Research Assistant – Trade Competitiveness Section

We have an excellent opportunity for a Research Assistant to join the Trade Competitiveness Section (TCS) within our Trade, Oceans and Natural Resources (TONR) Directorate.

Reporting to the Head of Section, the successful candidate will be responsible for providing technical and administrative support for the delivery of analytical work, the organisation of advocacy meetings and capacity building workshops, and for the preparation for, and documentation of projects.

Other responsibilities entailed in this role include (but are not limited to):

• Assisting the TCS with literature review, data analysis, information gathering and analytical work on trade competitiveness and trade-related development issues;
• Working with the relevant Advisers in conducting analysis on multilateral, regional and national trade competitiveness issues of interest to Commonwealth member countries;
• Assisting the Section with the preparation of terms of reference and contracts for external consultants and organising meetings, workshops and conferences as part of the Section’s programme of activities;
• Assisting with and conducting other trade competitiveness-related research and contributing to speeches, presentations and talking points for senior officials;
• Assisting the Section with the preparatory processes for major publication projects and their dissemination;
• Assisting with the management of, and collation of resources for the MSME platform.

To be considered, you will need to have a first degree in Economics, Law, International Relations or a related discipline and have at least three years of demonstrated work experience in international trade and investment issues, gained at either a national or international level. Candidates who hold a relevant post graduate qualification and have experience of working on the functioning of international trade organisations such as the World Trade Organization, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development or the International Trade Centre will have an added advantage.

The Commonwealth is a voluntary association of 56 member governments and provides guidance on policy making, technical assistance and advisory services to Commonwealth member countries.  We support governments to help achieve sustainable, inclusive and equitable development.

To join us, you must be a citizen of a Commonwealth country and have the right to live and work in the UK.

Please apply by submitting a CV and cover letter. Covering letters should be structured to address the key criteria required in the Person Specification, giving clear examples.