View Vacancy - CQ - Senior Trade & Investment Officer, Advanced Manufacturing B3(L)

We will consider all applications for both Chongqing and Wuhan. Applicants do not need to apply separately. If you only wish to be considered for one location, please indicate this clearly in your application.

China is the world’s largest economy in terms of PPP (IMF) and the second largest in terms of nominal GDP. The Chinese economy, whilst slowing, is steadying at c. 6.8%, is still vast and the envy of many nations.

UKTI has now become part of the new Department for International Trade (DIT) which is responsible for promoting British Trade across the world:

• Developing, coordinating, and delivering a new trade and investment policy to promote UK business across the globe;
• Developing and negotiating free trade agreements and market access deals with non-EU countries, negotiating plurilateral trade deals (focused on specific sectors or products);
• Providing operational support for exports and facilitating inward and outward investment.

This role is to deliver targeted campaigns to help UK win more business in China (grow Exports) and to secure new and increased investment from China into the UK.

You will inform and manage delivery of key components of the Automotive and Advanced Manufacturing sector strategies set by the Director and senior managers, in some cases leading other staff. Your role will cover both trade and investment and you will coordinate work and quality of output across the team and ensure managers are kept updated on agreed priorities and outcomes. You will identify, plan, and manage specific projects and visits, including budget aspects, and engage and lobby external contacts to win support for UKTI interests.

The core foci of your job will be to deliver high value business wins and high quality investment for the UK to meet sector targets, by:

• Proactively building strong relationships with key government and industry bodies and business clients;
• Identifying and linking new Chinese opportunities and investment interest with UK capability and strategic needs;
• Promoting UK excellence;
• Working in collaboration with partner networks and business associates, including to overcome business barriers and market access issues;
• working with China Britain Business Council (CBBC), helping them to achieve their targets for service deliveries, revenue and business opportunity responses.

This position is advertised on a fixed-term basis of two (2) years, with a possibility of renewal dependent on satisfactory performance and operational needs.

Roles and responsiblities:

— Delivering strategic trade and investment campaigns:

• Identify and coordinate inputs to help with the evolution of the sector strategies. Contribute to the design and manage the delivery of trade and investment sector campaigns.
• Report on trends and developments in China and UK markets and key companies in your sector, as well as in the external factors affecting the sector's operating environment, and use this to support delivery of these campaigns. Understand the work of other parts of the Embassy and/ or Consulate and draw on their expertise and activities where they can help to support sector objectives.
• Identify and analyse trends and developments in China and UK markets, and use this to lead the team within your sub-sector to deliver to target, balancing priorities to focus on the most significant opportunities.
• Organise input of information to help raise awareness of China opportunities through UKTI website, ITAs, UKTI specialists, Investment Organisations, LEPs etc.; sign-posting to CBBC and other services where appropriate.

— Effective relationship management:

• Within a framework agreed with your line manager, identify and build relationships with key companies and organisations in China and the UK, including intermediaries, trade associations, government departments, and others in order to understand their business intentions and needs.
• Work to identify potential high value opportunities for trade and investment, feeding these leads in to the appropriate system for evaluation and follow-up.

— High impact visits and events:

• Advise on the design and manage delivery and follow up of high-level visits and events that contribute to sector targets and address business environment and market access issues.
• Plan and manage practical and logistical aspects of important visit programmes (by Chinese companies to the UK and UK companies to China) that contribute to sector targets, working with CBBC and other networks where appropriate.

— Active contribution to success of CBBC outsourcing: Facilitate knowledge transfer and introductions to CBBC to support them in achieving their targets. Commission CBBC input to HVC-related and other industry campaigns, as well as coordination of debriefing and two-way information sharing.

— Knowledge and skills development: Commit to continual learning, making full use of on the job opportunities to deepen sector knowledge and understanding of the UK capability and UK/ China business environment, as well as formal training for skills and personal competences most relevant to the job. This includes knowledge-sharing with colleagues across UKTI and the wider Embassy/Consulates.

• Minimum 2 years of full time working experience.
• A diplomatic, tactful manner when dealing with contacts and colleagues.
• Good organisation skills, positive approach to teamwork, and a pro-active attitude.
• Good administrative and IT skills (e.g. Word, Outlook, Excel, and PowerPoint).
• Degree level qualification or equivalent.
• Fluent in English and Mandarin, both written and spoken