This is an exciting time to join the Department for Business and Trade (DBT). The work we do has a real impact on jobs and growth across the United Kingdom. Our Vision is to champion open and fair global trading that drives growth, creates better jobs and higher wages, and improves living standards in this country and around the world. We are an international department based in 108 countries, and we work closely with our colleagues worldwide. Working in DBT you will have the opportunity to shape the UK’s international growth agenda for years to come.
The Multilateral and World Trade Organisation (WTO) team is part of DBT’s Economic Security and Trade Relations Group and is responsible for influencing global rules and managing the UK's relationship with the WTO and other multilateral fora, using the UK’s independent voice to advocate for the rules based international system.
We are recruiting for two senior policy advisers in the Policy and Strategy branch. These are unique opportunities to sit at the heart of multilateral trade policy and delivery, working to deliver UK objectives across a number of high-profile forums, particularly the WTO.
One post-holder will sit in the cross-cutting multilateral strategy and policy unit, working to ensure a coherent approach to UK activity at the WTO, including leading UK policy and strategy preparations for highest decision-making bodies of the organisation, the Ministerial Conference and the General Council. In this role, you will engage regularly with colleagues across HMG, our diplomatic network, and officials in other WTO Members’ administrations. You will need to be able to flex in line with business need, in adapting the role to support the cycle of WTO Ministerial Conference preparations.
The other post-holder will sit in the WTO Reform and Institutional Affairs unit. You will have ownership of strategy and policy development on WTO reform, from looking at ways to address cross-cutting and politicised multilateral trade issues to improving the day-to-day work of the organisation. To do this you will develop a strong understanding of the organisation, the multilateral trading environment, and the key political issues the organisation faces in the wider global political context. The role involves working closely with colleagues stationed in the UK Mission to the WTO in Geneva (UKMis). The role also supports preparations for key meetings of other multilateral fora, such as G7 and G20 when WTO Reform is featured as a priority.
Cross-cutting multilateral strategy and policy
* Work with experts across policy areas, including other departments, in developing the UK’s multilateral trade strategy and setting strategic objectives for the WTO.
* Drive the implementation of the department’s multilateral strategic priorities, embedding the vision and objectives and driving coordination and coherence of UK activity within a defined programme of work across diverse policy teams.
* Work with a programme team to oversee delivery of strategic objectives and develop products and processes to support effective ways of working.
* Work on the strategy and policy preparation for WTO Ministerial Conferences, General Councils and Trade Negotiation Committees, working closely with a small programme team to translate strategy into delivery.
* Prepare and support senior officials and ministers for high profile multilateral meetings to deliver UK multilateral trade policy objectives including the WTO Ministerial Conference and General Council.
* Develop and maintain strong relationships with colleagues within DBT and across government to help co-ordinate and deliver the UK’s policy priorities.
* Lead drafting of briefings, submissions, and cross-government communications to inform decisions by Ministers and senior officials.
WTO Reform strategy and policy
* Develop UK positioning and strategy for discussions on WTO reform, focusing on improving the effectiveness of the organisation.
* Maintain clear understanding of the existing WTO reform landscape/UK positioning and think creatively about proposals to progress the WTO reform debate.
* Support policy development and delivery strategies for other issues connected to WTO reform led by other policy teams in DBT and across government, making intelligent connections across teams and providing multilateral expertise.
* Working closely with posts and UKMis, think strategically and proactively seek out engagement opportunities, leading on the engagement with WTO members and WTO reform focused groupings to influence countries’ positions and deliver on WTO reform objectives.
* Work with country teams and leads on other multilateral fora such as G7, G20 and Commonwealth to ensure they advance UK interests on WTO reform.
* Lead drafting of briefings, submissions, and cross-government communications to inform decisions by Ministers and senior officials.
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