Job description Economic Diplomacy Officer

Context
A key role within the embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Kuala Lumpur is played by its economic section. This section endeavours to strengthen the international earning capacity of the Dutch economy, by building and improving sustainable trade and investment relations between the Netherlands and Malaysia in priority areas. To do so, members of the economic section utilise and intertwine their networks within the Malaysian & Dutch private and public sectors and actively share their knowhow on doing business in Malaysia.

Besides the position of Economic Diplomacy Officer that will become vacant by mid-September, the economic section consists of: another Economic Diplomacy Officer, one Senior Economic Diplomacy Officer,one Agricultural Advisor (who reports to the Jakarta-based Agricultural Counsellor), one First Secretary for Economic Affairs and one Economic Counsellor / Deputy Ambassador, who leads the economic section. 

To enhance synergies and assure solid back-stopping, the section organises its work in several thematic clusters, each of which is led by a Dutch diplomat. The activities of the economic section are actively supported by two management assistants and the embassy’s operational management team. The economic section’s members actively enhance synergies with the embassy’s political section, notably in the fields of public diplomacy and economic security.

The position of Economic Diplomacy Officer that willbecome vacantwill focus on one or more economic sector(s) that is part of the focus areas of our economic section.

General features of the job

• Strengthen the international earning capacity of one or more priority areas of the Dutch economy, by building and improving sustainable trade and investment relations between the Netherlands and Malaysia in this/these priority areas, notably by (i) providing Dutch companies with fitting advice on their most relevant challenges, (ii) facilitating business deals between Dutch companies and their most promising business partners, and (iii) representing the Netherlands in external meetings in an effective and efficient manner.
• Underpin fruitful business2business contacts in said priority areas, by facilitating, where desirable and possible, relevant knowledge2knowledge - and government2government relations.
• Contribute to effective, efficient and pleasant cooperation within the embassy and between NL embassies in Southeast Asia in said priority (sub)sectors;
• Contribute, in a very hands-on manner, to our general economic and public diplomacy in Malaysia, for instance by leading or helping the practical organisation of relevant events and other projects, or, where needed, by supporting or temporarily taking care of the portfolio of other diplomatic officers;
• Prepare briefing notes, talking points and speeches on economic issues for the (deputy) ambassador.

Working Environment

• The Netherlands embassy is located in Kuala Lumpur and consists of 16 staff members. The main focus areas of the Netherlands embassy in Malaysia are economic diplomacy, diplomacy and consular services (notably to Dutch citizens);
• The atmosphere at the embassy is open, informal and cooperative, and we expect everyone to work as one team closely together. Staff is encouraged to be pro-active and enterprising, within the framework of our multi-annual country strategy, annual plan and our other planning documents;
• Our embassy’s working languages are English and Dutch;
• The employee will be provided with a duty phone and a laptop;
• The Economic Diplomacy Officer will be a member of the Economic Affairs Department of the embassy. The Economic Counsellor / Deputy Ambassador is his/her line manager.

Required skills and knowledge

• We are looking for an experienced, Malaysian professional in trade and investment promotion, who has the flexibility and skills to perform in various (and sometimes new) business sectors.
• The candidate is good at networking and building fruitful work relations both in Malaysia and the NL.
• The candidate is strong team-player who seeks and values suggestions or feedback from others, can cooperate with colleagues or stakeholders in a pleasant, effective and efficient manner and can, occasionally, lead a project team. He/she can work independently but knows when to involve his/her superiors or colleagues, takes initiatives and leads them to fruition.
• The candidate has a talent for planning & organisation and can translate (at times abstract) policies into concrete objectives and actions; whenever needed, the candidate helps to get also practical work done in a pro-active and hands-on manner.
• Flexibility : the candidate will, when required, participate in programmes and receptions outside office hours.
• The candidate has excellent writing skills in English.
• The candidate is analytically strong and can translate the latest relevant political or economic developments into concrete, relevant actions.
• The candidate has the ability to enhance the economic security of the Netherlands and to properly handle commercially confidential information.
• Level of education : university level (Bachelor’s or Master’s) degree.
• Level of experience : at least 5 years of relevant experience.

General information

• Working Hours:36
• Contract duration: a fixed-term contract
• Salary Scale: 8 (RM 8,066 – RM 12,098)

Interested?

For further information, please contact KUA-EA@minbuza.nl . Applicants should apply for this position no later than Sunday, July 12, by sending a brief motivation letter and their resume to Pieter.blusse@minbuza.nl