View Vacancy - SH - Head of Advanced Manufacturing and Transport Directorate, C5 (L)

The Department for International Trade (DIT) is responsible for growing trade (exports) to China and investment from China into the UK. In China DIT is an expanding, energetic and ambitious place to work.  We are now the largest overseas DIT network in the world, with approximately 170 staff across five posts (the Beijing Embassy plus 4 Consulates in Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chongqing and Wuhan).  With the rise of China, the work of our China Network is increasingly important to the work of Whitehall, and indeed to business. Government to Government work cannot take place without the assistance of the Embassy and Consulates. What we do matters.

Key to the success of DIT is the area of Advanced Manufacturing and Transport (AMT), the Transport part of which covers everything from space and satellites to submarines and all things in between, plus the associated transport infrastructure. Advanced Manufacturing captures the UK’s strengths in innovation and efficient manufacturing and ties closely to China’s ambitions as stated in their 13th 5 Year Plan and their Made in China 2025 initiative.

Chinese demand for British advanced engineering goods, services and technology as well as the importance to both economies of innovation, is huge and the British offer is impressive, with lots of unrealised potential yet to be tapped. This outward-facing business role calls for candidates with knowledge of the sectors, products and technologies within a package of industrial areas, and a flair for promoting them, selling DIT’s services and understanding and addressing market barriers. Whilst based in Shanghai, the role reports directly to the Deputy Director of AM&T China in Guangzhou and is to contribute to the formation, balance and delivery of the AMT Strategy across China, with specific responsibility for a defined set of sectors and High Value Campaigns (HVC’s), including Advanced Manufacturing and Marine, with others likely to be added. In addition this role is  the head of AMT in East China

As lead for several of the key AMT sectors, you will be responsible for developing a strategic approach across the China network.  You will also need strong communication, organisational and management skills to lead your team, encouraging a ‘one-team’ approach across the Consulate and the wider China Network, DIT and China-Britain Business Council’s (CBBC’s) regional offices in eastern China to meet – and exceed - challenging service delivery targets. While at the same time nurturing and developing a culture of excellence in building long-term client relationships, and understanding longer term opportunities (and barriers). A proactive approach in identifying and developing business opportunities and relationships with key stakeholders in your sectors, and supporting major trade projects being targeted under the High Value Campaign programme is essential.

In return, the role offers significant developmental opportunities for those wishing to develop commercial experience, and in competence terms, managing external relationships, managing and developing staff (including remotely with the other members of the AMT team in Beijing, Guangzhou, Wuhan and Chongqing), communicating and influencing and delivering results.

The role requires you to operate with a high degree of autonomy, leading trade and investment teams and leveraging success through specific High Value Campaign Programmes (HVC), GREAT, Prosperity and trade policy priorities and utilisation of senior HMG and other visitors in conjunction with the Sector teams in DIT, BEIS and other Departments in the UK as well as the DIT Senior Leadership Team.  

The Jobholder is expected to - 

• Develop an evidenced based strategy for DIT’s AMT in Eastern China in conjunction with the AMT Senior Leadership team. Co-ordinate with sub sector leads to ensure regional focus within each of AMT’s high value campaigns. Input and ensure join-up with the wider embassy’s regional strategy owned by the Consul General and lead on engagement with appropriate UK regions and Devolved Administrations.  
• In addition to the Eastern China focus, the job holder will lead the DIT Automotive team, China wide. Also leading the support offered to British companies in order to remove access barriers and grow business in China, through proactively leading on DIT policy, business planning and strategy formulation for the Advanced Manufacturing, Ports and Marine sectors. Ensure input in to the strategy from the wider China Network, including the Shanghai Consulate and Outreach teams and as lead have ownership for developed action plans and monitoring of delivery against objectives of campaign. Instructing, gathering, analysing and presenting market information to inform the DG and other senior Embassy and China Network colleagues on the support needed and also producing sector reports and strategies.   
• Work with the Shanghai consulate and wider Embassy network on missions and visits to best maximise their impact and drive commercial benefit for UK PLC and HMG in the Eastern China region. This will include meeting, briefing and advising British companies on opportunities in Eastern China, facilitating and attending meetings with Chinese government, private and state owned companies, and accompanying visits to Eastern China (and wider China) including senior government ministers and officials as well as heads of British business.
• Management and oversight of Shanghai based AMT staff to ensure evidenced based planning, delivery, evaluation and focus activities on opportunity in Eastern China. Embedding and mainstreaming the DIT China mission, vision and values to become a key part of what the team do and how we do it in Eastern China. Performance and talent mapping and management of the team, including contributing to the continuous learning and development for the AMT team; 
• Represent AMT at Consulate activities and ensuring the wider consulates teams are engaged with AMT plans through consultation and engagement with the Consul General, DHM and DIT Senior Point of Contact (SPOC) in Shanghai. Lead on engagement with senior stakeholders in both UK and in China internally and externally to ensure a joined up approach to capitalise on opportunities to increase trade with Eastern China. 

• Excellent communication skills - English and Mandarin 
• An understanding of bilateral trade and investment processes;
• Experience of one or more sectors of the AMT portfolio – particularly relevant would be experience and in depth knowledge of the automotive sector (specifically e-vehicles and CAVs), and/or the aerospace sector and the leading Chinese companies;
• Established network of high level Eastern China contacts, organisations and institutions within commercial and Government organisations and Ministries;
• Commercial and managerial experience and problem solving ability