Working with us
Vacancy for a UK Trade Officer
The British Embassy in Vienna is seeking to employ a Trade Officer (LEIII) to join the commercial team, as soon as possible.
Main purpose of job
The role will be both challenging and demanding, requiring flexibility, initiative and resourcefulness. The successful applicant will be responsible for several industry sectors, promoting UK business in Austria and, to a lesser extent, in CEE countries. The Trade Officer will collaborate with companies, building contacts to undertake and compile research assignments and written trade reports and organise events in accordance with the UK Trade & Investment’s international strategy and standards.
The successful applicant will work within a budgetary framework to promote UK products, services and export opportunities in a number of industry sectors. They will also undertake market research. Activities will include visits to Austrian companies, visits to British, Austrian and International trade fairs, organisation of trade promotion events (including recruitment of UK companies to participate as exhibitors), and organisation and promotion of Austrian trade missions to the UK. In addition the Trade Officer will answer commercial enquiries from both British and Austrian companies.
Working closely with the Head of UKTI Austria and the rest of the small team, the successful candidate will also be involved in budgetary planning and forecasting, and will update UK Trade and Investment’s Customer Relations Management system and other IT portals regularly.
Essential Skills and Competencies
Applicants should have experience of working towards individual performance targets within a team setting, contributing to the overall goals of the division. Formal qualifications in business/economics combined with commercial, business development and/or trade promotion experience, ideally in an international context, are highly desirable. The ideal candidate will have well defined interpersonal skills and organisational talent, and will be capable of balancing several projects in parallel. Drive and initiative to get things done, adaptability and a positive mindset towards working as part of a broader team are essential. We would welcome applications from university graduates with relevant internship experience. Fluent English and German (both spoken and written) as well as good IT skills are required.
Selection Process
Selection is by interview and the successful candidate will be required to undergo security checks and satisfactorily complete a probationary period of 3 months before his/her position is confirmed.
Applications: please send a detailed CV and covering letter in English by email to rachael.styles@fco.gov.uk to arrive no later than 12 noon on Friday 27 November 2009.
Applications received after the stated deadline will not be considered. Please note that we are unable to acknowledge receipt of applications and will only contact those candidates who are shortlisted.
Short listed candidates will be invited for an interview in early December 2009. The successful candidate will be expected to take up the position as soon as possible.
The salary for this position will be €2203 gross payable monthly in arrears (14 times a year).
Hours of work are usually 09:00 – 17:00hrs, although it is possible to start and finish a little earlier if preferred. On occasion there will be requirements to start earlier and or finish later, and there will be occasional weekend work (for which Time Off in Lieu will be granted).
The British Embassy in Vienna is an equal opportunities employer. It is a friendly and welcoming place to work and we are committed to ensuring work/life balance.
General information
The British diplomatic presence in Vienna consists of 3 separate missions: the British Embassy to Austria (also known as the bilateral Embassy), the UK Mission to the UN in Vienna and the UK Delegation to the OSCE. Staff at the missions fall into two groups:
- UK-based staff: career diplomatic staff, employed directly by the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) in London, and sent to work at posts abroad for periods of 3-5 years (numbering approx. 50)
- Locally employed staff: local residents, employed in accordance with local employment practices (approx. 35)
The UK missions to the international organisations in Vienna consist of UK-based staff only. However, the international organisations themselves employ local staff, and advertise such vacancies on their websites. For further information, including links to the relevant sites, visit the Living in Austria section of this website.
Of the UK missions in Austria, only the bilateral Embassy employs local staff. Job vacancies are rare, but if you wish, you can email us your application on management@britishembassy.at . We will keep your details on file and contact you should a suitable vacancy arise, but please note that we will not acknowledge your application.
Student placements, temporary jobs and work placements
Students at UK universities who are British nationals and are considering a career in the Diplomatic Service can apply to the Foreign & Commonwealth Office in London for a place on an FCO placement scheme. There are two annual placement schemes: the Economic Sandwich Placement Scheme and the Foreign Policy Sandwich Placement Scheme, which are open to university students in their second year of undergraduate study. Further information is available under ‘work experience’, in the working for us section of the Foreign Office website.
The FCO in London also offers a number of work placements to talented individuals from a diverse range of backgrounds, details of which are also available via the above page.
