Senior/ Assistant Director, Europe Division

Ministry of Energy, Trade and Industry; Singapore; Hybrid; SGD 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

METI in Singapore seeks a multi-hat professional to advance Singapore’s external economic space through diplomacy, negotiation and policy analytics. You will handle account management for local and foreign government, industry and people-sector stakeholders, developing and implementing trade tools and economic cooperation strategies.

The role involves analyzing geopolitical and economic developments, crafting policy recommendations, and communicating Singapore’s trade policy effectively.

Qualifications

• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience in policy development or implementation is useful but not mandatory.
• Ability to analyse geopolitical and economic developments and translate into policy recommendations.
• Comfort with engaging diverse stakeholders across government, industry and international partners.

Responsibilities

• Promote connectivity with overseas markets through negotiating and implementing G2G agreements (FTAs, DEAs, GEAs).
• Develop new avenues to deepen cooperation in digital and green economies and supply chain resilience.
• Represent Singapore in negotiations, official visits and conferences; manage stakeholder relationships.

Skills

Negotiation

Policy analysis

Stakeholder management

Written communication

Travel willingness

Education

Degree in Economics/Political Science/International Relations

Tools

MS Office

CRM/Stakeholder databases

Job description

What the role is:

The Ministry of Energy, Trade and Industry (METI) seeks to transform Singapore into a leading global city of talent, enterprise and innovation. Our mission is to promote economic growth and create good jobs to enable Singaporeans to improve their lives. The Trade and International Economic Relations (TIER) cluster drives the formulation of Singapore's foreign economic policy and safeguards Singapore's economic interests in the international economic arena.At the Europe (EUR) Division, our mission is to grow and safeguard our external economic space for Singaporeans and Singapore companies by strengthening connectivity and interoperability with overseas markets, as well as building economic resilience and adaptability, through economic cooperation with Europe.The evolving trade landscape and recent global developments require us to continually innovate and adapt our strategies for economic engagement with partners in Europe. We have broadened our focus, to address new opportunities and challenges such as the digital and green economies as well as supply chain resilience. We are actively developing and implementing novel trade tools such as Digital Economy Agreements (DEAs) and Green Economy Agreements (GEAs), as well as establishing new economic platforms to strengthen institutional linkages between Singapore and our key markets. Our larger vision is to update Singapore’s playbook for international economic engagement, and contribute towards a future-ready economy with growth opportunities for our people and companies.

What you will be working on:

We are expanding our team in line with efforts to ensure that we continue to achieve our mission. You will wear at least four hats: (i) trade diplomat; (ii) trade negotiator; (iii) trade policy analyst; and (iv) account manager for a diverse range of local and foreign government, industry and people sector stakeholders. Key job functions include:

• Promote connectivity and interoperability with overseas markets through negotiating and implementing G2G agreements such as Free Trade Agreements, DEAs and GEAs
• Develop new avenues to deepen cooperation with other markets, including in emerging growth areas such as the digital and green economies as well as supply chain resilience
• Represent Singapore in negotiations, official visits, and conferences. Account-manage and collaborate with local and foreign stakeholders, and other Singapore government agencies
• Analyse and report on relevant geopolitical and economic developments in other markets, and develop policy recommendations to political office holders and senior management
• Craft communications materials to convey announcements and Singapore’s trade policy strategies and positions
• Organise and manage outgoing and incoming visits by political officer holders to strengthen economic relations with markets under our coverage

What we are looking for:

We welcome big picture thinkers and dreamers who can connect the dots between our geostrategic considerations and the specific trade rules, standards and projects that we are seeking to advance. We welcome tinkerers who are keen to experiment and fill a blank canvas with new projects and creative ideas. Strong written and verbal communication skills are essential. Attention to detail is also important. Above all, we value teamwork and workplace harmony very dearly, and are looking for candidates who can become our friends. Some useful qualities we look out for include:

• A keen interest to learn and develop skills in negotiation, communication, and stakeholder management
• A keen interest in international affairs and economic developments; prior training in Economics, Political Science, International Relations, or related disciplines would be advantageous
• Prior experience in policy development and/or implementation would be useful, but is not mandatory
• Excellent writing, analytical, and communication skills
• Good planning and organisational skills, with attention to detail
• A team player who works well with multiple stakeholders and in a dynamic environment
• Keen on opportunities to travel

About Ministry of Energy, Trade and Industry

Working at METI places you at the heart of Singapore’s economic policy-making. We drive productivity-led growth, safeguard and expand our economic space, and build a future-ready economy where firms can thrive. Together, we create a Singapore which is a city of possibilities, a home to great firms, and a place where the world connects — with people at its heart.When you join METI, you contribute to our mission of creating good jobs and opportunities for Singaporeans, enabling them to improve their lives and secure a better future.