International Policy Officer

International Policy Officer

Reporting to:
Head of Trade (APAC)

Location:

Edinburgh with hybrid working (occasional travel to London required)
Contract Type:
Permanent

Hours:

35 hours per week; flexible requests considered
Salary: £32,792 per annum

The Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) is the trade association for the Scotch Whisky industry. We support and represent our members across a wide range of priorities, including industry promotion, regulatory and legal matters, sustainability, international market access and protecting the Scotch Whisky category worldwide.

We are recruiting an International Policy Officer to provide policy and operational support to our International Team. This is a varied role combining visits and events coordination with policy support across selected Asia‑Pacific markets, tackling non‑tariff barriers and market access issues affecting the Scotch Whisky industry.

This role would suit someone in the early stages of their policy, public affairs or external relations career, or someone looking to move into international trade and market access work from another relevant sector. You do not need to be an international trade specialist already, but you will need to be organised, curious, a strong communicator and confident working with a range of colleagues, members and external stakeholders.

Closing date:
Sunday 5 July 2026 at 23:59

First-stage interviews: week commencing Monday 13 July, by Teams

Second-stage interviews: week commencing Monday 27 July, in person in Edinburgh.

We are committed to being an inclusive employer and welcome applications from all backgrounds. We will make reasonable adjustments to support candidates throughout the recruitment process.

The International Policy Officer will provide policy and operational support to the International Team, combining responsibility for visits and events coordination with policy support across selected Asia‑Pacific markets, non‑tariff barriers and market access issues for the Scotch Whisky industry.

The role offers an early‑career professional, or someone moving into a new sector, the opportunity to develop operational, stakeholder engagement and policy skills in a varied and outward‑facing environment.

• Coordinate the planning and logistics of inward and outward visits, ensuring programmes are well‑organised and professionally delivered.
• Provide administrative and logistical support for team events, including trade and industry events hosted or attended by the International Team.
• Support the International Director and other senior team members with programme planning, travel arrangements and logistics for outward visits.
• Liaise professionally with members, overseas stakeholders, venues, suppliers and colleagues to support the smooth delivery of visits and events.
• Help ensure relevant information, actions and follow‑up points from visits and events are recorded and progressed appropriately.

• Support the Head of Trade responsible for the Asia‑Pacific portfolio, including work on selected emerging markets in the region.
• Support the Head of Trade with the Association’s Asia‑Pacific and India working groups, including scheduling meetings, preparing papers, taking minutes and following up agreed actions.
• Monitor and horizon‑scan for relevant trade, regulatory and market access developments across selected Asia‑Pacific markets.
• Contribute to draft briefings, market summaries and member communications on Asia‑Pacific issues.
• Provide additional coordination and policy support as trade negotiations and market access issues develop.

• Provide support to the team’s market access work, taking responsibility for defined geographic or cross‑cutting non‑tariff barrier issues as agreed.
• Support work on implementation issues arising from the entry into force of the UK/India trade agreement, including tracking member queries, coordinating input from colleagues and members, and helping progress agreed actions.
• Maintain accurate records of issues, actions and stakeholder…