Foreign & Commonwealth Office Hiring for Economic and Innovation Officer Job at Manama Full Time

The British Embassy in Bahrain has a vacancy for the position of Economic and Innovation Officer, Grade EO.

Main purpose of the job:

The Economic and Innovation Officer will support the Ambassador and Embassy’s Political Section to deliver the FCDO’s economic, innovation and climate change priorities. Her Majesty’s Government seeks to promote the UK’s prosperity by opening markets and removing barriers, driving business friendly economic reform, championing British business, and supporting free trade, clean and green investment and sustainable global growth.

The Officer will deliver high quality timely analysis and reporting of Bahrain’s economic developments and look to support UK-Bahrain trade and commercial opportunities, including the current UK-GCC FTA negotiations. They will need to use a broad range of contacts from different sectors to facilitate the exchange of information and ideas between UK and Bahrain. The officer will also lead on work in emerging sectors, Innovation, Science, Technology, Education and Health, as well as deliver the Government’s climate change agenda.

The successful candidate will need to have a close understanding of the economic, political and social environment in Bahrain, and quickly develop an understanding of UK interests and priorities in order to identify areas of opportunity. They will work closely with colleagues from a number of Government Departments in Bahrain and the UK. They will be required to produce reports and present persuasive cases, sometimes quickly and against tight deadlines, as well as needing to be proactive, resilient, flexible, and work well under pressure. They must be able to operate fluently in English, with Arabic desirable.

Roles and responsibilities:

• Support to the Head of Economic and Regional Issues Team in analysing/reporting on developments in economic policy and other areas of potential commercial interest by independently researching and analysing information, and identifying areas of relevance to UK. Support the UK-GCC FTA negotiations with timely advice and country detail. Horizon scan for emerging areas of opportunity in the Bahrain economy, which match UK expertise.
• Lead the Embassy’s Climate Change agenda, with the UK as current COP president, supporting Bahrain on their climate commitments and look for areas of mutual climate interest.
• Seek out new bilateral collaborations between UK-Bahrain and partnerships in academia, private sector and governmental institutions, whilst supporting the DIT team to achieve commercial outputs and to identify market barriers for British companies.
• Produce high quality analysis and reporting of current events and developments in Bahrain and the region, under their policy portfolio, adapting style and content to suit different audiences.
• The above list is not exhaustive and the jobholder will be required to be flexible and take on other ad hoc tasks as required, including supporting the wider Political team during busy periods and leave, as well as participating in Embassy corporate/social activity.

Key behaviours required:

• Seeing the Big Picture: Understand how your role fits with and supports organisational objectives. Recognise the wider Civil Service priorities and ensure work is in the national interest.
• Making Effective Decisions: Use evidence and knowledge to support accurate, expert decisions and advice. Carefully consider alternative options, implications and risks of decisions.
• Delivering at Pace: Take responsibility for delivering timely and quality results with focus and drive.

Essential

• Fluent communication skills in English (both spoken and written).
• Knowledge and experience of economics, and trade and investment work in Bahrain and/or the UK.
• Knowledge and experience of emerging technologies, innovation sectors and of climate change policies in Bahrain and/or the UK.
• A bachelor’s degree in Economics, Science, Politics, International Relations, or similar discipline.
• Proven ability to collaborate effectively across teams.
• A self-starter with the ability to prioritise own workload, meet deadlines, and drive to see through to completion without compromising the quality of the work.
• Strong IT skills and literacy in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and Teams).

Desirable

• Fluent communication skills in Arabic.
• Ability to express ideas and messages clearly and concisely, both orally and in written communication, in English and Arabic. Ability to write to a high standard for a wide range of audiences.
• Experience of working within Bahrain political and policy landscape.
• Ability to engage and influence at all levels and with external contacts.
• Experience working in an embassy/ foreign diplomatic mission, international organisation, or large company in a similar capacity.
• Previous experience of working for Her Majesty’s Government (HMG) or understanding of UK government structures and processes.

Working hours and remuneration:

A monthly salary package of BHD 1099.50 as well as private medical insurance, a leave entitlement and training package. Specific training and mentoring for the role will be provided for the successful candidate.

This is a Full Time, Permanent position.

Working hours are 35 hours per week. Standard working hours are from 07:30 AM until 02:30 PM from Sunday to Thursday. The Embassy operates a flexible working policy, which entitles staff to work more flexibly as long as the core hours of 09:00 AM to 01:00 PM are worked, subject to Line Manager approval.

No accommodation or relocation expenses are payable in connection with this position.

The successful candidate will be subject to a 3-month probationary period and will need to commence security clearance procedures through the Embassy as soon as possible. Employment offers are subject to successful clearance of pre-employment checks.

Application Process:

Interested candidates must attach the following documents along with the completed online application form:

• An updated Curriculum Vita (CV)
• A covering letter

** (Applications that do not include the above stated information will be rejected).

All applications must be received before 23:55 (Bahrain local time) on 19 May 2022.

Applications received after the stated deadline will not be considered.

The recruitment process, including security clearance, is expected to take around two months.

Due to the large amount of applications we receive only those shortlisted for interview/ assessment will be contacted.

The start date mentioned in the advert is an assumed start date and the successful candidate will be required to undergo security vetting procedures. Any offer of employment will be subject to the candidate achieving suitable clearances and reference checks.

Staff recruited locally by the British Embassy are subject to terms and conditions of service according to local labour law.

The British Embassy Bahrain is an equal opportunities employer, dedicated to inclusivity, a diverse workforce and valuing difference.