Job Posting –  Assistant to the Deputy Trade Commissioner for Europe and Country Director (DEU23.268) – Berlin

Are you interested in a career in international affairs? Where you can make a difference as part of a fast-moving, high profile and international environment? Curious about what trade relations between the UK and Germany look like in practice? Then join us at the UK’s Department for Business & Trade (DBT) in Germany!

We are looking for an Assistant to provide administrative support to the Deputy Trade Commissioner for Europe in their dual role as Country Director for the Department for Business & Trade (DBT) team in Germany.

This is a key position working at the centre of one of the Germany Network’s biggest teams, with around 40 DBT staff based at the Embassy in Berlin and the Consulates-General in Düsseldorf and Munich.

You will be responsible for the coordination of the Director’s diary as well as organisation of the Director’s programme and briefing. You will help ensure the smooth running of the DBT Germany team, including supporting team activities, projects and senior visits.

We’re looking for someone who is a team player and able to develop effective relationships with colleagues, as well as with offices of key businesses and stakeholders on behalf of DBT Germany. This position offers scope to work collaboratively with colleagues across the Embassy and the DBT International Trade network in Europe and in the UK.

As part of the DBT team, you will have the chance to take part in our broad and varied corporate and learning and development opportunities. What we ask in return is that you bring excellent communication and time management skills, be highly organised and able to juggle competing demands in a fast-paced working environment.

About DBT

The UK’s new Department for Business and Trade brings together the business focused functions of the former Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and the Department for International Trade (DIT). Our mission is to encourage trade and investment between the UK and Germany and improve market access for businesses. This is critical to our economies, supporting millions of jobs, driving economic growth and improving living standard across the globe, whilst at the same time promoting wider goals – e.g. improving economic security, championing diversity and inclusion in how we do business, or tackling climate change and delivering Net Zero. For more information about DBT’s objectives, see here.

Main duties and responsibilities:

• Manage the DBT Country Director’s diary, including scheduling of all internal and external meetings and appointments;

• Coordinate the preparation of briefing papers and presentations for the Director’s external meetings and speaking engagements, ensuring smooth coordination with other team members based across Germany and Europe;

• Organise visit programmes and transport arrangements for the Country Director in Germany and in the UK, including VIP and senior visits;

• Manage English and German written correspondence and telephone enquiries and provide administrative support on behalf of the Director, including arranging team meetings and video conferences;

• Maintain the Director’s contacts database;

• Manage the Director’s expenses and travel budget;

• Provide administrative support to the DBT Germany team, including setting up meetings, drafting and circulating meeting agendas and recording minutes;

• Provide general office management for the DBT team in Berlin;

• Carry out other duties that may reasonably be required and which are in accordance with the grading and core competencies of the job.

Any other duties that may reasonably be required in support of the wider work of the Embassy, including crisis work.

Essential qualifications, skills and experience:

•  Fluency at C2 level in English and German, both spoken and written, according to the CEFR framework*, or equivalent;

• Previous experience in a similar role, i.e. administration and supporting a senior leader;

• Strong organisational skills;

• Excellent time management and prioritisation skills;

• The ability to respond flexibly to competing demands;

• Expert user of applications such as Word, PowerPoint and Excel;

• Have an interest in business, economics and/or supporting the UK-DE bilateral relationship;

• Keen to work within an international setting and a good team player;

• Drive and enthusiasm, combined with the ability to deliver, working as part of a team;

• Resourcefulness and strong research skills with the ability to act on your own initiative to find creative solutions to problems;

• Excellent communication skills to work with business contacts and a wide and diverse DIT team;

• Happy to engage in a wide range of tasks;