View Vacancy - Trade Adviser (04/16 YAO)

Main purpose of job: 

To build interest among UK business in exporting their goods or services to Cameroon; to work closely with British companies exploring their exporting options in Cameroon; to provide market insight and sector-specific analysis according to their needs (on a chargeable basis); and identify export opportunities for UK companies.  

Roles and responsibilities / what will the jobholder be expected to achieve?:

West Africa is a growing and diverse region with opportunities accross a range of sectors that the UK has expertise in. It has significant long-term economic potential with vast natural resources and a young and growing population. As a result West Africa offers a wide array of business opportunities, especially in the oil and gas sector but also increasingly in areas such as renewable energy, infrastructure and agriculture. Current trade figures are good but we want to do better. 

As part of the British Government’s commitment to increasing UK exports worldwide to £1 trillion by 2020, the UK’s trade team in West Africa, with offices in Lagos, Abuja, Accra, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea, and Senegal is developing a trade strategy to identify and better tap into this vast potential and increase trade between the UK and West Africa.  The Cameroon team is also shifting to a regional approach, working with trade colleagues in Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea and Senegal to maximise the trading relationship with the UK across West Africa.

We are looking for a highly organised person with a strong attention to detail, ability to take the initiative, work accurately within deadlines and with limited supervision, and be a strong team member who works collaboratively.

Please note that as part of annual business planning the key sectors of focus are being reviewed but are likely to cover extractives and infrastructure. 

Key Responsibilities:

To work to the Deputy Head of Trade DIT, and Regional Co-ordinator based in Accra to identify opportunities and monitor sector developments for UK business both new and existing. This includes building and developing a network of key contacts across government and private sector, providing information, monitoring procurement websites and proactively contacting British businesses, ensuring a good quality service is provided to our UK customers;

•  Engage directly with British companies who have expressed an interest in exploring exporting opportunities in Cameroon charging them where appropriate for producing good quality and detailed reports providing market insights and sector- or product-specific information and analysis;
• Full participation in ensuring the challenging annual overall DIT targets are met, such as the increase in the number of companies across the region exporting to meet the national ambition of getting 100,000 more  companies exporting by 2020 and targets for export successes.
• Upload export opportunities onto the UK Department for International Trade’s customised database, and ensuring that export opportunity targets are met throughout the year; 

Roles and responsibilities:

• Engagement with a multitude of  Government Departments, agencies, companies and other organisations, at all levels, to ensure maximum co-operation and understanding of their current needs and aspirations, engaging credibly to build strong and meaningful relationships with stakeholders and clients in the UK and Cameroon;
• Responsibility for the smooth running of trade missions comprising British businesses to Cameroon, from arrival to departure via our paid for services; 
• Using the various DIT databases to ensure UK companies are kept fully up to speed on Export Opportunities to the region. 
• Work with colleagues across the regional network to maximise opportunities, increase the impact of inward missions and other visits from the UK.    
• Prepare trade breifngs, trade statistics, and pipeline of opportunities to include in annual business planning.
• Assisting with VIP visits including responsibility for programme and logistics;   
• Ensure timely and accurate reporting on economic and sector developments in Cameroon relevant to trade, working closely with partners in the Embassy to identify barriers to business.
• Good continuous liaison with the Deputy Head of Trade DIT and the Regional Co-ordinator based in Accra, other Regional DIT teams, and UK customers to ensure you deliver the best possible service, which they will have paid for;
• Attending various out of hours events, such as receptions at which many senior contacts will be present; 

• University degree or equivalent;
• Experience in extractive or infrastructure sectors;
• Strong oral and written English communication skills;
• Excellent IT skills with ability in MS Office suite applications e.g. Outlook, Excel, Word and PowerPoint;
• Ability to effectively work under tight deadlines;
• Resourcefulness in solving problems;
• Good interpersonal skills and comfortable dealing with high level officials; Flexible;
• Strong organizational skills and keen attention to detail;
• Superior professionalism and judgment;
• Strong work ethic.