Market Access Officer - C4 (DIT) at British High Commission

Job ref.: 29/19 LOS
Location: Lagos
Grade: C4 (L)
Type of Post: British Deputy High Commission
Type of Position: Fixed term, with possibility of renewal
Job Category: Department for International Trade roles
Job Subcategory: Department for International Trade (DIT)
Start Date: 15th July 2019

Main Purpose of Job

• This is an exciting time to join the Department for International Trade (DIT). Our aim is to promote British trade and investment across the world which is vital for the prosperity of the UK.
• DIT brings together policy, promotion and financial expertise to break down barriers to trade and investment in markets across the world to help businesses succeed.
• This is a great opportunity to be part of an international team that contributes to the success of the UK's trade goals.
• The jobholder will be required to identify barriers to market entrants into Nigeria – and where applicable other key countries in the region - and will be responsible for devising prioritised solutions to those market access issues, to assist British companies use that understanding to gain access to markets.
• With excellent interpersonal skills and strong sense of initiative, the jobholder will work to support the DIT’s Senior Regional Trade Policy Adviser with the implementation of the commitments made by the UK-Nigeria Economic Development Forum.
• The jobholder will also support DIT’s sector leads in engaging Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs) for the removal of specific legal or regulatory barriers constraining specific immediate commercial wins for the UK; and will support HMG in maximising the benefit of the UK Africa Investment Summit (AIS) 2020 by working to ensure investment commitments made in London find smooth implementation in country from a policy and regulatory perspective.
• The role might have a regional dimension supporting DIT country leads (e.g., in Senegal) by analysing and addressing specific market access and trade policy barriers to greater commercial wins for British companies. This could potentially include supporting the launch of EDF-like processes in other countries within the region.
• The post will be based in Lagos. Travels to Abuja will be the norm. Some intra-regional travels are possible as the jobholder might work on trade policy and market issues pertaining other countries in West Africa.

Roles and Responsibilities
The remits of the jobholder are the following:

• Outreach to exporters, importers and investors (existing and potential) to monitor and identify the challenges faced by British companies trying to access or expand in the Nigerian market – and where applicable the market of other West African countries. Understand the scale and impact of those barriers, including the government’s motivations for imposing them.
• Undertake sectoral analysis based on the country’s priorities and the UK’s offer. In Nigeria, key sectors of importance are agribusiness, energy, infrastructure, education, ICT, financial sector.
• Develop and manage HMG’s political response to these challenges by working with colleagues in DIT, FCO and DFID.  Where applicable, prioritise barriers and devise strategies to overcome them through a mixture of different instruments (lobbying, technical assistance, high level interventions, etc).
• Support the implementation of the UK commitments made under the UK-Nigeria Economic Development Forum (EDF), focusing on the removal of specific market access barriers and leading the UK effort in some workstreams in cooperation with the Nigerian counterparts. Where applicable, contribute to adapting the EDF experience in Nigeria to other countries across the West Africa region to support the UK commercial effort via the removal of non-tariff barriers and senior level diplomatic engagement.
• Feed into centrally run systems aiming to bring coherence into DIT’s work into Market Access barriers (the Digital Market Access Service) and ongoing Ministerial-level dialogue on economic development between the UK and Nigeria.
• Work with the Embassy’s trade, economic and programme teams (London and in-country) that are already working to identify where the UK can provide technical assistance to support a friendlier trade and investment environment, including on trade facilitation. Where applicable, the job holder will also support, design or manage programmes (or components) which contribute to these objectives – especially as they related to the market access agenda.
• Develop networks with key partners to get a deeper understanding of Nigeria’s (and where applicable West Africa’s) economic regulatory bodies, focused on the removal of targeted market access barriers to more trade and investment. Where applicable, design joint lobby work and draw on ODA technical assistance to inform partner country’s stance on key issues. Partners might include:
  • Relevant government ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs)
  • Local businesses and British firms operating in country
  • Academic and think-tank institutions
• Assist the trade diplomacy skills development within the UK Mission in Nigeria and where applicable in selected countries in the region; and be an active member of the economic diplomacy working groups within the UK Mission in Nigeria, contributing to policy and ministerial/high level briefs on trade policy and market access.
• Lead the post-Brexit trade policy information desk providing market access links and information to interested local and British businesses to contribute to an effective transition of trading relations when the UK leaves the EU.
• This role is subject to change and could be withdrawn.

Essential Qualifications, Skills and Experience  

• Undergraduate degree in Economics, Commercial Law, or related fields.
• At least three years professional work experience – preferably with exposure to policymaking
• Proven analytical skills, ability to understand and communicate complex policy issues effectively to non-specialist audiences.
• Excellent collaboration skills, including the ability to work with colleagues in other departments.

Desirable Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

• Postgraduate degree or professional qualification in, economics, commercial law, or related fields.
• Experience of policy-making, particularly in trade policy or economic policy-related fields.

Required Competencies:

• Seeing the Big Picture, Leading and Communicating, Collaborating and Partnering, Delivering at Pace

Remuneration
Starting monthly salary - NGN 812,470

Other benefits and conditions of employment:

• Learning and development opportunities (and any specific training courses to be completed):
• The successful applicant will have access to a range of Learning and Development opportunities with in-house and e-learning, with the potential for overseas training. From time to time there will be requirements to assist other teams within the Embassy, West Africa prosperity/ DIT teams, and the wider UK Government, working with other members of the team to build your overall experience.