View Vacancy - Trade & Investment Officer: Security (Sector Lead)

As the commercial arm of the UK Government, based out of the British Embassy in Washington DC, our organisation has the remit to boost UK growth through supporting of investment and foster deeper business ties with the UK’s key trading partners.

The position is located in the British Embassy in Washington DC, within a dynamic business team focused on fostering transatlantic trade and investment between the United States and the United Kingdom. This is a senior position within the network’s team of 125 staff across 9 offices. It will lead the trade and investment strategy across the US for the Homeland Security (HLS) sector and help support the promotion of exports and investment of those companies involved in the areas of Security, Cyber, Defence & Aerospace including the diversification of UK defence companies into the HLS sector.

The UK maintains an important foothold in the global security market, which is projected to reach £400 billion by 2020.  Britain’s increasing global and US market share require this role to design a strategy to help ensure the UK partnership with the US is maximised. The officer will be responsible for developing business and policy relationships across Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Delaware, North and South Carolina and the District of Columbia, as well as guiding and supporting a team that builds relationships across the wider US. The team includes direct reports in DC, members of the senior Embassy team and staff across the US and the UK.  

The role requires working with senior industry leaders in the US and UK, government decision makers in the US and London, as well as leaders in the Defence and Security Services on both sides of the Atlantic. The individual will be responsible for ensuring the right conditions for business collaboration exist, advising on opportunities and barriers to collaborate, driving investment into the UK (this includes investment attraction, expansion and retention) and supporting UK exports and partnerships with the US through providing chargeable services to UK companies.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Overall -

• Serve as the US Network Sector Lead for Homeland Security (HLS) covering Trade & Investment, to develop and lead an ambitious strategy to drive the continued growth of UK security exports through 4 main campaigns focussing on Law Enforcement, Cyber, Disaster Relief Humanitarian Aid (DRHA), Customs Border Protection (including Aviation Security), increasing the UK market share of US imports on Security. Work in conjunction with colleagues across the US as well as in the UK to ensure the continued growth of foreign direct investment into the UK. The role also supports delivery on campaign activity around wider Advanced Engineering and Manufacturing Sector activities, primarily Defence & Aerospace.
• With UK and US Government and business experts, develop an overarching, aligned strategy to support business collaboration between the UK and the US that delivers a measurable increase in collaboration and deal flow in the security sector, recognizing the interplay with the defence sector; 
• Lead a team collaborating with Devolved Administration (partners in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland) ; Foreign Office, UK Defence and Security personnel to leverage the opportunities that exist to the benefit of the UK and US economies;
• Establish and manage relationships with senior level business leaders, key industry associations, and multiplier organizations and stakeholders in the UK and the US;
• Develop and implement marketing programs to build market awareness, identify and develop key sponsorship activities, and attend association events/trade shows to build relationships and generate leads;
• Facilitate and successfully manage trade missions and senior visits, compile visit programs, briefings and sector reports, plan company meetings and introductions, and produce and manage events, including corresponding trade, where they relate directly to campaign activity.

Invest:

• Develop and implement a strategy for the attraction of investment into the UK with the support of key partners, delivering and overseeing the provision of practical  assistance to US companies aiming to set up or expand in the UK in security and defence, including through strategic advice, introductions to service providers and incentives, facilitation of visit programs for prospective clients to the UK;
• Meet annual investment targets and build active client pipeline through developing and managing relationships with C-level executives and business leaders in the sector
• Develop and implement marketing programs to build market awareness, identify and develop key sponsorship activities and attend networking events to build relationships and generate leads.
• Monitor market trends, research and identify market opportunities, and manage events and corresponding investment, marketing and local budgets.
• Continue to account manage from the DC Post a number of large systems integrators with a large footprint in the UK. 

Export:

• Oversee and provide advice, support and guidance to UK firms looking to enter the US market through the provision of market research reports, introductions to UK partners and customers and event delivery at the British Embassy;
• Proactively seek out small to medium new-to-export companies in the UK to support the development of their market entry strategy and build the community of UK companies already active in the sector in the US;
• Facilitate and successfully manage inward trade missions to the US to build the UK brand in the security and defence sectors in the region, engaging with the appropriate sector events with measurable outcomes;
• Undertake business development visits to the UK to expand British companies’ knowledge of the security market in the region; and to promote participation in specific sector programs and initiatives. This will include speaking engagements, as well as one-to-one company meetings;
• All of the above will be driven and delivered based upon how they relate directly to campaign activity as outlined in the main areas of responsibility

• A minimum of a bachelors degree in business, economics, international marketing or equivalent business experience.
• 8-10 years relevant work experience in business development, ideally in security, defence and/or advanced engineering sectors;
• Track record of delivering against challenging targets and goals
• An appreciation of the UK’s investment/trade proposition or evidence of ability to quickly master this.
• An appreciation and knowledge of US and UK government procurement guidelines and principles;
• Strong account management experience and excellent influencing skills;
• An excellent knowledge of UK and Washington region business cultures;
• The ability to work in a closely-knit team towards shared goals;
• An understanding of both private and public sector operations;
• Strong networking skills;
• Proven line management experience;
• High self-motivation and initiative;
• Computer literacy in standard Microsoft applications and Client Relationship Management (CRM) software applications;
• Driving license and ability to undertake regular business travel in the region and the UK;

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 Visa holders. If you hold a Visa other than an A 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/world/usa.  All candidates will be subject to background checks and security clearance.