The successful applicant will be engaged as a locally engaged staff member by the Australian Embassy, Brussels.
The Fair Work Act 2009 is not intended to apply to the employment of Locally Engaged Staff (LES) at Australia’s overseas diplomatic and consular missions. The successful candidate’s terms and conditions of employment will be governed by the laws of Belgium.
Please be advised that the Australian Embassy, Brussels does not assist with relocation. Any costs associated with taking up the position would be the responsibility of the successful candidate.
About the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
The role of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) is to work with national governments, international organisations and industry partners to grow the value of Australia’s agricultural trade and reduce risks to our agricultural sector, ensuring that Australia’s agricultural, fisheries, food and forestry industries remain competitive, profitable and sustainable. Our work contributes to promoting agricultural productivity, supporting sustainable, high quality natural resources for primary producers and the community, and maintaining and improving market access for Australian exporters. The Department has a network of overseas officers to manage agricultural relationships with key partners and organisations.
About the Position
The Senior Policy Officer supports the Minister Counsellor/Counsellor (Agriculture) to protect and expand Australia’s agricultural exports to the European Union by monitoring and analysing developments across EU institutions, agricultural and sustainability proposals, and trade related measures that may affect Australia. Working under limited direction, the officer facilitates policy discussions, coordinates stakeholder engagement, conducts high-level analysis, and provides technical advice and authoritative recommendations on agriculture and agrifood trade, including EU regulatory processes, parliamentary cycles and border implementation.
The role works closely with DAFF officers in Canberra and Department of Foreign Affairs (DFAT) officers in the Australian Embassy and serves as a key point of contact for senior management and for Australian industry seeking to understand emerging complex EU rules, anticipated risks and opportunities for engagement. The officer also collaborates and leads strategic engagement with likeminded partners in Brussels to progress Australia’s priorities in line with Mission objectives. A high degree of autonomy and good judgement in managing multi-factor workflows is essential.
Key responsibilities of the position include but are not limited to:
- Provide high level policy advice, briefing and analysis on EU agriculture and sustainability policies, agri-food trade matters and market access issues, and take the lead in developing options and recommendations for the senior officials.
- Undertake complex research; collect, monitor, analyse and evaluate information across EU institutions and Member States to provide accurate and specialised advice to the senior decision maker, Minister Counsellor (Agriculture) and to DAFF Canberra, on developments that may affect Australia’s exports.
- Attend representational functions and liaise with counterparts with a high degree of independence and discretion, including officials from the European Commission, Member States’ Permanent Representations, the European Parliament, third country missions and industry stakeholders.
- Proactively build and manage strategic working relationships with stakeholders including EU officials, Member State competent authorities and Australian industry, to progress key priorities and independently represent the department on issues of interest to Australia.
- Respond to enquiries regarding EU import requirements, legislative and administrative frameworks; explain EU regulatory and parliamentary processes; progress market access requests; and facilitate the resolution of time-sensitive disruptions to trade in agricultural goods, including detained consignments.
- Coordinate Australia’s engagement with relevant Brussels based agricultural policy discussions, including attending meetings, liaising with DAFF Canberra and external partners, and reporting outcomes and opportunities.
- Organise and coordinate programs for visiting high-level government officials, ministers or Australian business representatives, including meetings with EU institutions and Member States, field visits, workshops and other events.
- Provide corporate and administrative support to the agriculture team including writing cables, meeting reports, records of conversation and weekly/monthly activity reports; contributing to budget planning for the agriculture section; maintaining a database of key contacts.
- Manage through task setting, mentoring, and performance evaluation junior team members, including internship participants and new staff.
Required Qualifications/Experience/Knowledge
- A minimum of 5 years of experience working on EU agri-food policy issues.
- Sound understanding of Australian agriculture and relevant policy settings.
- Demonstrated liaison and representational experience in a multilateral or European institutional setting and an ability to develop and maintain strong working relationships with relevant stakeholders.
- High level research and analytical skills and subject matter expertise in international agricultural trade and market access, including a strong familiarity with EU legislative cycles and implementation of regulations at border level.
- Sound understanding of sustainability policy, as it relates to agriculture and trade, with demonstrated capacity in public policy monitoring, analysis and implementation in a regulatory context.
- Demonstrated ability to take initiative, set priorities, exercise judgement and organise work effectively and efficiently, and to complete projects and assignments with limited supervision.
- Experience in complex and sensitive policy/political negotiation.
- A high level of written and oral proficiency in English in a professional environment with a proven ability to prepare written material that documents findings in a logical, succinct and persuasive manner.
- Excellent team working, interpersonal and high-level stakeholder management and negotiation skills including experience working with senior representatives of government and industry.
- High level of proficiency with information technology systems, especially Microsoft Office products (Copilot, Canva, Word, Excel & PowerPoint).
Desirable Qualifications/Experience
- Appropriate tertiary qualifications in science, economics, agriculture or trade law, or equivalent experience.
- Previous experience working within EU institutions, an EU Member State administration or related agricultural industry sectors would be a distinct advantage.
- A second European language at working proficiency level (B2).
Selection Criteria
Please ensure you provide a response to each of the listed selection criteria below. In your response, you must include relevant high-level examples from your experience that support your claims against the role.
The word limit is strictly no more than 250 words per response to each selection criteria. The panel may not assess incomplete applications or responses which exceed the word limit.
A. Demonstrated high level research and analytical skills and subject matter expertise in international agricultural trade and market access, and sustainability policy, with demonstrated capacity in monitoring and analysis of public policy and its implementation in a regulatory context, relevant to the EU and Australia agriculture and trade.
B. Liaison and representational experience in a multilateral or European institutional setting and an ability to develop and maintain strong working relationships with relevant stakeholders.
C. Excellent written and oral proficiency in English in a professional environment with a proven ability to prepare written material that documents findings in a logical, succinct and persuasive manner, and experience using a range of IT tools to optimise the impact of messaging.
D. Team working and interpersonal skills, stakeholder management skills, and experience working with senior representatives of government, industry and third countries.
E. Demonstrated ability to take initiative, set priorities, exercise judgement and organise work effectively and efficiently, and to complete projects and assignments on time with limited supervision.
The Human Resources Section based in the Australian High Commission, London is responsible for managing all recruitment processes across the European region. To apply, please use the 'Apply' button below. Please direct any other queries to [email protected].
We are committed to providing an inclusive and diverse workplace where all employees are valued. We appreciate the experiences, skills and perspectives of all individuals. We actively encourage applications from people from diverse backgrounds who share our values.
The Australian Embassy, Brussels, seeks an experienced Senior Policy Officer (Agriculture & Trade) to join their team.
