The purpose of the Department for International Trade (DIT), established in July 2016, is to integrate and elevate the trade agenda; help secure a better deal for the UK as it negotiates a successful exit from the EU; and, to establish new relationships with other countries around the globe.

The UK and China are major trading partners and trade and investment success in China is key to the UK economy. The Department for International Trade (DIT) China is the largest overseas DIT network. At Post, DIT’s focus is on trade policy and strategic, high-value trade and investment opportunities.

The jobholder will be based in the Embassy’s Trade Policy Unit which has four main priorities: 1) Future UK-China Trade Relationship, 2) Multilateral Trade, 3) Market Access and 4) Business Environment. The jobholder will work across all four of these areas, with a focus on Priority Four.

As Business Environment Advisor, you will be on the frontline monitoring and reporting on China’s changing regulatory environment across areas as diverse as foreign investment, cyber, SOEs, competition, procurement, trade facilitation and licensing.

The jobholder needs to be able to communicate to an internal and external audience what is happening, and why, and what this means for the UK’s economic, political and business interests. You will also be expected to lead on drafting the team’s regulatory updates on China’s business environment and on discrete special reports on specific topics of interest to the UK.

You will work closely with the policy officers across the network, including from Political, Outreach, Economic, Science & Innovation to identify synergies and meet our objectives. You will also engage and build relationships with various UK and Chinese government ministries and regulators to pursue our business environment agenda.

Roles and responsibilities / what will the jobholder be expected to achieve?:

Regulatory analysis:

The candidate will monitor and report on key regulatory issues affecting UK businesses in China. The candidate will:

• Carry out research into these areas, monitoring open source information, attending events and speaking to experts, including business (amongst other things);
• Provide regular reporting to Embassy and Whitehall audiences;
• Brief senior officials, both orally and in writing;
• Engage with Chinese government to help clarify policy announcements and trajectory

When necessary the candidate will deputise for the Business Environment lead.

Stakeholder management:

You will need to maintain a structured and co-ordinated approach to engagement with our internal stakeholders across the UK government. Further, you will need to engage with external stakeholders including UK business, Chinese government ministries and academia/think-tanks to support our trade policy objectives.

Cross-team working:

You will work across DIT and the wider China Network to identify and seek synergies with trade promotion colleagues. You will support DIT Sector Teams develop their trade policy strategies and help them leverage their policy asks.

Visits and Dialogues:

You will support organising senior HMG visits to China, as well as preparations for important Dialogues including the Joint Economic and Trade Commission (JETCo) and Economic & Financial Dialogue (EFD).

Experience of monitoring Chinese regulatory issues

Previous experience of communicating clearly and concisely in English is essential, including the ability to explain technical terms and processes to a non-technical audience.

Near native fluency in English and ability to write reports to tight deadlines.

A university degree

Experience of working in government

Project management skills

We offer a competitive package, which includes basic salary, good leave entitlement, and insurance plan, etc. The gross starting salary (before all deductions) is CNY 17, 870/month for Chinese Nationals and an abated monthly salary of CNY 24, 746/month for British Nationals and spouses/ partners (all nationalities) of diplomats who are ‘W’ (diplomatic) visa holders and meet passport criteria.

We also offer excellent development opportunities and a 22-day annual leave entitlement in pro rata. Conditioned working hours is 35 hours/ week from Monday to Friday and flexible working can be arranged upon personal needs. For more details on our Total Rewards Package, please visit our website http://www.gov.uk/government/world/china.

Staff recruited locally by the British Consulate-General is subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local Chinese employment law.

Please note that your application must be submitted before 23:55 (China Standard Time) on the day mentioned in the above field “Application deadline”.

Incomplete application forms will not be taken into consideration, so please ensure you provide the information requested. We regret to advise that we will only be contacting short-listed candidates. Applicants called for an interview will be assessed on the core competencies listed above.

Advertised start date is provisional and subject to successful completion of reference and security checks.

You may check your online FCO application centre/email for any updates.