Policy Adviser - Darlington, United Kingdom - Department of International Trade

Department of International Trade

Verified Company

Darlington, United Kingdom

3 weeks ago

Posted by:

Tom O´Connor

beBee Recruiter

Description

The Trade Disputes Team manages the UK's involvement in World Trade Organization (WTO) and Free Trade Agreement (FTA) disputes. We are the government's centre of trade disputes expertise. Trade disputes occur when one trading partner claims that another is in breach of their international trade commitments.

Trade disputes can be worth billions of pounds to the UK economy, can affect the full breadth of UK trade and domestic policy interests, and regularly make headlines.

The team promotes the UK's current and future interests in international trade dispute settlement; protects UK businesses from unfair trading practices; and builds the UK's role as a champion of the rules-based international system.

The team is also responsible for the negotiation and implementation of our state-to-state disputes commitments under FTAs.

The WTO's dispute settlement system is currently not fully-functioning.

The US has blocked appointments to the second tier of the system - the Appellate Body - meaning that body cannot currently hear appeals.

The team is working with colleagues in the UK Mission in Geneva to reform the system and resolve the impasse.

Your role will involve:
- supporting UK efforts to restore a fully-functioning WTO dispute settlement system;
- leading on specific WTO disputes in which the UK may want to participate as a third party;
- contributing to the work of a case team in specific WTO disputes the UK is defending or may need to defend;
- supporting the team to deliver a legislation package which ensures the UK has the right powers it needs to effectively enforce trade disputes.

The team is diverse, friendly, collaborative and supportive. We enthusiastically support flexible working. We value and encourage learning and development including through formal training and exciting, rewarding work.

No prior knowledge of trade disputes is required - you will be supported to learn about both the specific areas you will be working on and wider trade disputes issues.

Job description

You will help manage the UK's involvement in international trade disputes, working as part of a high-performing and supportive team.

Reporting to a G7, you will:

Support the team's engagement on WTO dispute settlement reform with international partners and crossWhitehall teams. You will actively track the positions of other WTO Members and contribute to refining UK negotiating strategy and positions. You will prepare briefings for bilateral and multilateral meetings and write reports of calls. As you develop your expertise, you will have opportunities to present in meetings and contribute to policy development.
Lead policy analysis on whether the UK should join individual WTO disputes as a third party. You will gather and assess input from Whitehall teams, lawyers and analysts to make a recommendation. In cases where the UK participates as a third party, you will be part of a team coordinating and preparing UK interventions.
Support the team's engagement with other government departments on policy areas where there is a high risk of a dispute. The team helps Whitehall teams to develop UK policies in a way that takes account of and mitigates WTO/FTA legal risk. You will write briefing/reporting for seniors, and deputise for the team lead in specific cases.
Support the G7 legislation lead to deliver legislation which ensures the UK has the right powers it needs to effectively enforce trade disputes.

In the event the UK faces one or more defensive disputes there will be opportunities to be part of the case team, assisting with briefing, reporting to seniors and helping to coordinate the UK's approach.

Hybrid working
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

Be able to grasp new and complex policy issues quickly;
Work collaboratively with internal and external colleagues, building and maintaining strong relationships;
Have strong written and verbal communication skills.

Desirable Criteria
It would be desirable to have some experience/knowledge of trade policy or working with Posts.

Personal Attributes & Skills

Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process: