View Vacancy - AUH/ DXB - Trade & Investment Advisor, Energy C4(L)

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Department for International Trade roles (DIT)
Investment, Trade Promotion

The British Embassies in Abu Dhabi and Dubai have a vacancy for a Trade & Investment Advisor, Energy under the Department for International Trade (DIT).

We are looking for a highly capable individual to deliver a high standard of trade and investment support to British companies looking to enter or expand their presence in the UAE market. The jobholder will be the DIT’s adviser for the UAE on Energy and will support DIT’s Regional Energy Specialist as part of the Energy Sector Cluster.

This is a key senior role in the team and this position will see you exposed to Ministers and CEOs of large companies, and therefore strong communication skills and a high level of resilience and persistence are essential, alongside excellent drafting skills and the ability to turn round work quickly and under pressure. The role also involves working closely with senior managers to ensure that the DIT team provides first class support to UK companies looking to work and trade in the UAE.

The job can be based in either Abu Dhabi or Dubai with an expectation of some travel between the two Embassies as per work demands.


Duties and responsibilities:

- Delivery of DIT’s annual export win targets

  • Help UK companies in market and those looking to enter the UAE with winning business across all aspects of the energy sector. Build strong relationships with buyers in market (both government and private commercial entities) in order to maximise the UK’s potential in winning business in the UAE.
  • Lead on work around the major UAE trade shows in the energy sector, including but not limited to, planning, delivery, arranging strategic meetings, and presenting.
  • Identify and deliver new trade promotion activities in the UAE related to clean and renewable energy sub-sectors to raise the UK’s profile as a leader in the sector.
  • Support the Regional Energy Specialist located in the UAE to successfully deliver the sector strategy.
  • Work with the UK industry bodies in helping promote UK expertise in the sector, lead on trade missions (physical and virtual), and develop a close working relationship with the sector team in HQ.
  • Develop partnerships and support the UAE British Business Group and the UAE-UK Business Council energy sector working group, including attending networking events in and out of hours.
  • Obtain the latest information on commercial projects through desk-based research and engagement with key stakeholders, and promote UK strengths in these sectors so as to increase export wins for UK companies.
  • Collaborate with colleagues across the Embassy platform in Dubai and Abu Dhabi on areas that cut across the energy sector.

- Delivery of sector strategy

  • Build on existing sector strategy, incorporating all aspects of the clean and renewable energy sector. Identify pipelines and key stakeholders and develop a strategic account list in order to position UK companies to win business in the clean and renewable energy sector across the UAE.
  • Ensure senior staff are kept in the loop and brought in to key meetings as and when appropriate. Working with key stakeholders in the wider UAE DIT team, including UK Export Finance (UKEF) to promote energy sector opportunities in the UAE for UK companies.
  • Provide written and oral briefings for high level visits/ engagements quickly whilst under pressure. Devise and run with VIP programmes for Ministers and senior DIT staff.
  • Conduct research on the renewable and clean energy sectors in the UAE to understand what the UAE is looking to achieve, identify commercial project opportunities, and align UK capability.
  • As the UK gears up to host COP26, the jobholder will be required to develop the UK offer in clean and renewable energy, from both a trade promotion and inward investment perspective.
  • Work closely with the Political, Prosperity, and Economic teams in the Embassy in Abu Dhabi, helping shape economic reporting and provide advice and guidance to help develop policy in the sector and with wider political strategy. Particular focus will be on collaborating with the Climate Change Policy Manager and DIT COP Hub to feed into Climate Change and COP26 engagements/ promotion.
  • Maintain, update, and deliver the energy sector strategy, including achieving specific targets. During the first year, the jobholder will be required to work with the Embassy’s Expo team and engage on legacy after the event.

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:

  • Leading and Communicating - Showing our pride and passion for public service, leading from the front and communicating with clarity, conviction, integrity and enthusiasm. Championing difference and external experience, supporting principles of fairness of opportunity for all and a dedication to a diverse range of citizens. Managing and engaging with people in a straightforward, truthful and candid way, and upholding the reputation of the organisation.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Making Effective Decisions - Using sound judgement, evidence, and knowledge to arrive at accurate, expert and professional decisions and advice. Being careful and thoughtful about the use and protection of government and public information to ensure it is handled securely and with care. Reaching evidence-based strategies, evaluating options, impacts, risks and solutions and creating a secure culture around the handling of information; and aiming to maximise return while minimising risk and balancing a range of considerations such as social, political, financial, economic, legal and environmental to provide sustainable outcomes.
  • Delivering at Pace - Focusing on delivering timely performance with energy and taking responsibility and accountability for quality outcomes. Working to agreed goals and activities and dealing with challenges in a responsive and constructive way.
  • Excellent interpersonal skills and able to influence and network confidently with industry leaders, government officials, and senior business people.
  • Excellent communication skills in English, both verbal and spoken. Able to express ideas and messages clearly and concisely.
  • Team player who is capable of working on their own initiative and manage others.
  • Relevant experience of working for government and private sector in the region.
  • Excellent organisational skills, including ability to organise and prioritise workload, organise records, and meet deadlines and changing priorities whilst maintaining close attention to detail and without compromising the quality of the work.
  • Strong IT skills and well-versed in the use of Microsoft Office applications (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Teams).
  • Degree level education.
  • Knowledge of and experience in the energy sector in the UAE and/ or UK.
  • Project management experience.
  • Experience of working in a trade and investment environment.
  • Events experience.
20 April 2021
Higher Executive Officer (HEO)
Full-time, Permanent
38
Middle East & North Africa
United Arab Emirates
Abu Dhabi, Dubai
British Embassy
1
AED
22,500
20 June 2021

The Embassy aims to offer an attractive working environment and remuneration package for this role, including: 25 days of leave per annum; on-site swimming pool, gym, and sports facilities (subject to COVID-19 restrictions).

Salary is at AED 22,500 per month.

There are no other allowances payable as part of this package. No accommodation and relocation expenses are payable in connection with this position.

Conditioned working hours are 38 hours per week. Standard working hours are from 07:30 to 15:06, including a lunch break of 36 minutes, from Sunday to Thursday.

Whilst the role may be based in either Abu Dhabi or Dubai, the jobholder will be required to visit the Embassy in the other emirate frequently and often at short notice. The jobholder will also be expected to visit to take part in sector meetings and attend relevant trade missions, trade fairs, and events which will also require out-of-hours working (evenings/ weekends).

The successful candidate will be required to transfer their visa under the Embassy's sponsorship.

How to apply:

Interested candidates must attach 1) an updated Curriculum Vitae (CV) and 2) a covering letter to their online application form.

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.

Closing date for applications is at 23:55 (local time) on 20 April 2021.

Applications received after the stated deadline will not be considered.


Process:

The recruitment process, including security clearance, is expected to take around two months. You may experience some delay in the progress of this recruitment campaign, and we are working hard to minimise any disruption.

Due to the large number of applications we receive, only those shortlisted for the next step of the recruitment process will be contacted. Interviews will be done remotely if the existing situation determines this to be the right course of action.

The start date mentioned in the job advert is a tentative 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.


The British Embassies in Abu Dhabi and Dubai are an equal opportunities employer, dedicated to inclusivity, a diverse workforce and valuing difference.

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.