View Vacancy - Deputy Head of Export Finance (Deputy IEFE) (05/23 ABI)

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Other British Government Departments (Partners across Government, including UK Visas)
Department for International Trade (DIT)

Main purpose of job:

The British Embassy in Côte d’Ivoire is part of a world-wide network, representing British political, economic, trade, and consular interests overseas. The Embassy is now looking for a Deputy Head of Export Finance to support development of business prospects in parts of Africa.

 UK Export Finance (UKEF) has a network of International Export Finance Executives (IEFE) based in strategic locations around the world. They work on delivering new business opportunities in overseas markets suitable for UKEF funding and manage the client relationship.  [Find an international export finance executive - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)]

The Deputy Head of Export Finance (Deputy IEFE) is a newly created “in-market” role to build additional capacity in West Africa, reflective of the scale of future opportunity we envisage in Côte d’Ivoire and the region.  Working closely with our existing African IEFE network, this is an exciting position that lies at the unique intersection of three key stakeholder groups:

1)     Our existing and prospective international clients

2)     The UKEF regional and London leadership team

3)     British governmental departments, in particular Department for Business and Trade (DBT) and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), at Embassies and High Commissions.

You will travel widely in the region and to the UK, engaging with business and government interlocutors.

The British Embassy in Côte d’Ivoire is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all ethnic backgrounds and genders.

Roles and responsibilities:

As an “in-market” role, the Deputy IEFE in Abidjan will work closely with UKEF’s existing IEFE in Accra in particular, and the wider African network in general. There will be regular interaction with the London UKEF team as well as DBT and FCDO colleagues.

Key responsibilities include, inter alia:

  • Raising awareness of our product suite and, in turn, the type of financial support we can provide to overseas buyers of UK exports, through extensive engagement with existing and future customers
  • Support the delivery of UKEF marketing plans, ensuring that messages are appropriate to the audience
  • Build effective business networks and develop calling plans to enhance the profile of UKEF
  • Working closely with your IEFE and colleagues in post to shape short and long term strategies to bring in new business and to keep closely connected to recent market, regulatory and political developments
  • Gathering information and insights from the local commercial banking sector and on appetite for risk-based funding
  • Build knowledge of host government budget, national development plans, trade policy, priority sectors and upcoming large projects
  • Evaluating potential projects suitable for UKEF support, including preliminary analysis of transactional viability and intitial credit risks
  • Guiding exporters and overseas buyers on accessing UKEF finance and what is needed to meet our eligibility and risk parameters
  • Ensuring our deal pipeline (SalesForce) is well managed and all internal reporting is accurate and high quality
  • Supporting and briefing senior government stakeholders, including Ambassadors, Trade Envoys and Trade Commissioners at events and meetings in the UK and overseas
  • Promoting the values, behaviours and security of the Embassy as well as undertaking  broader corporate  responsibilities to contribute to the Embassy’s wider wellbeing and effective functioning.

Other skills / experience / qualifications:

 

Qualifications:

•            Graduate level qualification or significant relevant professional experience. 

•            Evidence of continuing professional development.

Knowledge:

•            Knowledge of Export Credit Agency (ECA) instruments and structured finance.

•            Cultural awareness of Francophone West Africa

•            Business knowledge of the Francophone West Africa markets

•            Functional knowledge of local business community and trends

Skills:

·       Commercial skills, particularly in contracting and finance.

·       Evidence of advisory and negotiation skills. Able to express ideas and messages clearly and concisely, both orally and in written communication.  

·       Competent in Microsoft Office applications

·       Ability to coordinate and contribute to strategy development and business planning.

·       Excellent relationship development skills, capable of operating at all organisational levels.

·       Evidence of strong public speaking and presentation skills

·       Strong analytical capabilities.

Experience:

·       Relevant role in exporting business and capability to work independently in a sector servicing exporters in financial and credit risk products.  

·       Experience in modern international trade practice.

·       Experience of developing relationships and building influence with multiple stakeholders in public and private sectors

·       Experience of navigating emerging / growth markets with the ability to support complex financial service projects.

Knowledge:

•            Knowledge of UKEF’s credit risk policy and environment. 

•            An understanding of the regulatory macroeconomic and political situation in the relevant markets

•            Capability to track trade flows and local UKEF statistics and performance

•            A good understanding of UKEF’s product range

•            Background in commercial contracting and finance

Skills:

•            Ability to access diverse stakeholders and key decision makers in government and business networks

•            Strong analytical capabilities.

Experience:

•            Understand realistic expectations for the potential for UK Supply Chain to benefit from prospective projects in relevant markets.

•            Experience of working in international markets with an understanding of the UK trade agenda

Seeing the Big Picture, Making Effective Decisions, Managing a Quality Service, Delivering at Pace, Communicating and Influencing, Working Together
29 March 2023
Higher Executive Officer (HEO)
Fixed Term
12 months
Africa
Côte d'Ivoire
Abidjan
British Embassy
XOF 2,004,655
1 June 2023

Learning and Development:

The role holder will be expected to undertake all mandatory learning as well as attending any training courses which are deemed relevant to the role.

Working patterns:

The work pattern will require the successful candidate to work from the Embassy minimum 3 days per week, actual working pattern will be agreed with the Accra based IEFE when not travelling within the region on business.

Any other information (or specific local Post requirements):

·       You will need to be able to fulfil the travel requirements of the role and work outside normal office hours as required.

·       You will play a full and active part in the corporate life of the Embassy.

  • Please complete the application form in full as the information provided is used during screening.
  • Please check your application carefully before you submit, as no changes can be made once submitted.
  • Employees recruited locally by the British Embassy in Abidjan are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local employment law in Côte d’Ivoire .
  • All candidates must be legally able to work and reside in the country of the vacancy with the correct visa/work permit status
  • The British Embassy/High Commission does not sponsor visas/work permits 
  • Employees who are not liable to pay local income tax on their Mission salary may have their salaries reduced by the equivalent local income tax amount.    
  • Information about the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Competency Framework can be found on this link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/civil-service-competency-framework Please note: AA=A1, AO=A2, EO=B3, HEO=C4, SEO=C5
  • Reference checking and security clearances will be conducted on successful candidates.
  • Appointable candidates who were unsuccessful may be placed on a ‘reserve list’.  If during the reserve period of 12 months the same or a largely similar role becomes available, that role may be offered to the second or subsequent candidate.
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This opportunity is closed to applications.