View Vacancy - Head of Trade and Investment

Can you help to increase trade and investment between the UK and the US? We’re looking for a talented, highly motivated leader with a track record of delivery to lead a high quality team building transatlantic business relations between the US and its top economic partner in Europe.

 UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) is the UK government’s international economic development agency charged with developing trade between the UK and the US and with assisting US companies looking to invest in the UK. (See www.ukti.gov.uk).

 The successful candidate will lead a high quality 11 person team based in Washington in advising a range of clients, from small companies to Fortune 500 and FTSE 100 companies, on trade and investment issues. The successful candidate will be responsible for delivering challenging foreign direct investment and trade targets and will work closely with other teams in the Embassy, the UKTI teams both across the US and in the UK, with UK regional representative offices and with other British government departments. 

 The UKTI Washington team covers the 7 states of the Mid-Atlantic and the District of Columbia. The team will be focused on priority export and investment sectors of advanced engineering, security, cyber, energy, aid funded business, information economy, life sciences, financial, business and professional services and automotive.

 The UKTI network in the USA is run from headquarters in New York and has two Regional Directors based in Washington and Los Angeles.

 Main Responsibilities: 

• Provide dynamic leadership to a team of 11 focusing on delivering team and personal trade and investment targets.
• Work within the wider UKTI US network to deliver UKTI global and national policy at local market level.
• Support Regional Director in establishing ever closer collaboration between UKTI USA and the US Prosperity network that will lead to beneficial outcomes for the UK economy
• Develop and implement a strategic relationship programme with Heads of Government Relation for leading US companies with investments in the UK.
• Oversee the Washington team's contribution to UKTI US sector strategies and teams and leadership as part of the Leadership Team.
• Develop and deliver a marketing strategy to support Washington’ business plan objectives.
• Establish and manage relationships with senior business leaders, leading association groups and multiplier organisations including specific responsibility for strategic multinational clients.
• Manage and report on performance against targets and budgets.
• Develop strong collaborative relationship with partners and stakeholders, including the UK's regional inward investment agencies.
• Maintain good relationships with colleagues throughout the Embassy, and the wider US network.

• A minimum of six years relevant experience.
• Bachelor’s degree in relevant field preferred.
• Must have at least 2 years of team management experience with strong leadership and motivational skills and the ability to develop a results-focused, collegiate team ethos.
• Results oriented and willing to make a personal commitment to meeting quantitative and qualitative targets.
• Demonstrable track record of excellent client service, strong account management experience and ability to work across several business sectors.
• Knowledge of UK and US economies and business drivers.
• Understanding of private and public sector organisations and international economic development.

• Excellent interpersonal, communication, presentation and networking skills including proven commercial savvy and credibility with C-level executives.

• Ability to build relationships and work closely with a variety of stakeholders including senior British and American private sector executives, other teams in the Embassy, UKTI and the UK government.
• High self-motivation and willingness to take the initiative and work without close line management.
• Strong resource and budgetary management skills and the ability to run efficient administrative systems.
• Strategic vision coupled with the willingness to get into detail on budgets and measuring performance.
• Driving license and ability to undertake business air travel (with occasional overnight stays).

Under US State Department requirements, the Embassy may only employ, as non-diplomatic staff, persons who are US citizens, US Green Card holders or A or NATO visa holders with EAD cards*. If you hold a visa other than an A or NATO visa you are not currently eligible to work at the Embassy.  Please refer to our website for information on exceptions to this policy at www.gov.uk/government/world/usa.  All candidates will be subject to background checks and security clearance. 

*A visas or NATO visas with EAD cards are acceptable at the Embassy, Consulates, and British Defence Staff (BDS) outposts.  The UK Mission to the UN (UKMIS) accepts G visas.