Job Description

Main Purpose:The UK and Singapore have a thriving trade and economic relationship. The British High Commission (BHC) in Singapore is looking for a proactive and engaged individual to join the Economics and Trade Policy team, to further cooperation on key UK trade and economic priorities in Singapore.The postholder will work with the Senior Economic Advisor and Senior Trade Policy Advisor supporting them in delivery of their priorities and assuming ownership of certain aspects of both portfolios under their guidance. The postholder will also work closely with teams across the BHC, including the Department for Business & Trade (DBT), the Science and Innovation Team and the Climate, Energy & Nature Team.The successful candidate will work closely with the Senior Economic Advisor to further the UK\'s economic policy cooperation with Singapore across a range of UK-Singapore priority areas. This will include engagement with external stakeholders, regular monitoring of Singapore\'s economy, including reporting and desk-based research, and policy collaboration. You will work closely with many UK and Singapore government departments including DBT, FCDO, HMT, MTI and MoF.In this role, you will also support the Senior Trade Policy Advisor with drafting of critical briefings and responses to HQ commissions and support him/her with ministerial and senior visit programmes. Under the guidance of the Senior Trade Policy Advisor, you will also support them with bilateral trade matters, such as the implementation of the UK-Singapore Free Trade Agreement and the UK-Singapore Digital Economy Agreement, as well as the Economic and Business Partnership Steering Committee. In performing this, you will work closely DBT and MTI.This role sits in the 7-person BHC Singapore Economics & Trade Policy Team. In addition, you will also be a member of the Southeast Asia Economic and Trade Policy Networks, joining a group of advisers based in diplomatic missions throughout the region who lead on economic policy, trade policy, financial policy and intellectual property cooperation. This provides the opportunity to contribute to economic and trade policy work for the Southeast Asia region.Roles and responsibilities / what will the jobholder be expected to achieve:1. Economic Policy supportThe job holder will work closely with and support the Senior Economic Advisor to:

• Further UK-Singapore economic policy cooperation, including on economic growth, economic security and economic development, responding in an agile manner to new opportunities and priorities.
• Produce high quality analysis of Singapore\'s economy. This will include monitoring and regularly reporting on economic indicators (GDP, inflation, trade) and Singapore government policy responses (Budget announcements, National Day Rally, etc);
• Respond to HQ/senior commissions and ad-hoc projects involving desk-based research.

2. Trade Policy supportThe job holder will work closely with and support the Senior Trade Policy Advisor to:

• Support delivery of key trade policy objectives such as the implementation and utilisation of the UK-Singapore Free Trade Agreement, the UK-Singapore Digital Economy Agreement, and the UK\'s ongoing accession to CPTPP;
• Deliver set-piece events and engagement such as the biennual UK-Singapore Economic and Business Partnership and the UK-Singapore FTA Trade Committee; and
• Draft briefings and respond to requests for advice on trade policy matters.

3. Cross-cutting supportThe job holder will:

• Support the Economics and Trade Policy team to deliver ministerial visits and dialogues, including ministerial and senior level visits to Singapore from UK government departments such as FCDO, DBT and HMT.
• Organise events with key business and political stakeholders across the trade and economic portfolio.
• Support the Regional Director and wider team with relevant research projects.

Essential qualifications, skills and experience

• Bachelor\'s degree in a relevant subject OR 2+ years of relevant work experience (such as in an international organisation or government setting, covering trade or economic policy).
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, particularly the ability to draft high quality materials to short deadlines and to present with confidence to senior stakeholders
• Knowledge of Singapore and/or the UK\'s economic and political environment

Desirable qualifications, skills and experience

• Experience of working in a trade or economic policy environment
• Experience of working with Singapore and/or UK government departments
• Analytical skills and experience (such as economic analysis and advice)

