Vacancy: Senior Policy Advisor, Agri-Food, Netherlands Embassy, Budapest

We are looking for an open, curious and result-oriented colleague with knowledge of the agricultural sector in Hungary and the Netherlands and has an affinity with sustainable agri-food production. The colleague is flexible and likes to take initiative. They are able to master a wide variety of topics and are able to switch quickly between these topics. Other important competences: You are a team player, a good networker and able to handle confidential information.

The Dutch Agricultural Attaché Network

The Agricultural Attaché Network (LAN) represents the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality (LNV) abroad and maintains intensive contacts with local governments, the Dutch and local business community, knowledge institutions and civil society organizations.

For a century the LAN has been connecting products, services and knowledge of Dutch agricultural companies and knowledge institutions to partners and projects worldwide. In this way, LNV and LAN contribute to a strong agricultural sector in the Netherlands and sustainable development goals in the agricultural and nature domain far beyond the borders. The LAN makes an essential contribution to strengthening the international position of Dutch agribusiness and supports policy development, dialogue and cooperation in the field of sustainable agriculture, nature / biodiversity, food safety, food security and fisheries. Trade promotion, stimulating Dutch investments abroad, and promoting market access for Dutch agri-food products and knowledge and technology in the country of representation are also belonging to its core tasks.

The LAN is characterized by a proactive attitude and shows this by actively searching for opportunities for Dutch agricultural business, knowledge institutes and policymakers, being in direct contact with relevant players and by communication via reports, newsletters, social media and the LAN website www.agroberichtbuitenland.nl

Job description

• The agricultural policy advisor is responsible for collecting and providing market information for Dutch agribusiness;
• Organizes official visits, trade and policy missions, seminars, workshops, trade fair activities, networking events and other activities;
• Identifies, collects, analyzes, interprets and reports on developments in agriculture, nature, food and fisheries in Hungary that are important for the policy development of the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality;
• Contributes to the development of LNV policy in Hungary, aimed at bilateral & international cooperation and trade promotion; he / she identifies, analyzes and interprets relevant data and developments and translates these into (policy) proposals and reports;
• Identifies bottlenecks and acts independently and proactively in finding appropriate solutions, while taking into account complex regulations and administrative and cultural differences;
• Has insight into the local, political-administrative playing field and establishes and maintains a relevant network of contacts;
• Is able to work independently within a broadly defined task assignment and to determine his / her approach on his / her own initiative;
• Keeps track of trade requests, activities and contacts in the Achilles database;
• Writes articles for www.agroberichtbuitenland.nl;
• Reports to the Agricultural Counsellor.

Duties

• Identifies, establishes and maintains independently and proactively a relevant network of contacts with government organizations, the business community, sector organizations, knowledge institutions and civil society organizations;
• Organizes and evaluates bilateral cooperation projects in the field of sustainable agri-food production, circular agriculture, nature and the environment, food safety, food security and fisheries and does this in consultation with the local government and other organizations;
• Organizes and guides Dutch trade and policy missions to Hungary and vice versa, other promotional activities such as exhibition participation and network receptions and (re-) presents LNV interests and LNV policy;
• Collects relevant information about (policy) developments and trade and investment opportunities in the Hungarian agri-food domain from literature, reports, reports, newsletters, (specialist) media and network contacts, which he / she then independently analyzes and interprets and shares with interested parties in the Netherlands;
• Provides market analyzes and explorations for agri-food products, technology and knowledge with the aim of market development in Hungary;
• Follows local (veterinary and phytosanitary) legislation and regulations and advises on this for Dutch agribusiness;
• Participates in seminars and networking opportunities;
• Suggests Dutch speakers for Hungarian seminars to share Dutch knowledge and expertise.

Job requirements

• Academic working and thinking level
• At least 5 years of relevant work experience
• Knowledge of, and insight into agricultural policy areas, relevant legislation and regulations, government structure, agricultural business and sector organizations;
• Knowledge of and insight into the Hungarian government structure, society, current agricultural developments and trading position;
• Having an appropriate network with contacts in relevant areas of work is an advantage;
• Good verbal and written command of Hungarian and English and preferably German;
• Native Hungarian speaker. A command of the Dutch language is desirable or a willingness to learn Dutch. Familiarity with and ability to adapt to Dutch culture and customs.
• Good communication and communication skills;
• Is a natural networker and has the capacity to build, maintain and expand a network of contacts in all relevant fields;
• Is able to analyse and translate insights and information into policy recommendations, work plans and reports;
• Can work independently and proactively reports to the Agricultural Counsellor;
• Has up to date computer knowledge and skills and is able to switch to new ICT based easily.

Embassy

The LAN team is part of the Economic Cluster of the Netherlands Embassy in Hungary. The Economic Cluster is dedicated to a large number of economic policy areas such as trade and investment, innovation, energy and climate, infrastructure and environment, socio-economic affairs and agri-food.

The LAN team in Budapest consists of the Counsellor, a Senior Policy Advisor Agriculture and a Junior Policy Advisor Agriculture. A Senior Policy Advisor Agriculture for Serbia and Montenegro is based at the Dutch Embassy in Belgrade. An annual plan forms the basis for management and activities. The LAN team works closely with other teams within the Economic Cluster and with other departments at the Embassy.

What do we offer?

A full-time appointment (37.5 hours) on the basis of an employment contract under local law on the basis of the terms of employment as included in the Legal Status Regulation for locally employed employees (Rrlok 2005) and the postal details of the Dutch Embassy in Budapest.

Are you interested?

Send a motivation letter and CV in English to m.homan@minlnv.nl before November 15, 2020.

For more information, please contact Mr. Martijn Homan, m.homan@minlnv.nl or +31 629 203 286