International opportunities for Australians

Types of roles

International roles can include:

• Trade and Investment Commissioners
• Senior Trade and Investment Commissioners
• Consuls-General.

Roles are based in many locations around the world.

Trade and Investment Commissioner roles

The most prominent roles for Austrade staff based internationally are as:

• Trade and Investment Commissioners
• Senior Trade and Investment Commissioners.

These appointments are generally for 3 or 4 years. Candidates must be Australian citizens and will be subject to a national security assessment.

What a Trade and Investment Commissioner does

Trade and Investment Commissioner roles are high profile and significant roles.

A Trade and Investment Commissioner will represent Australia and Austrade in their relevant location to:

• optimise existing business networks and establish new ones
• help exporters, investors and buyers to navigate global changes and mitigate risk 
• help Australian businesses and industry to identify and take advantage of trade opportunities and investment flows in the region
• attract productive foreign direct investment into Australia.

These positions also provide, or support, overall leadership and daily management of the relevant post. This includes local staff.

Skills and experience

Assessment criteria for Trade and Investment Commissioners include understanding of:

• international business, investment drivers and corporate decision-making processes
• the government context for Austrade’s work
• the needs of the businesses that we serve and advise.

Also:

• sound understanding of international markets and business trends in the relevant market/location
• experience working in international markets, preferably including experience as a manager
• demonstrated capability to effectively represent Austrade in high-level corporate and government settings in Australia and offshore
• awareness of the digital environment and how to engage with clients in a digital-first manner 
• confidence in using digital workplace tools to solve problems, be productive, connect and collaborate with others. 

The vacancy listing for each role has a link to a job information pack.

Consul-General roles

A Trade and Investment Commissioner or Senior Trade and Investment Commissioner may also hold the appointment of Consul-General. This depends on the location of the role.

What a Consul-General does

The Consul-General is the key Australian Government representative in the location. They:

• represent the Australian Government as a senior government representative in the market manage passport, consular services and immigration tasks
• are responsible for the welfare of Australians abroad through delivering efficient passport services
• ensure practical and up-to-date contingency planning in accordance with Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s (DFAT's) Consular Services and Passports Client Services charters
• help Australian citizens who may be in distress.

This may include:

• visiting and representing Australians in jail
• providing assistance to affected Australians during natural disasters or a pandemic.

You need to show resilience and empathy in difficult situations to perform well in these roles.

Local engagements

Overseas Engaged Employees (OEE) are employed by Austrade to perform work to support and complement the capacities of our Australian Public Service employees engaged at overseas posts.

OEE provide essential in-country knowledge, networks and continuity. They perform a range of functions and play an important role in the Australian Government's work to promote, protect and advance Austrade internationally, as well as contributing to economic growth and global stability.

OEE are not Australian Public Service (APS) employees. These positions are engaged under local labour law as it applies to diplomatic and consular missions, as prescribed by the Vienna Conventions on Diplomatic and Consular Relations. OEE do not have diplomatic or consular status, privileges or immunity. Their remuneration and benefits are based on the local laws and market practice in each country of accreditation.

Prospective applicants need to demonstrate that they are eligible to work by meeting the local citizenship or visa requirements. Austrade does not fund relocation costs for OEE positions. 

Remuneration and conditions

We provide remuneration packages and benefits information in the job information pack.

We discuss other benefits and conditions with successful candidates. For example, this may include education for dependents.