Required behavioursCommunicating and Influencing, Delivering at Pace, Managing a Quality Service, Working TogetherApplication deadline13 October 2024GradeExecutive Officer (EO)Type of PositionFull-time, PermanentWorking hours per week37.5RegionAsia PacificCountry/TerritorySingaporeLocation (City)SingaporeType of PostBritish High CommissionNumber of vacancies1Salary CurrencySGDSalarySGD 5,211Type of SalarymonthlyStart Date9 December 2024Other benefits and conditions of employmentBenefits:We offer a competitive package, which includes basic salary of SGD 5,211 per month and a generous annual wage supplement (as part of total guaranteed remuneration) of an additional 2 months\' salary paid out in December each year, Central Provident Fund (CPF) payment in lieu for non-Permanent Resident foreign nationals, 23-days annual leave entitlement and a health insurance plan. The basic salary is non-negotiable.We have a generous leave offer including: 23 days annual leave, increasing to 25 after 5 years\' service, with the option to carry over up to 12 days into the subsequent leave year; 14 public holidays; generous maternity and paternity leave; and childcare leave. We encourage volunteerism and offer up to 3 days paid volunteer leave.We offer medical insurance to support staff with the high costs of healthcare in Singapore and periodic reimbursement for the cost of eye tests and replacement eye wear.Learning and development opportunities:We offer time and financial support for the successful candidate to take advantage of professional learning and development opportunities inside and outside of the organisation.The BHC has an active Learning & Development Committee which works hard to provide a comprehensive L&D offer. There is a wide range of options available for personal development including training courses, coaching and mentoring, job-shadowing, presentations and learning sets. Staff have access to a wide variety of online resources through the International Academy and Civil Service Learning. Staff are strongly encouraged to take advantage of all available opportunities.All new hires undertake a workplace induction and there are a number of mandatory e-learning courses that must be completed in order to pass probation.Working Patterns:Normal working hours are 37.5 per week. BHC Singapore supports and promotes flexible working as a crucial part of our inclusive offering.Please note that the High Commission is currently operating on the basis that all staff will work from the office for a minimum of 60% of their time. The post holder may also be required to work flexibly to staff in-person events and visits out of hours, subject to operational requirements. Flexible working hours and time off in lieu arrangements apply in these circumstances.Due to the nature of visits work, there will be occasional calls for working outside of the normal hours. Time off in lieu can be taken to account for this.Other information:In addition to the duties which this job normally entails, you may from time to time be required to undertake additional or other duties as necessary to meet the needs of the High Commission, including playing a part in the corporate life of the mission and supporting any crisis response.No accommodation or relocation expenses are payable in connection with this position. You must have or be able to obtain a local work permit which we will sponsor.Staff recruited locally by the British High Commission are subject to terms and conditions of service according to local Singapore employment law.Employment offers are subject to successful clearance of pre-employment checks. Only short-listed applications will be called for personal interviews.The British High Commission is an equal opportunities employer and does not discriminate on grounds of ethnic origin, race, religious beliefs, age, disability, gender or sexual orientation. Our values of Collaboration, Opportunity, Respect and Excellence (CORE) are our guiding principles. We aspire to live our values consistently in order to make the British High Commission a great place to work where staff feel valued, supported and inspired to be their best. To learn more about the Commission, watch .Please note that all successful candidates will be expected to serve a minimum of 6 months in their new role before being eligible to apply for further positions within the British High Commission.Additional informationPlease note that the deadline for applications is 23:55 on the day mentioned in the above field \xe2\x80\x9cApplication deadline."Please be aware that the deadline for submitting applications is considered to be the time zone for the country where the vacancy has arisen.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.All applicants are required to mandatorily fill the online application form completely including the employment and educational details, experience, professional skills and behaviour-based questions. We will be thoroughly reviewing the applications and incomplete form in any respect may not be considered while shortlisting for the next stage.Only shortlisted candidates for interview will be contacted. Interviewees will be assessed on the core behaviours/qualifications listed above. Unsuccessful candidates will be notified via the system in due time.Appointable candidates who were unsuccessful may be placed on a \'reserve list\'. If during the reserve period of 6 months the same or a largely similar role becomes available, that role may be offered to the second or subsequent candidate.For inclusivity and diversity, please remove the following personal information when uploading your CV: name, address, email address, age, date of birth, gender, and nationality.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.Please be aware that you will only be able to apply to vacancies for Country Based Staff roles with the British Government through this official tal.net site (operated by Oleeo). Jobs may be advertised on third party websites, however our adverts will always link back to the official tal.net site. If you complete and send an application through any other site, we will not receive it.

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