pro rata) in an office, on average. If your office location is London, you will be eligible to receive London weighting.

**Person specification**

**Essential Criteria**
- Proven track record of working at pace to successfully deliver policy priorities.
- Comfortable with working independently and taking the initiative to drive priorities forward including the development of work plans and strategies.
- Collaborative team player, able to lead, engage, influence, and build relationships with a wide range of stakeholders.
- Strong written, verbal, and presentational skills, with the ability to present complex issues clearly and succinctly to ministers and senior stakeholders across Government.
- Strong planning, project management and organisation skills.

**Desirable Criteria**
- Experience working on international economic issues.
- Experience working with international partners.

**Personal Attributes & Skills**

These roles require a high level of organisational and problem-solving skills. You will be confident engaging with complex trade issues and be capable of providing methodical and robust advice to senior officials and Ministers, b