View Vacancy - Senior Commercial Attaché (Defence & Security)

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)

The British Embassy in Doha is part of a worldwide network, representing British political, economic and consular interests overseas. The Embassy is looking to recruit a full-time Senior Commercial Attaché (Defence & Security), Grade C4 (L) to be part of the Department for International Trade Team (DIT).

Main Purpose of the Job:

The jobholder will promote opportunities in Defence and Security sectors to British companies and relevant business organisations; Build strong relationship with Qatari government and decision makers. Maintain a healthy pipeline of commercial opportunities.

It is an exciting time to join DIT, the UK government department responsible for trade and investment promotion across the world. This work is vital to the prosperity of the UK. The jobholder has the opportunity to be part of a regional and international team, directly contributing to the UK’s trade objectives. The jobholder will be responsible for leading on commercial opportunities and export support for UK defence and security companies in Qatar. The objective is to maximise opportunities presented by the Qatar World Cup in 2022 and the Qatar National Vision 2030.

The jobholder will be responsible for delivering the long term strategy and day-to-day management of DIT’s activities in the Defence and Security sectors. The purpose of this role is to promote and support UK companies seeking to do business in Qatar, in order to deliver increased exports and related economic benefit to the UK. It involves building good local market knowledge and contacts, identifying relevant opportunities and business partners, answering enquiries about the local market, and designing and managing events which support bilateral trade &investment agenda (securing sponsorship where necessary).

The successful candidate is expected to work closely with other parts of the embassy  and colleagues in the UK ( HQ and the regions) to achieve results including; meeting export targets, running activity within budget, high quality line management of two team members and meeting DIT’s corporate standards for quality of service and business impact.

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

• Proactively identify and qualify opportunities for UK companies in Defence and Security in Qatar;
• Match the UK offering to local market opportunity to help optimise UK business development in Qatar;
• Lead on developing and implementing DIT’s strategy to win security related business for World Cup 2022;
• Build and maintain government and industry contacts to understand Qatar’s public and private sector defence and security requirements and promote UK capabilities, experience and excellence to relevant Qatar stakeholders;
• Promote opportunities in Defence and Security sectors to British companies and relevant business organisations;
• Provide insight into local market business challenges and barriers; seeking ways to overcome these;
• Follow trends and business opportunities by gathering market intelligence.
• Support delivery of key events and exhibitions including Security and Policing and DSEI (UK) and DIMDEX and Milipol (Qatar).
• Manage and grow a commercial opportunity tracker and pipeline;
• Ensure annual performance targets are met, e.g. recorded UK export wins for Qatar, based on the value of business won by UK companies, and corporate quality standards, e.g. business interactions and line management.
• Develop an understanding of available market opportunities in order to produce a prioritised listing of target organisations and developing a high level of understanding of them and their processes, including relationship-building with key individuals. 
• Cooperate closely with other Embassy teams, DIT Defence and Security team in London (DSO) and DIT colleagues across the MEAP region (Middle East, Afghanistan and Pakistan).
• Actively manage, or contribute to, relevant high level/VIP visit programmes;
• Liaise with DIT and other British Embassy staff in support of Government-to-Government Agreements in both security and defence export efforts.
• Maintaining records of our contact with customers on our global Customer Relationship Management system. Any other duties as required by the Deputy & Director for Trade

Key Competencies:

• Seeing the Big Picture: Is about having an in-depth understanding and knowledge of how your role fits with and supports organisational objectives and the wider public needs.
• Leading and Communicating: Effectiveness in this area is about leading from the front and communicating with clarity, conviction and enthusiasm. It’s about supporting principles of fairness of opportunity for all and a dedication to a diverse range of citizens.
• Collaborating and Partnering: People skilled in this area create and maintain positive, professional and trusting working relationships with a wide range of people within and outside the Civil Service to help get business done.
• Achieving Commercial Outcomes: Effectives in this area is about having a commercial, financial and sustainable mind set to ensure all activities and services are delivering added value and working to stimulate economic growth.
• Delivering at Pace: Effectiveness in this area means focusing on delivering timely performance with energy and taking responsibility and accountability for quality outcomes.

• Excellent written and spoken English.
• Commercial awareness and experience including previous work in a customer facing role;
• Excellent presentation, interpersonal and networking skills to build relationships with Qatari interlocutors and represent the organisation in a positive and impactful manner;
• Strong organisational and time management skills and an ability to prioritise and manage multiple deadlines;
• Ability to initiate and maintain a wide range of working relationships;
• Ability to research and analyse complex information;
• Self-Starter – ability to work well on own initiative;
• People management skills, ideally line management experience;
• Strong IT computer skills using Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint;
• Resilience and flexibility, with the ability to manage in a wide variety of circumstances and recover form challenges and setbacks.
• Good knowledge of the Middle East / Qatar and UK business environments;
• Arabic language skills;
• Policing or law enforcement experience, preferably across several disciplines including Major Event Security
• Knowledge of the police equipment solutions and UK policing and HMG security strategies and tactical best practice would be an advantage;
• Knowledge of the UK Defence, Cyber and Security Industry including UK company products and services.
• Project Management experience;
• Event Management experience;
10 March 2019
Higher Executive Officer (HEO)
Fixed Term, Full-time
24 months
Middle East & North Africa
Qatar
Doha
British Embassy
1
QAR
23,842
1 April 2019

Working Hours and Remuneration:

The British Embassy offers a competitive remuneration package, including non-negotiable salary of QR 23,042 per calendar month and transportation allowance of QR 800 per calendar month, paid in arrears. The contract will be a full time, fixed term for two years subject to a 6-month probationary period.

The position is offered on a non-sponsored basis and due to the nature of the work, some flexibility on hours will be required.  

No accommodation and relocation expenses are payable in connection with this position.

The successful candidate will need to commence security clearance procedures through the Embassy.

Embassy working hours are 7.30 a.m. to 3.30 p.m. Sunday to Wednesday and 7.30 a.m. to 1.30 p.m. on Thursday. The position holder should be flexible in their approach to hours worked as these will be dictated by operational needs and may involve working out-of-hours.

Please note that this position will sometimes involve out of hours commitment (networking events, receptions, and seminars). Travel to the UK and within the Gulf region may be required for training and logistical purposes.

Eligibility:

Applicants must already reside in Qatar and hold the right to live and work there, including those either under spouse sponsorship or be able to transfer an existing sponsorship to the British Embassy.

How to Apply:

Interested candidates must complete the online application form and answer the motivation for applying.

** (Your application must include examples of when you have demonstrated the competencies outlined above in your online application form. Applications that are not complete will be rejected).

The closing date for applications will be 10 March 2019 by 23:55 Doha time. Applications received after the stated deadline will not be considered.

Process:

The recruitment process, including security clearance, is expected to take around two months.

Due to the large amount of applications the Embassy receives only those shortlisted for interview will be contacted. Short-listed candidates will be invited for an interview.

The successful candidate will be required to undergo security-vetting procedures. Any offer of employment will be subject to the candidate achieving suitable clearances, medical clearance and reference checks.


The British Embassy Doha is an equal opportunities employer, dedicated to inclusivity, a diverse workforce and valuing difference. Staff recruited locally by the British Embassy is subject to Terms and Conditions of service according to local Qatari employment law.

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.