Commercial Attache at WTS Energy

Responsibilities 

Working with the support and supervision of the Trade and Development Officer at the Embassy Kenya: 

• Contribute to the planning and delivering of the Trade Promotion (TP) function of the Embassy in Kenya (as reflected in the annual Embassy Business Plan);
• Engage with the business network;
• Maintain a database of business interests in Kenya/region;
• Assist in developing and updating the Embassy ‘Doing Business in Kenya’ template;
• Contribute to the planning/delivery of Ministerial led trade missions to Kenya;
• Commission studies to identify opportunities for business in defined sectors;
• Assist with the development of Embassy systems to capturing, updating, storing and communicating information – in areas relevant to our TP responsibilities;
• Provide advice about the capture and measurement of results achieved in the area of Trade Promotion;
• Advise about accessing funds available for regional TP activities;
• Assist with outreach to relevant organisations (regional and country specific) that can contribute to enhancing trading relationships between country and East Africa and in origin country. 

Working with the Trade Promotion Officer in each of the 4 missions that constitute the East African hub: 

• Plan and organise regular communication between Embassy TP officers in Kenya/Tanzania/Ethiopia/Uganda to jointly plan and exchange information and experiences in TP;
• Act as liaison person for the preparation of items to be discussed at annual African Head of Missions (HoMs) meetings, quarterly regional HoMs discussions and bi-monthly meetings of Embassy TP focal persons;
• Propose and get agreement for annual work plans of activities in TP that can be jointly undertaken;
• Ensure there is coherence and co-operation in the development of Embassy web-pages on our TP role and that a regional dimension is reflected in the information uploaded by each Embassy;
• Present opportunities for possible joint cooperation of organisations with a regional TP mandate. 

Key skills and competencies required 

• Post graduate education in economics/politics/business;
• Experience in working with private sector trade outreach activities or with public sector institutions involved in trade promotion;
• Understanding of the opportunities and constraints of working with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Embassy network;
• Experience and recognition of the importance of instituting and maintaining good management systems;
• Understanding of complexities of doing business in each of the 4 focus countries
• Excellent communication, writing and reporting skills;
• Flexibility and good team working;
• Self-motivation and a capacity for creative thinking. 

Salary and conditions 

A salary level commensurate with the responsibilities of the post will be agreed. 

The candidate will be employed on a (renewable) one year contract, with an initial probationary period for 6 months, with a full understanding/provision that this is not a permanent position. 

Terms and conditions of employment will be similar to those on offer to other local staff recruited at the Embassy. 

Oversight, logistics, cost 

The Commercial Attaché will work as part of the Embassy team. He/she will report directly to the Trade & Development Officer in regular communication with the Head of Mission. They will also work closely with the Second Secretary and with local staff at the mission. 

The Commercial Attaché will avail of the existing transport and administration arrangements at the Embassy.