View Vacancy - CGZ - Senior Trade and Investment Officer (Advanced Engineering & Chemicals), B3 (L)

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Department for International Trade roles (DIT)
Department for International Trade (DIT)

Main purpose of job:

This is an exciting role for an enthusiastic, proactive and flexible individual to be our Senior Trade and Investment Officer focusing on Advanced Engineering & Chemicals. Working closely with colleagues as part of the Innovation and Industry Directorate, you will play a key role in supporting the DIT China region (China & Hong Kong) achieve its objectives as articulated in the Regional Trade Plan, of which the over-arching ambitions are:

  • Objective 1 - Driving and inspiring UK exports to China, significantly increasing the UK market share of China's goods imports, and more than double the value of UK services exports.
  • Objective 2 – Consistent trade policy engagement with China to achieve incremental market access, mitigate business risk and prepare for future trade deals
  • Objective 3 - Broadening and deepening the UK-China investment partnership, positioning the UK as the top European destination for Chinese investment and providing strong support for UK investors.

The Department for International Trade (DIT) was established by the Prime Minister in July 2016 to integrate and elevate the Trade agenda; help secure a better deal for the UK as it negotiates a successful exit from the EU; and, establish new relationships with other countries around the globe. DIT promotes British trade across the world and ensures the UK takes advantage of the huge opportunities open to us, securing and improving the economic well-being and stability of the UK, and helping to create tens of thousands of jobs every year.

Context:

Led by Her Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for China and Hong Kong we are one of nine global regions and part of an overseas network that operates in 108 countries. The largest DIT overseas network in the world, with 200 staff across six posts - the British Embassy in Beijing, plus Consulates in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chongqing and Wuhan – DIT, as part of the One HMG network in China and Hong Kong, offers a fast-paced place to work at the heart of UK: China Government relations.

Detail: 

As our Senior Trade and Investment Officer for Advanced Engineering & Chemicals sector, the successful candidate will be responsible for helping UK companies win more high value business deals and exports to China, as well as securing new and increased investment from China into the UK. To achieve this, the jobholder will need to build strong relationships with key multipliers, industry bodies and business clients; identifying, designing and managing strategic campaigns, projects and visits to win support for DIT’s Export and Investment agenda. In addition to traditional trade and investment targets, the jobholder will also provide support on specific market access issues within the two sectors and promote UK excellence in the Chinese market.

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

Delivering export wins and foreign direct investment targets

  • Identify and analyse trends and developments in the Advanced Engineering & Chemical sector in China and UK markets, and key companies in targeted sub-sectors, as well as in the external factors affecting the sector's operating environment, and use this to deliver the team’s export wins and FDI targets.
  • Identify and coordinate inputs to help with the evolution of the sector strategy. Organise input of information to help raise awareness of China opportunities through specialists, Investment Organisations, Local Enterprise Partnerships etc. Sign-posting to partner organisations and other services where appropriate.

Effective client management and pipeline building

  • Take a systematic approach in identifying and building relationship with new industrial clients at different levels and look for opportunities to deploy senior officials to unlock/enhance relationships. Pro-actively identify trade & investment opportunities and develop account management plans accordingly.

Leading on high impact campaigns, events and visits

  • Advise on the design, and manage delivery and follow up of high-level campaigns, events and visits, in particular with our partners, that contribute to sector targets. Plan and manage practical and logistical aspects of important events including HMG visitor’s programmes and inward/outward missions (by Chinese companies to the UK and UK companies to China); working with partner organisations and other networks where appropriate.

Knowledge and Skills development

  • Commit to continual learning, making full use of on the job opportunities to deepen your sector knowledge and understanding of the UK capability and UK/China business environment, as well as formal training for skills and personal competences most relevant to your job. This includes knowledge-sharing with colleagues across DIT and the wider Embassy/Consulate.
  • Business Development Skills
  • Experience of the UK Advanced Engineering and/or Chemical portfolio
  • Excellent in spoken and written English and Chinese
  • Experience or knowledge of Advanced Engineering and/or Chemicals.
  • Networks within Advanced Engineering & Chemicals in China or in the UK
24 June 2019
Executive Officer (EO)
Fixed Term, Full-time
35
12 months
Asia Pacific
China
Guangzhou
British Consulate General
1
CNY
17,870
1 August 2019

There is plenty of opportunity to develop on the job, and to establish expertise on trade policy. Specific areas and activities include:

  • Courses and materials and offered by the trade / prosperity academy of the Diplomatic Academy
  • Attending external events and conferences hosted by academic institutions, business chambers, etc
  • Taking part in learning sets with colleagues
  • Network Leadership Programmes

We offer a competitive package, which includes basic salary and insurance plan etc. The gross starting salary for this position before all deductions is RMB 17,870 /month for Chinese Nationals and an abated monthly salary of RMB 24,746/month for British Nationals and spouses/partners of all nationalities of diplomats who are ‘W’ (diplomatic) visa holders and meet passport criteria.

We also offer excellent development opportunities and a 22-day annual leave entitlement in pro rata.

Staff recruited locally by the British Consulate-General Guangzhou are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local Chinese employment law.

All applications must be received before 23:55 China Standard Time on the specified application deadline.

Incomplete application forms will not be taken into consideration, so please ensure you provide the information requested. We regret to advise that we will only be contacting short-listed candidates. Applicants called for an interview will be assessed on the core competencies listed above.

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.