Diplomatic Division, Embassy of Switzerland in Nairobi

The Trade Officer will promote and support bilateral trade and investment relations between Switzerland and Kenya. The role involves assisting businesses, facilitating trade opportunities, and contributing to the Embassy’s economic and trade agenda.

Main Tasks

• Responsible for trade and investment promotion activities, including gathering information on business opportunities and responding to enquiries from companies;
• Build and maintain relationships with government agencies, trade organizations, and private sector stakeholders;
• Providing information and advise on the various legal frameworks as well as other relevant information about foreign trade and economic issues incl. drafting the Embassy’s annual economic report;
• Contribute to the organization of trade promotion and networking events and working together with the Swiss Business Hub (e.g., with regards to trade fairs and exhibitions);
• Contribute to the preparations of both local and international trade missions, business delegations and activities incl. coordination of logistics;
• Collecting of relevant information on Kenyan regulations e.g., on tax issues, import/export, public tenders, land issues, etc. and will maintain, develop and reinforce contacts with relevant business and economic actors in Kenya;
• Advise the Embassy on the opportunities for business development in the different economic sectors and with regard to digital transformation;
• Maintain, develop and reinforce the Embassy’s network with the relevant business and economic actors;
• Represent the Embassy at relevant business and networking events and trade fairs (welcome remarks / speeches / round table discussions etc.);
• Draft reports, briefing notes and presentations;
• Contribute to the Embassy’s communication namely on social media on economic and trade and business aspects as well as digitalization;
• Responsibility for the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships (dissemination and administration).

Required Education, Experience and Competencies

• Masters’ Degree in Economics, Statistics, Business Administration, International Development or any other related field;
• Minimum of 5 year post qualification experience in the trade sector, preferably with an Embassy, international NGO, UN agency or other similar organisations;
• Strong knowledge of Kenya’s economic and trade environment, ideally with a strong network in this field;
• Comprehensive knowledge and understanding of foreign trade, business operations, tax issues, public tendering, foreign trade regulations and digital transformation in Kenya and the region;
• Knowledge and understanding of the relevant business actors in Kenya;
• ICT savvy: affinity with ICT systems with relevant working experience;
• Familiar with social media;
• Excellent analytical, organizational, communication and writing skills with attention to detail;
• Ability to network and to engage with different public authorities, international institutions, trade associations, companies and universities;
• Perfectly fluent in English language, written and spoken;
• Knowledge of a Swiss national language an asset (German, French or Italian);
• Kenyan/East African Work Permit is a MUST.

Skills

• Highly motivated, committed and able to work in a team;
• Good networking skills and the ability to deal effectively and in a diplomatic manner at all levels;
• Ability to work independently and under pressure and with minimal supervision;
• High degree of adaptability and capacity to learn;
• Good communication skills and interpersonal skills;
• Excellent oganisational skills;
• Precise, dynamic and high level of integrity and loyalty;
• Strong service and customer orientation.

Modalities of employment and application

• Duty station is Nairobi (applicant must be in possession of a valid work permit for Kenya).

How to Apply:

Applicants should include along with the academic and work requirements:

• a letter of motivation of maximum 1.5 pages (Arial size 10), including a short paragraph on the question “In which Kenyan sectors do you see the biggest potential for Swiss companies and what would be your advice to them before entering the Kenyan market?”
• CV (maximum 4 pages)

Applications have to be sent to: nairobi.vacancy@eda.admin.ch with subject title Application:

Trade Officer

• Deadline for the application is: 04.12.2024
• Start date: ideally 01.02.2025 or sooner

Kindly take note of the following

• You are highly encouraged to apply only if you meet the minimum requirements.
• Please be advised that the Embassy of Switzerland does not charge any fees from applicants for any recruitment, nor has it engaged a third party to facilitate this hire.
• We regret that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. If you do not hear from us within one month post application, please consider your application unsuccessful.
• All communications to the successful candidates will be done using the official contacts as listed on our website.