JOB DESCRIPTION

View Vacancy – Economic Adviser British Embassy Lisbon (PRT25.340)

The British Government is an inclusive and diversity-friendly employer. We value difference, promote equality and challenge discrimination, enhancing our organisational capability. We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We do not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, colour, ethnicity, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, age, veteran status or other category protected by law. We promote family-friendly flexible working opportunities, where operational and security needs allow. The FCDO operates an agile workforce and to facilitate this, you may be required to undertake other duties from time to time, as we may reasonably require.

Job Category

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Policy & Political roles)

Job Subcategory

Economic and Prosperity

Job Description (Roles and Responsibilities)

The British Embassy in Lisbon is part of a worldwide network representing British political, economic, security and consular interests overseas. We are seeking an exceptional Economic Adviser to join the Embassy’s Political & Economic Section.

In this role, the Economic Adviser will play a key part in strengthening UK–Portugal economic and political relations. The successful candidate will provide insightful economic analysis and reporting, while also supporting the delivery of policy objectives across a range of priority areas.

We are looking for a motivated individual, eager to learn, with good communication skills, ability to deliver at pace, attention to detail and strong analytical skills. The jobholder will play an important role to support the Political & Economic section in delivering the Embassy’s Country Plan.

Do you have the curiosity, analytical skills, and drive to turn economic insight into real impact?

Join the British Embassy in Lisbon as our new Economic Adviser and play a key role in shaping UK-Portugal relations across trade, policy, and beyond.

Main roles and responsibilities:

Analysis and Reporting (40%) Provide a high-quality economic analysis and reporting service including:
• Drafting regular economic reporting pieces to keep internal and external customers informed of key economic developments in Portugal (and Cabo Verde);
• Responding in a timely manner to information requests and commissions;
• Conducting research projects on UK-Portugal economic relations;
• Contributing to wider political reporting and lobbying through targeted economic, financial or fiscal analysis.

Policy support (40%): Contribute to the Embassy’s bilateral work on priority policy areas by
• Building a strong knowledge base and providing analysis and reporting;
• Developing a network of contacts and engaging key Portuguese and British stakeholders;
• Promoting bilateral exchanges, visits, events etc that support the delivery of Country Plan objectives.

Note: at the moment, the priority policy areas include e.g. Health and Healthy Ageing, Trade and Market Access, but the thematic content of this position may vary to reflect changing priorities.

Administrative (20%): Provide administrative support to the Political and Economic section, including:
• Planning and monitoring execution of the section’s local budget allocations;
• Ensuring impactful use of programme funds, by developing strong expertise in, and supporting colleagues navigating through, programme fund rules and procedures;
• Providing secretariat to the cross-embassy programme board;
• Supporting the delivery of public-facing events and activities.

Essential qualifications, skills and experience

• Fluency in English and Portuguese, both spoken and written (minimum C1 level according to the CEFR*);
• Completed undergraduate degree (or finalising masters degree) in the fields of Economics, Finance or International Relations (with a strong economic content);
• Good knowledge of the Portuguese economy;
• Strong analytical skills, attention to detail and customer focus;
• Good knowledge of MS Excel and basic statistical tools;
• Ability to multi-task and manage competing priorities.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to liaise effectively at all levels of an organisation

Desirable qualifications, skills and experience

• Previous work experience and/or evidence of working in teams and projects;
• Previous management of programmes and budgets;
• Ability to think strategically to spot opportunities;
• Good understanding of the Portuguese and UK landscape in one or more of the priority policy areas above (Health, Trade and Market access).

Required behaviours

Delivering at Pace, Managing a Quality Service, Seeing the Big Picture, Working Together

Application deadline

2 November 2025

Grade

Administrative Officer (AO)

Type of Position

Full-time, Permanent

Working hours per week

35

Region

Europe, Eastern Europe & Central Asia

Country/Territory

Portugal

Location (City)

Lisbon

Type of Post

British Embassy

Number of vacancies

1

Salary Currency

EUR

Salary

24,570.88

Type of Salary

yearly

Start Date

2 December 2025

Other benefits and conditions of employment

This is a permanent, full-time contract (35 hours net per week) subject to a 90 days probation period.

The British Embassy in Lisbon aims to offer an attractive working environment and remuneration package for this role of € 24,570.88 gross annual salary paid in fourteen instalments; plus a monthly meal allowance of €193.60. This salary is payable if the successful candidate is subject to individual income tax (IRS) in Portugal on the employment income in question. If the successful candidate is not subject to individual income tax (IRS) on their employment income in Portugal, and/or is not taxable elsewhere on such income, he / she will receive the above salary minus a reference amount approximate to the level of Portuguese tax that would be applicable if the income were subject to tax locally. Further information on this will be given to candidates during the recruitment process.

All staff recruited locally by the British Embassy in Portugal are subject to local Portuguese employment law as well as internal regulations in force at any given time.

The successful candidate will be subject to a professional background and security clearance and must have pre-existing work authorisation for Portugal in order to apply.

All applicants should have the right to live and work in Portugal. The British Embassy does not sponsor work permits.

The Embassy will not consider applications from existing staff who have not successfully completed their probation period or, in the case of staff on temporary contract who have not yet completed two thirds of their contract.

British Embassy Lisbon offers a supportive environment for its team, including flexible working opportunities, a rich learning and training offering and a focus on individual development.

Additional information

Please note that the deadline for applications is 23:55 on the day mentioned in the above field “Application deadline”.

We advise you to allow enough time to complete and submit your full application, since only applications completed and submitted before the deadline will be considered.

Please be aware that the deadline for submitting applications is considered to be the time zone for the country where the vacancy has arisen.

Please be advised that the British Embassy will not be able to meet the travel costs incurred when travelling to the interview, nor the costs connected with relocation if offered a position.

*Please note for more information on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, Teaching, Assessment levels please click on the following link CEFR. Please bear in mind in case you are invited for an interview your language skill is going to be assessed.

Please ensure that your application is authentically written based on your own experiences. If AI tools are used, their usage must only be limited to specific tasks such as ensuring formatting consistency and keyword relevance. The core content, personal narratives, and responses to behaviour and skill-based questions must genuinely reflect your professional journey, experiences, and achievements. We place great importance on originality and individual effort throughout the application process. Any form of plagiarism will result in immediate disqualification.

Please be aware that you will only be able to apply to vacancies for Country Based Staff roles with the British Government through this official tal.net site (operated by Oleeo). Jobs may be advertised on third party websites, however our adverts will always link back to the official tal.net site. If you complete and send an application through any other site, we will not receive it.

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: No requirements