View Vacancy - CPK - Senior Trade and Investment Officer (FPST), B3 (L)

The British Government is an inclusive and diversity-friendly employer.  We value difference, promote equality and challenge discrimination, enhancing our organisational capability. We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We do not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, colour, ethnicity, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, age, veteran status or other category protected by law. We promote family-friendly flexible working opportunities, where operational and security needs allow.
Department for International Trade roles (DIT)
Department for International Trade (DIT)

Due to the Novel Coronavirus outbreak in China, all recruitment campaigns have been placed on hold until further notice.


The Department for International Trade (DIT) embraces and values diversity in all forms. We welcome and pride ourselves on the positive impact diversity has on the work we do, and we promote equality of opportunity throughout the organisation. DIT China would value applications from people from the widest possible diversity of background, culture, experience and gender. 

Main purpose of job

This is a dynamic role for an exceptional individual to join the Financial and Professional Services team in The Department for International Trade (DIT) China. Working closely with colleagues as part of the Financial and Professional Services team, you will play a key role in supporting the DIT China region (China & Hong Kong) achieve its objectives as articulated in the Regional Trade Plan, of which the over-arching ambitions are: 

Objective 1 - Driving and inspiring UK exports to China, significantly increasing the UK market share of China's goods imports, and more than double the value of UK services exports.

Objective 2 - Strengthened trade policy engagement with China to achieve incremental market access, mitigate business risk and prepare for future trade deals

Objective 3 - Broadening and deepening the UK-China investment partnership, positioning the UK as the top European destination for Chinese investment and providing strong support for UK investors.

Context

The Department for International Trade (DIT) operates in 108 countries. Establishing new relationships around the globe, DIT promotes British trade to ensure the UK takes advantage of the huge opportunities open to us, securing and improving economic well-being, stability, and helping to create tens of thousands of jobs.

DIT has one of the largest representations of the 18 government departments working in China, which are coordinated and led by Her Majesty’s Ambassador who is responsible for the UK’s relationship with China.

Her Majesty’s Trade Commissioner (HMTC) is responsible for Trade and Investment work in China, one of nine global regions and the largest DIT overseas network in the world. With c.190 staff across six posts - Beijing, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chongqing and Wuhan – DIT, as part of the UK government network in China offers a fast-paced place to work at the heart of UK-China Government relations.

Reporting to the Head of Banking and Capital Markets, the jobholder will be required to support engagement across the Financial and Professional Services sectors in both Beijing and the UK, international representative bodies, and leading analysts in the field. 

The jobholder will play a pivotal role in supporting UK firms to increase their exports to China and securing inward investment to the UK from Chinese firms.  The core focus of your job will be to engage with companies and regulators both in China and the UK, delivering high value business wins and high quality investment for the UK to meet sector targets and support the team in implementing the strategy set by the Director and senior managers.   

You will provide research and drafting support, including working with senior management to secure and manage key relationships.  You will work with the Banking, Fintech and Capital Markets team across the China network feeding into the subsector strategies and engaging with colleagues back in London.  Very good organisational, interpersonal and communication skills and resilience are key requirements for the role.

Strong written and oral English and Chinese skills are essential.  


Roles and responsibilities:

Strategy development and implementation (45%): 

Actively contribute to the development of strategies for key financial services sectors, working closely with the teams in Beijing, Guangzhou and Hong Kong. This includes:

  • Identifying and delivering high value opportunities for UK financial services exports to China.
  • Identify and deliver high value foreign direct investment (FDI) projects from China into the UK along the growth of Chinese firms with an existing presence in the UK.
  • Develop a programme of focused activity and engagement for the financial year, encompassing seminars, events and trade missions, to support export and investment goals, ensuring that these plans are executed to the highest standards

Relationship management and business development (30%):

  • Build and maintain strong relationships with key UK and Chinese companies and other commercial organisations (e.g. trade associations), as well as key policy-making authorities. Use those relationships to develop a deep understanding of firms’ business/international plans and priorities, and the regulatory and policy environment that they operate in. Continually and proactively expand professional network by organising and participating in relevant sector-focused events.

High-level visits and events (20%):

  • Contribute to the design and delivery of high-level visits between the UK and China by officials and Ministers, and the annual Chancellor-led Economic and Financial Dialogue. This includes involvement in visits planning, delivery, and follow-up work, working closely with the China-Britain Business Council (CBBC) and other partners to ensure a “One Team” approach.

Learning and Development (5%):

  • Commit to continual learning and personal/professional development, 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.
  • Minimum 2 years of full time working experience
  • A diplomatic, tactful manner when dealing with contacts and colleagues
  • Excellent organisational skills, positive approach to teamwork, and a pro-active attitude
  • Good administrative and IT skills (e.g. Word, Outlook, Excel, and PowerPoint)
  • Evidence of commercial and policy acumen in relation to financial services.
  • Excellent written and spoken English 
  • Proven international experience, ideally including experience/understanding of the UK and/or Chinese financial services industry;
  • Broad understanding of financial services industry, particularly the Asset Management and Insurance sub-sectors;
  • Well-organised, motivated and diligent;
  • Database management
  • UK experience/exposure – living, studying or (particularly) working in the UK
  • Experience working with local/national Government
  • Relevant professional qualifications (qualified or part-qualified)
29 February 2020
Executive Officer (EO)
Permanent
35
Asia Pacific
China
Beijing
British Embassy
1
CNY
Chinese: 18630 / British: 25798
1 May 2020

Learning and development opportunities (and any specific training courses to be completed):

 

There is plenty of opportunity to develop on the job, and to establish expertise. Specific areas and activities include:

  • Courses and materials and offered by the trade / prosperity academy of the UK government’s Diplomatic Academy
  • Attending external events and conferences hosted by academic institutions, business chambers, etc
  • Taking part in learning sets with Embassy colleagues
  • Embassy Leadership Programmes

We offer a competitive package, which includes basic salary, good leave entitlement, and insurance plan, etc. The gross salary (before all deductions) is CNY 18, 630/ month for Chinese Nationals and an abated monthly salary of CNY 25, 798/month for British Nationals and spouses/ partners (all nationalities) of diplomats who are ‘W’ (diplomatic) visa holders and meet passport criteria.

We also offer excellent development opportunities and a 22-day annual leave entitlement in pro rata.

Conditioned working hours is 35 hours/ week from Monday to Friday and flexible working can be arranged upon personal needs.

For more details on our Total Rewards Package, please visit our website http://www.gov.uk/government/world/china.

Staff recruited locally by the British Embassy Beijing is subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local Chinese employment law.

Please note that your application must be submitted before 23:55 on the day mentioned in the above field “Application deadline”.

Incomplete application forms will not be taken into consideration, so please ensure you provide the information requested. We regret to advise that we will only be contacting short-listed candidates. Applicants called for an interview will be assessed on the core competencies listed above.

Indicated start date is provisional and subject to successful completion of reference and security checks.

To those applicants not shortlisted, we extend our appreciation for considering the British Government as a potential employer.

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.