Agriculture, Food and Drink Attaché Job at Foreign & Commonwealth Office
Main purpose of job:
Be part of the Department for International Trade’s (DIT) mission to drive more trade and investment between North America and the UK. With a mature, high spending consumer market and an open, liberal economy, world-class talent and a business-friendly regulatory environment, the UK is the leading destination for foreign investment in Europe, and the second highest investment destination in the world. The UK is also the world’s sixth largest exporter and the second largest services exporter.
We employ over 150 people across North America, all united by our vision of a future where we champion open and fair global trading that drives growth, creates better jobs and higher wages, and improves living standards in the UK and around the world. We seek talented team members with the passion and drive to help us in our mission to build a global appetite for British goods and services; drive investment; negotiate trade deals and open up markets; improve international trading standards and fight unfair trading practices.
Based at the British High Commission in Ottawa, you will work towards driving export growth and building the UKs food and drink reputation in Canada, contributing to the UK Government’s plan for growth and levelling up agenda. You will also strengthen commercial and government relationships with stakeholders in Canada and the UK in order to manage trade risks, increase UK influence on policy making and facilitate collaboration on agri-environment issues to deliver international strategy objectives.
Roles and responsibilities:
Support market access teams in broadening market access for agri-food products in Canada and expediting related processes (e.g. certification and establishment listings).
- Mitigate risks for businesses to current trade (for example: following public or animal health incidents, or ensuring compliance with new import requirements).
- Lead on agri-engagement as part of the UK-Canada FTA negotiations, providing in-country intelligence to the UK negotiating team, engaging with stakeholders and lobbying on behalf of the UK.
- Remove or reduce Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) barriers and Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) barriers to make it easier for UK companies to establish and expand in the Canadian market.
- Develop relevant networks in the Canadian and the UK market to share approaches to challenges, implementation of new regulatory or SPS measures and identify best practice.
- Monitor and report on market intelligence, demand trends and future regulatory changes to support the UK’s trade policy, Export Council and delivery of export strategy. Develop broad knowledge of agri-food trade in Canada and provide expertise on agri-food issues in support of export objectives and the UK Government’s international trade strategy.
- Work with the Department for International Trade (DIT) and other government departments to identify opportunities in the Canadian market to showcase and develop market share for UK food and drink and agri-food exports.
- Work with the Department for International Trade (DIT) to support UK businesses to develop market entry strategies and grow market share in the Canadian market through direct engagement, identification of market opportunities and advise on navigating the regulatory landscape through government-industry partnership forums.
- Develop an excellent network of stakeholders and Canadian business partners (importers, distributors, retailers etc.) across the agri-food sector including UK business representative organisations, key exporters and the Devolved Administrations.
- Working with DIT teams to support businesses to establish and grow in market through direct engagement, identification of market opportunities and advice on navigating the regulatory landscape through HMG-industry partnership forums.
- Provide key support for Defra’s agri-food international strategy objectives, including promoting dialogue and collaboration on sustainability and other agri-environmental issues, through developing robust government-to-government relationships with wider government departments.
- Support engagement and visits from ministers, Chief Veterinary Officer, Chief Plant Officer, Chief Scientific Officer and other senior officials.
- Using your expertise, drive strategic discussion and planning with Defra’s agri-food and drink attachés forums, helping to develop a strong global agri-food and drink attachés network.
- Other duties as assigned.
Resources managed :
- Line management of a Senior Trade Officer and counter-signatory for the Trade Officer who reports to the Senior Trade Officer.
Essential on arrival:
- Demonstrated professional experience, either in an international business, economic development or agri-food & drink role.
- Knowledge of the food and drink sector.
- Excellent stakeholder management abilities.
- Excellent interpersonal, presentation and networking skills.
- Excellent management and collaboration skills with the ability to deliver results.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Excellent organizational skills and meticulous attention to detail.
- Proficiency in standard Microsoft applications.
- Willingness to attend occasional events outside of office hours and undertake some travel.
Desirable:
- An understanding of international relations and UK Government policy preferred.
- Experience in a supervisory role.
Must have the legal status to live and work in Canada.
Learning and development opportunities
The British High Commission is committed to all employee’s ongoing learning and development needs. We actively encourage learning & development and will develop a specific plan in collaboration with the successful candidate.
Working patterns:
The individual would be based in Ottawa, Canada. The core working hours are 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. ET, but potentially variable (depending on workload) and somewhat flexible, with Line Manager's agreement. Occasional evening event attendance or travel may be required (less than 10% of time). Occasional meetings with overseas colleagues may be required outside of the core working hours (less than 10% of time).
This role is 40 hours a week.
The British High Commission embraces hybrid working, allowing its staff to typically work from home 2 or 3 times a week. We are an organization that also recognises the critical value of teamwork and we embrace and endorse collaboration by ensuring that all staff attend the office flexibly yet regularly.
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