View Vacancy - SRR - DIT Trade Service Unit Manager C4(L)

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Department for International Trade roles (DIT)
DIT

The British Embassy Riyadh has a vacancy for a Trade Service Unit Manager on a fixed-term contract for two (2) years with a possibility of renewal.

The Department for International Trade (DIT) is the Trade and Investment arm for the UK. We promote British trade and investment across the world, support UK business overseas, and attract foreign investment to our shores. We have over 3,000 staff across the globe in over 100 countries.

DIT divides the world into nine (9) regions, each led by Her Majesty’s Trade Commissioner (HMTC). The Middle East, Afghanistan and Pakistan (MEAP) region is led from Dubai and represents 12 markets with a team of some 120 staff.


The MEAP Trade Service Unit is MEAP’s universal entry point for UK business. The Trade Service Unit Manager will be responsible for leading and managing the newly established Enhanced International Support Services (EISS) team in Saudi. You will work with DIT colleagues in KSA and International Trade Advisors based in the UK to help UK SMEs enter the MEAP market and win business. However, the jobholder should also be flexible in responding to changes to priorities based on operational requirements as guided by the DIT KSA Director. 

 

Duties and responsibilities:

  • You will manage and run the newly established EISS Unit in KSA. This will include ensuring the team reviews and responds to enquiries within agreed KPIs.
  • You will lead on engagement with UK stakeholders such as regional chambers of commerce, trade associations, and International Trade Advisors to build awareness of KSA EISS services with high export potential companies based in the UK.
  • You will lead on building SRM relationships with Saudi-based private and public sector entities who can support market entry into Saudi for UK based SMEs. This will include building relationships with professional services firms who can provide market entry support on issues such as company registration, visas, custom clearance requirements, residence permits, and banking and auditing services, etc.
  • You will lead on building a database of potential distributors and partners in Saudi for UK based SMEs. This will done by drawing upon the Saudi Council of Chambers, relevant Chambers of Commerce, and reviewing and updating existing internal DIT databases.
  • You will conduct market research and build expertise in sectors which receive the most enquiries. You will analyse market trends and, coupled with data collected from SME referrals, advice the Head of Trade of any significant business opportunities to help inform business and workforce planning exercises.
  • You will act as an advocate for the MEAP Trade Services Unit Hub externally and internally and embed the Hub into MEAP team’s ways of working.

The above list is not exhaustive and the jobholder will be required to be flexible and take on other ad hoc tasks as required, including participating in the Embassy’s emergency planning and any response to a crisis.


Key competencies required:

