Vacancy Senior Economic Policy Officer - Australia
Senior Economic Policy Officer
Unit/mission: Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Canberra, Australia
Job level: 09
Number of hours: 38
Who we are
The Kingdom of the Netherlands is represented in Australia through the Embassy in Canberra, the Consulate-General in Sydney, a Netherlands Business Support Office (NBSO) in Melbourne, an office of the Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency (NFIA) within the consulate in Sydney and 5 honorary consuls in State capitals. The Embassy and Consulate-General work closely together. There is a professional yet open work culture with ample space for innovative ideas, cooperation across files and professional development.
Job description
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We are seeking a Senior Economic Policy Officer based at the Embassy in Canberra. The ideal candidate is an ambitious, goal-oriented team player with a heart for climate policy and sustainable economic development, able to develop a keen eye for opportunities to boost Dutch-Australian business cooperation. The officer will be an integral part of the Economic Cluster which is headed by the Consul-General in Sydney, and work in close cooperation with colleagues across our network in Australia. He/she will support the trade and investment colleagues in Sydney by monitoring and reporting on policy developments within economic sectors relevant to the Netherlands and help to build and maintain a relevant network in Canberra. Travel within Australia and occasional international travel may be part of this role. Given time zone differences, the candidate will have evening calls with counterparts in the Netherlands which can be taken remotely (with hours compensation during regular working days).
Duties and Responsibilities
- Maintaining up to date knowledge on relevant developments in the Netherlands, the European Union and Australia;
- Acting as the primary point of contact vis-à-vis the EU delegation in Canberra with regard to economic and climate policy matters;
- Liaising with economic sections of EU (and other) Embassies in Canberra;
- Following, analysing and reporting on Australia’s national and international climate policies (NB: if Australia gets to host COP31 in November 2026: act as COP31 desk officer and contribute to facilitating incoming Dutch delegations);
- Reporting on various macro-economic developments in Australia to relevant target groups in the Netherlands and, more specifically, monitoring developments in domains such as Circularity, Renewable Energy, Critical Minerals/Rare Earth Metals, Technological Innovation and Sustainable Food Production;
- Representing the Netherlands in meetings with Australian (federal) government departments or agencies, peak bodies, think tanks and knowledge institutions;
- Preparing briefing notes and or speeches on economic and climate topics for the Ambassador and Consul-General;
- In cooperation with the Consulate-General in Sydney (CG), Netherlands Business Support Office (NBSO) in Melbourne and/or Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency (NFIA) offices: organising and accompanying delegation visits, seminars/webinars, roundtables and other business events.
Job Requirements
- A university degree (MA or MSc) in relevant fields;
- Work experience in and affinity with economic and climate policy matters;
- Valid working rights in Australia (Australian Citizenship, Permanent Residency, or a non-temporary working visa);
- Earlier experience in or links with the Netherlands are recommended (Dutch language skills are not required).
Skills
- A good understanding of the Australian and Dutch political and economic landscapes, or the ability to acquire that knowledge on short notice;
- Excellent communication skills (spoken and written), suited to working in an intercultural (Dutch–Australian) team;
- Strong analytical and reporting skills, particularly in a policy and/or diplomatic context.
What We Offer
- A full-time position (38 hours/week) in a dynamic international setting;
- One-year initial contract, with possibility of extension;
- A monthly gross base salary starting from AUD 10.219 (depending on experience).
How to Apply
Please submit:
- A motivation letter
- Your CV
For inquiries, you may also use this email address.
Application Deadline: 17 September 2025
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for interviews.