Policy Officer for Agricultural Affairs

Job Description

The Netherlands Agricultural Network in Cairo is looking for an enthusiastic, experienced and motivated colleague to join our team. You will be posted at the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Cairo with primary working area in Egypt. The diversity of tasks and responsibilities will require a willingness to take initiative, to act proactively and independently, with a structured and result-oriented approach. You have analytical skills, you can work independently and you are a good communicator. You are a team player. A willingness to travel is essential as several visits and activities take place outside Cairo.

General features of the Netherlands Agricultural Network

The Netherlands Agricultural Network (LAN) represents the Netherlands Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature (LVVN in Dutch). LAN consists of 62 teams stationed at Dutch embassies and consulates-general and they are active in 77 countries. LAN also represents the Netherlands in multilateral organisations; EU in Brussels, FAO/WFP/IFAD in Rome and OECD in Paris.

LAN is established in regions that can offer viable chances for Dutch companies, knowledge institutions and societal organisations in the domain of agriculture, fisheries, food and nature. This way, LAN strengthens and contributes to the implementation of the LVVN Europe strategy and the LVVN International strategy aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).

LAN supports agricultural development, dialogue and (bilateral and multilateral) cooperation in the field of sustainable agriculture, nature / biodiversity, food safety, food security and fisheries. Trade promotion, stimulating Dutch investments abroad, promoting market access for Dutch agri-food products and knowledge, innovation and technology in the country of representation also belong to its core tasks.

LAN adopts a proactive approach, seeking out opportunities for Dutch agribusiness and establishing direct contact with the relevant stakeholders via newsletters, social media, the international LVVN website www.agroberichtenbuitenland.nl and the website of the Dutch embassy.

Tasks

The Policy Officer for Agricultural Affairs

· Collects, identifies, analyses, interprets and reports on information and developments in one or more LVVN domains that are of importance for the development of LVVN policy;

· Is responsible for the translation of the LVVN policy in the local context of Egypt and helps to develop a course of action under the direction of the Agricultural Counsellor;

· Is responsible for the implementation of a subset or several themes of the LVVN policy within the annual plan and under the direction of the Agricultural Counsellor;

· Contributes to the planning, organization and evaluation of bilateral partnership projects in relation to nature, water, environment and sustainable development;

· Is responsible for the preparation, planning, support and guidance of Dutch trade missions and other promotional activities, such as participation in fairs and exhibitions, representing LVVN interests and policy;

· Is responsible for gathering information on specific relevant topics by studying literature and reports, contributing to research and advising on the relevant policy, including independent analysis and interpretation of the collected information and data;

· Has an understanding of the local political/administrative environment, establishes and maintains network contacts for carrying out the above tasks;

· Monitors local veterinary, phytosanitary and seed-related legislation and regulations, identifies bottlenecks in trade transactions and contributes to solutions and (new) opportunities for Dutch stakeholders;

· Keeps track of and acts upon requests addressed to the LAN-team, activities and contacts in the relevant databases, such as the CRM-program Achilles;

· Prepares and writes articles and posts for www.agroberichtenbuitenland.nl, newsletters and social media channels

· Reports directly to the Agricultural Counsellor who carries final responsibility for the entire LAN team;

Requirements

Profile of colleague

· You have a broad interest, strong analytical and project management skills

· You are by nature a cooperative team player who likes to work together, share information and is willing to help colleagues.

· You are eager to learn, enthusiastic and initiative-oriented and you oversee complex dossiers.

· You have a sharp pen in impeccable English.

· You are proactive, flexible and you can handle deadlines well.

· You can quickly build and maintain a relevant network.

Knowledge & skills requirements

Level of education: higher professional graduate level (preferably agriculture/nature related);

Level of working experience: at least 5 years of professional experience

Knowledge

· Knowledge of and insight into local agriculture, food, fisheries and nature policy, legislation and regulations, sector organizations, knowledge institutions and government structures and agribusiness:

· General knowledge and understanding of current developments in policy domains, society and trading position in Egypt;

· Knowledge of the national and regional environmental policy and veterinary and phytosanitary legislation is a plus;

· Good verbal and written command of English and Arabic;

· Familiarity with and ability to adapt to Dutch culture and customs.

Skills

· Strong communication and contact skills, enjoying to use social media and exploring new ways of communication;

· You are a natural networker with the capacity to build, maintain and expand a network of contacts in all relevant fields;

· Ability to translate insights and information into recommendations, plans and reports and assessing the resultant policy consequences;

· Good computer skills and experience with various computer programs.

Competencies

· Initiative

· Integrity

· Organizational and political sensitivity

· Analytical thinking

· Ability to work with others

· Flexibility

Working environment

LAN falls within the organisational structure of the Embassy of the Netherlands in Egypt. The policy officer will be part of the LAN team that consists of the Agricultural Counsellor- who is the overall manager of the LAN- and the Agricultural Support Officer. There is close cooperation between LAN and the Economic Cluster and other departments within the Embassy.

The Embassy of the Netherlands in Egypt has 38 staff, including 11 diplomats. The embassy is active in the fields of politics, economy, agriculture, water, energy, migration, culture, gender, defense, police, general affairs and consular.

Diversity and inclusivity

The Netherlands Government is an inclusive employer with a focus on diversity. We value difference, promote equality and challenge discrimination, enhancing our organizational capability. We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We do not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, colour, ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual orientation, age or any other category protected by law.