Trade Commissioner Assistant

Position Description

Competition Number: 2019-TD-02
Position Title: Trade Commissioner Assistant
Location: Consulate General of Canada in Ho Chi Minh City
Classification: LE-05
Starting Salary: 321,262,875 VND per year plus benefits
Hours of Work: 37.5/week
Closing Date: May 31, 2019 at 23:59 (GMT +7)

Area of Selection:

This position is open to external applicants eligible to work in Vietnam and to all mission employees occupying an indeterminate or term position who meet all of the essential qualifications and whose applications are received by the closing date. Short-listed candidates should be able to participate in written tests and/or interviews in Ho Chi Minh City or by videoconference. The successful candidate will be required to relocate to Ho Chi Minh City at own expense.

Job summary

The Canadian Trade Commissioner Service is a world-wide network of professionals dedicated to advancing Canada's global commerce. These professionals work with government and business to identify opportunities as well as obstacles to trade so that they can act on them to allow trade to happen.

Under the general direction of the Senior Trade Commissioner this position supports the delivery of Canada’s international business development program. The incumbent is responsible for:

• assisting trade commissioners respond to inquiries from Canadian exporters, investors or service providers that are related to trade promotion;
• providing administrative support to the Commercial Program, by drafting correspondence, coordinating appointments for trade commissioners, and overseeing the organization of the section's electronic files, wiki and archives;
• researching information sources and preparing responses to routine or general requests for information, both from Canadian clients and local contacts and assessing trade commissioner’s needs for information material, and gathering and preparing pertinent information material to assist them in their work (e.g., marketing material for outcalls, local market reports, general information on Canadian industry, etc.);
• providing logistical support to the team with promotional events and high level and business delegation coordination.

Essential Qualifications

Education:

Graduation from a recognized university with a degree in international relations, international economics, business, commerce, international trade or international law, or an acceptable combination of post-secondary education and work experience

Languages:

• Excellent proficiency in English (reading, writing and speaking)
• Native fluency in Vietnamese (reading, writing and speaking)

Please note that the English language skills will be assessed using a test administered by the Consulate General. Candidates who do not achieve minimum pass marks will be eliminated from this process.

Experience:

• At least two (2) years of recent experience providing administrative support related to general trade promotion, market research, event planning, and/or business development
• Experience in providing direct service to clients.

Rated Qualifications

Knowledge:

• Knowledge of Vietnamese government agencies, government structure and ministries;
• Knowledge of the Vietnamese business organizations and associations
• Knowledge of general office procedures and practices;
• Knowledge of Microsoft software; Windows, Outlook, Word, Powerpoint and Excel;

Abilities:

• Ability to communicate in English and Vietnamese effectively and clearly both orally and in writing
• Ability to set priorities, plan and organize work
• Ability to analyze and interpret information quickly and efficiently according to established criteria and to determine next actions required
• Ability to pay attention to details and concentrate in order to maintain a high degree of accuracy in data entry and output
• Ability to synthesize information and identify and relay relevant details efficiently and make recommendations.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective interpersonal relationships with clients, colleagues and supervisors
• Ability to adapt quickly to procedural and technological changes

Personal Suitability:

• Client Focus - Addresses underlying client needs
• Effective Interactive Communication - Communicates for maximum results
• Effectiveness/Achievement Orientation - Taking calculated entrepreneurial risks
• Initiative - Implements longer-term strategic solutions
• Judgement - Applies sound judgment in difficult situations
• Networking/Alliance Building - Organizes involvement of key players

Asset Qualifications

Preference may be given to candidates that demonstrate the following qualifications. Candidates should clearly indicate how they meet the following criteria, where applicable.

• Ability to speak, read and write in French
• Experience working in a diplomatic mission or international office setting
• Experience in developing, planning and coordinating trade events or business missions

Conditions of Employment

• Legally permitted to work in Vietnam
• Willing and able to work overtime as required including evenings and weekends, often on short notice
• Willing and able to travel domestically and internationally as required
• Obtain and maintain the required level of security clearance from the Government of Canada. This involves, among other things, criminal record checks, credit checks and validation of qualifications.
• The appointment of the successful candidate will be conditional on a one (1) year probationary period.

How to apply & Selection procedure

Candidates must clearly demonstrate in a cover letter (in no more than 2 pages) how they meet the education and experience factors listed in the essential and asset qualifications. Candidates must explain how they meet the required experience required by providing concrete examples. Resumes may be used as a secondary source to validate the experience described in the cover letter. Failure to demonstrate how you meet the screening criteria (essential and asset education and experience) will result in the application being rejected. Candidates who are missing information or submit incomplete information will be screened out. Further details on how to apply, please visit https://www.canadainternational.gc.ca/vietnam/offices-bureaux/2019-TD-02...

Candidates screened in will be contacted for further assessment, including: a personal interview with a series of questions designed to evaluate each applicant’s knowledge, abilities, competencies and personal suitability for the position. In addition, tests may be conducted to assist the selection board in assessing the applicant’s qualifications, skills and language ability. Reference verifications shall be conducted as a part of the hiring process.

Send your application (Cover Letter and Resume) by email to: [email protected]

Please quote the competition number “2019-TD-02” in the subject of the email. Applications can be submitted in English or in French.

Only applications received by email and before the cut-off date and time will be considered for screening. Hard copy applications will not be accepted.

Notes:

• Only the applicants short-listed will be contacted by the HR section.
• The results of this competition may also be used to establish an eligibility list of staff for similar openings on an indeterminate, term and emergency basis which might arise in the 12 months following the completion of this competition.
• The Government of Canada is committed to building a skilled, diverse workforce. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds irrespective of race, color, religion, gender, disability, age or sexual orientation.
• The Government of Canada is also committed to developing inclusive, barrier-free selection processes and work environments. If contacted in relation to a job opportunity or testing, you should advise us in a timely fashion of the accommodation measures which must be taken to enable you to be assessed in a fair and equitable manner. Information received relating to accommodation measures will be addressed confidentially.