Investment Negotiations and Policy Adviser
The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) is the department for economic growth. This objective is achieved in part through promoting free trade, opening up new markets for businesses, and striking trade deals. This is an exciting time to join DBT, where you will have the opportunity to shape the UK’s international trade agenda for years to come.
The Investment Team in the Trade Policy, Implementation, and Negotiations DG Group (TPIN) develops UK policy on international investment treaties. The wider team leads bilateral and multilateral negotiations on investment policy. This role sits in the multilateral branch of the Investment Team, which focuses on work across the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), World Trade Organisation (WTO), and the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL).
This is a fast-paced and exciting area of trade policy with a significant level of ministerial, cross-Whitehall, and international exposure. We have an ambitious programme of work, so you will likely contribute to multiple multilateral organisations and wider cross-cutting investment treaty policy.
As a Policy Adviser, you should be able to collaborate across Whitehall, with external stakeholders, and with teams within the Department. You should also be able to support on the development of robust policy, drawing together information from different sources to reach defensible conclusions and prepare briefings.You may be expected to represent the UK internationally, where you would support your team to defend UK positions and ensure positive negotiations outcomes.
The Investment Team is vibrant, hardworking, and collaborative. We value diversity and recognise the importance of professional and personal growth. Whilst knowledge of trade policy or international negotiations would be useful, the team places a high emphasis on learning and development.With the Department’s broad learning and development offer, we will support you to build your trade expertise.
In normal circumstances, a willingness to travel overseas is a requirement of the role.
This role will support negotiations and policy development in multilateral organisations. Whilst the exact scope of this role is to be defined, the team’s priority areas are:
- Participation in the OECD’s Investment Committee.
- Work at the WTO, on the Investment Facilitation for Development Agreement and the Trade-Related Investment Measures (TRIMS) Committee.
- UNCITRAL negotiations to reform Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS).
In this role, you will:
- Support the development of evidence-based investment trade policy, considering UK experience from recent negotiations and trends in wider international practice.
- Contribute to strategies for multilateral negotiations, working closely with other teams throughout the Department and beyond.
- Support the team in formal and informal discussions with other countries, bilaterally and multilaterally.
- Build and maintain strong, collaborative relationships across HMG to facilitate collaboration in policy development between departments and teams.
- Support engagement with key stakeholders within and outside government, ensuring that insights feed into UK trade policy and negotiations.
- Produce briefing for ministers and senior officials, drawing input from across the Investment Team and the wider Department.
- Support the wider team on priority projects.