International Policy Officer

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.

What you’ll be doing

• Coordinating the planning and logistics of inward and outward visits, helping ensure programmes are well-organised and professionally delivered.
• Supporting International Team events, meetings and stakeholder engagement activity.
• Supporting work on selected Asia-Pacific markets, including monitoring developments and contributing to briefings, market summaries and member communications.
• Helping coordinate Asia-Pacific and India working groups, including scheduling meetings, preparing papers, taking minutes and following up agreed actions.
• Supporting the team’s work on non-tariff barriers and market access issues in Asia-Pacific, including tracking member queries and helping progress agreed actions.
• Preparing clear notes, summaries, updates and correspondence for internal and member audiences.

What we’re looking for

We’re looking for someone with strong organisational skills, good judgement and a clear interest in international policy, trade, public affairs or external relations. You will be comfortable coordinating activity, working with detail, and supporting colleagues across a busy and outward-facing team.

You will bring:

• strong organisational and coordination skills
• clear written and oral communication skills
• good attention to detail and the ability to follow through on actions
• confidence engaging professionally with internal and external stakeholders
• an interest in international trade, policy, public affairs, market access or external relations
• a collaborative, flexible and constructive approach

Experience or knowledge of international trade policy, market access issues, the Asia-Pacific region, trade associations, membership organisations, government or public affairs would be helpful, but is not essential.

Working arrangements

The role is based in Edinburgh with hybrid working in place and occasional travel to London. The role is full-time, 35 hours per week, although flexible working requests will be considered.

There may be some occasional travel to support visits, events or stakeholder engagement activity.

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.