View Vacancy - Trade Manager, Defence & Security Sector (TUR19.556)

The British Embassy in Ankara is part of a world-wide network representing British political, economic and consular interests overseas and is now looking to hire a Trade Manager, Defence & Security Sector for the Department for International Trade (DIT) team.

DIT work to support companies based in the UK and their in-country representatives and partners overseas. Primarily the job involves providing support to the DIT team during their interactions with UK and Turkish industries and government. In particular the Ankara team focuses on supporting UK exports in the healthcare, life sciences, energy, education, infrastructure, defence & security sectors.

The primary purpose of this role is to provide support for UK companies seeking to develop and secure opportunities in the Defence and Security sectors within Turkey. This involves liaison with Turkish military and government authorities, managing relationships with key Turkish and British companies and their in country representatives, and planning and delivering official visits and participation at defence exhibitions.

Core duties include monitoring defence & security opportunity related activity; researching Turkish defence equipment requirements; distributing information to relevant British Industry; arranging inward and outward high level visits, appointments and meetings; responding to requests for information and assistance; accompanying senior Embassy colleagues and defence companies on their calls; briefing senior Embassy and visiting officials as required. There may be an occasional need for short periods of duty away from Ankara and some international travel.

In more detail, main responsibilities will include:

• Coordinating the day to day work of the DSO (Defence and Security Organisation) section within the DIT (Department for International Trade) team. Managing delivery of the high value campaigns and all reporting and briefing requirements of the section;
• Establishing, maintaining and expanding a wide range of high level contacts in the defence industry of Turkey, the defence procurement organisation (SSM) and the Turkish military. Working with those contacts and other sources of information to acquire a sophisticated knowledge of the key defence projects, opportunities and challenges for UK business. Using this knowledge to ensure UK industry, senior management in Turkey, DSO and wider Whitehall have accurate and up to date information on which to base commercial and policy decision making. Liaising with UK companies and following up on enquiries, including through visits to local companies, producing chargeable reports for UK companies when commissioned;
• Other duties involve contributing to the annual reports; completing required computer based metrics. Thereby ensuring that all measured targets are recorded and met;
• Managing and developing the 1 x member of staff who leads on the security portfolio. Ensuring that they have the guidance and support they need to deliver the value and volume targets in their sector. Ensure that all management tasks such as appraisals and claim authorisation are performed to a high standard and in a timely way;
• Arranging events (including high level participation at international shows such as Farnborough, DSEi, IEDF). Developing and implementing media and engagement strategies for high profile campaigns in the sector liaising closely with Embassy press and public affairs colleagues to maximise impact.

• Fluency in Turkish and English (both oral and written);
• Sound understanding of the Turkish defence industry and how this interacts with government and the military;
• Experience of running commercial campaigns, lobbying, public relations or similar roles in the public sector;
• The ability to work in a diverse, multicultural team where intense pressure and short deadlines are common;
• The ability to effectively represent UK interests in meetings and via presentations to high level and potentially unsympathetic audiences;
• Availability to do some out of hours work for events, receptions, exhibitions. Some domestic and international travel required including regular visits to the UK;
• Must have no restrictions on ability to undertake international travel including to the UK.