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Job Category: Department for International Trade roles (DIT)
Job Subcategory: Department for International Trade (DIT)

Job Description (Roles and Responsibilities)

Note: Due to COVID-19, you may experience some delay in the progress of this recruitment campaign. We are working hard to minimise any disruption.

The British Embassy, based in Brussels, Belgium, is part of a world-wide network of 270 Diplomatic Posts, representing British political, economic and consular interests overseas. We are looking for a Trade Adviser to join the Department for International Trade (DIT) team.

The Department for International Trade (DIT) promotes British trade and investment around the world, helps to build an appetite for British goods and services globally and works to encourage foreign investment into the UK. The main purpose of this role is to respond to export related enquiries from UK business and support the marketing and communications activities of the DIT team.

The position on offer supports the European Trade Hub by connecting high potential British exporters, including innovative SMEs and Mid-Sized Businesses, to supply chains in Belgium. Core element of the role is to deliver practical support to these UK companies, including providing market information and representation towards potential clients. The job holder will also work proactively with the regional network to communicate opportunities to business, in areas aligned to UK industrial strengths, as part of a broader promotional programme. In parallel, the job holder will support the digital communication and marketing strategy of the wider DIT team.

This is an exciting and varied role to promote the UK to an important trading partner country. We are therefore looking for a motivated and commercially driven self-starter who is able to deliver a quality service within the agreed time frame and able to manage the different priorities of the role.

Roles and Responsibilities

Supporting the Europe Trade Hub in responding to UK business enquiries by email and telephone; collecting, organising and presenting data on relevant sectors (market reports) and arranging follow-up appointments;
Providing administrative support by assisting the team with Overseas Market Introduction Services (OMIS) for UK companies in the respective sectors;
Maintaining the Customer Relationship Management database system;
Providing assistance to commercial events and activities with the aim to support British exporters;
Monitoring the internet, newspapers and specialised magazines and gathering relevant business information for the team;
Implement the digital communication and marketing strategy of the DIT team. Manage social media platforms for commercial purposes.

Essential qualifications, skills and experience

Fluently spoken and written English and business level knowledge of Dutch and French;
University degree, Business/Economics or applicable subject;
Team player with excellent communication skills and networking skills;
Drive and enthusiasm combined with the ability to deliver;
A concern for quality and drive for continuous improvement in the service provided;
A self-starter with a positive can-do attitude;
Professional IT skills, especially Word, PowerPoint and Excel, are required;
Good social media skills, in particular Twitter and LinkedIn.

Desirable qualifications, skills and experience

Previous commercial experience or work in a related area is a plus;
Good project management, including an eye for detail, to ensure that all aspects of service delivery have been thought through carefully;
Resourcefulness and ability to act on own initiative, with an ability to find creative solutions when the unexpected occurs.

Required competencies

Collaborating and Partnering, Achieving Commercial Outcomes, Managing a Quality Service, Delivering at Pace.

Application deadline: 15 July 2020
Grade: A2 (L)
Type of Position: Full-time, Permanent
Working hours per week: 36.25
Region: Europe, Eastern Europe & Central Asia
Type of Post: British Embassy
Number of vacancies: 1
Starting monthly salary (EUR): 3,486.19
Start Date: 1 September 2020

Other benefits and conditions of employment

This is a permanent full-time contract for 5 working days (36.25 hours net) per week.

The monthly gross salary for this position is € 3,486.19 A2 (L) level.

In addition, we offer an extensive salary package, which includes a 13 month, luncheon vouchers pension scheme, optional hospitalisation insurance (subject to monthly employee contribution), reimbursement of public transport and a lot more. We offer more days of annual leave than the Belgian requirements.

Please note that Belgian nationals will be paid their salary gross and are expected to comply with their tax obligations through completion of a tax return to the Belgian authorities. Non-Belgian nationals will receive their salary net, minus the deduction of an equivalent level of Belgian tax retained at source. Further information on this will be given to candidates during the recruitment process.

The successful candidates will be subject to professional background checks and security clearance.

Staff recruited locally by the British Diplomatic Missions in Belgium are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local Belgian employment law.

Visa/passport requirements: Candidates must currently hold the independent right to live and work in Belgium and be prepared to ensure that right remains throughout the scope of the contract. Additional requirements may become necessary after 31st December 2020.

Additional information

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.

Additional Information (due to Covid 19):

You may experiment some delay in the progress of this recruitment campaign and we are working hard to minimise any disruption;
Interviews will be done remotely if the existing situation determines this to be the right course of action;
Starting date may be delayed depending on circumstances at the time and it will be agreed with the selected candidate.

this job offer is not open for applications