  • Managing a Quality Service - Valuing and modelling professional excellence and expertise to deliver service objectives and striving to improve the quality of service, taking account of diverse customer needs and requirements. Effectively planning, organising, and managing time and activities to deliver a high quality, secure, reliable and efficient service, applying programme and project and risk management approaches to support service delivery. Creating an environment to deliver operational excellence and creating the most appropriate and cost effective delivery models for services.
  • Achieving Commercial Outcomes - Maintaining an economic, long-term focus in all activities. Having a commercial, financial and sustainable mind-set to ensure all activities and services are delivering added value and working to stimulate economic growth. Identifying economic, market, and customer issues and using these to promote innovative business models, commercial partnerships, and agreements to deliver greatest value.
  • Changing and Improving - Being responsive and innovative, and seeking out opportunities to create effective change. Learning from what has worked well and what has not, being open to change, suggesting ideas for improvements to the way things are done, and working in ’smarter’, more focused ways. Creating and encouraging a culture of innovation and allowing people to consider and take informed decisions.
  • Collaborating and Partnering - Being a team player who creates and maintains positive, professional and trusting working relationships with a wide range of people within and outside the organisation to help get business done. Working collaboratively, sharing information appropriately, and building supportive, responsive relationships with colleagues and stakeholders, whilst having the confidence to challenge assumptions. Being approachable, delivering business objectives through creating an inclusive environment, encouraging collaboration, building effective partnerships including relationships with Ministers and welcoming challenge however uncomfortable.
  • Previously held or currently in a position with significant experience and responsibility in either the public or private sector in the UK or Saudi Arabia.
  • Experience of working in a trade or commercial role, ideally in Saudi Arabia
  • Proven track record of team leadership and management, including remote team management
  • Team player who is capable of working on their own initiative as well as with others, including in a fast-paced and changing environment.
  • Strong customer focus and ability to deliver quality service
  • Collaborative approach to colleague and stakeholder partnerships
  • Have a proven record of organisational ability. Able to organise and prioritise workload and meet deadlines and changing priorities whilst maintaining close attention to detail and without compromising the quality of the work.
  • The ability to learn quickly and work with a high degree of autonomy.
  • A positive ‘can-do’ attitude that can see way through challenges. Resilient, decisive, and with a proactive approach to problem solving.
  • Excellent communication skills in English. Able to express ideas and messages clearly and concisely, both orally and in written communication.
  • Strong IT skills and well-versed in the use of Microsoft Office applications (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Teams).
  • Proven project management skills and experience of developing and implementing new processes, governance, and reporting structures.
  • Arabic language skills, both oral and written.
19 October 2021
Higher Executive Officer (HEO)
Full-time, Fixed term, with possibility of renewal
35
Middle East & North Africa
Saudi Arabia
Riyadh
British Embassy
1
SAR
17,763.04
monthly
5 December 2021

Eligibility:

The position is available to Saudi Nationals and to current holders of valid Saudi residence permits or transferable iqamas. The successful candidate will be required to transfer their sponsorship to the British Embassy. 

 

Working hours and remuneration:

The Embassy aims to offer an attractive working environment and remuneration package for this role.

Salary details:

  • Base Salary including Eid bonus - SAR 13,890.44
  • Housing Allowance - SAR 3,472.61 (subject to eligibility)*
  • Travel Allowance - SAR 400 (subject to eligibility)*

*Allowances are not payable to staff who receive official provision for such expenditure in some other form.

No accommodation and relocation expenses are payable in connection with this position.

 

Normal working hours for the Embassy are from 08:00 to 15:00 from Sunday to Thursday. This position is full-time, based on 35 hours per week.

Given the nature of the role, the jobholder should also be flexible in their approach to hours worked as these will be dictated by operational needs and may involve working out of hours (evening and weekend), especially during events, visits, business receptions, and other networking activities. Flexible working arrangements will be considered based on operational requirements upon agreement with the Line Manager and in line with the Embassy’s policies.

The position will cover the entire Saudi network and will also involve domestic and potentially some regional travel.

 

The successful candidate will be subject to a 90-day probationary period.

How to apply:

Interested candidates must attach 1) an updated Curriculum Vitae (CV) and 2) a covering letter stating how you meet the requirements of the role.

Your application must also include examples of when you have demonstrated the required competencies in the Competence-Based Questions section of the online application form.

Applications that do not include these information will not be considered.

The closing date for applications is at 23:55 KSA local time on 19 October 2021.

Applications received after the stated deadline will not be considered.

Due to the large number of applications we receive, only those shortlisted for the next step in the recruitment process will be contacted.

The start date mentioned in the advert is an assumed start date and the successful candidate will be required to undergo security vetting procedures. Any offer of employment will be subject to the candidate achieving suitable clearances, medical clearance and reference checks. 

 

The British Embassy Riyadh is an equal opportunities employer, dedicated to inclusivity, a diverse workforce and valuing difference. Staff recruited locally by the British Embassy is subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local Saudi Arabia employment law.

Please be aware that you will only be able to apply to vacancies for Country Based Staff roles with the British Government through this official tal.net site (operated by Oleeo). Jobs may be advertised on third party websites, however our adverts will always link back to the official tal.net site. If you complete and send an application through any other site, we will not receive it.

This opportunity is closed to applications.