View Vacancy - Sector Director, Creative, Media and Sports, North America

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)
DIT

Main purpose of job:

Be part of the Department for International Trade’s mission to drive more trade and investment between North America and the UK. With a mature, high spending consumer market and an open, liberal economy, world-class talent and a business-friendly regulatory environment, the UK is the leading destination for foreign investment in Europe, the second highest investment destination in the world and the world’s sixth largest exporter and the second largest services exporter.

This is a challenging and rewarding role leading a 12 person team across North America. The role sets and implements the UK’s strategy for increasing transatlantic trade and investment in Creative, Media and Sports – sectors that are vital to the success of the UK economy. The jobholder acts as a visible leader and will be expected to represent their sectors on behalf of the UK Government in a range of high profile settings, and to build and maintain a network of influential people in their sectors to further the UK’s trade and investment interests. This role also collaborates with other functions in the UK Government in North America, including regional leaders and other UK Government entities such as the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and the British Film Commission, to deliver wider UK interests in North America.

The Department for International Trade employs over 150 people across North America, all united by our vision of a future where we champion open and fair global trading that drives growth, creates better jobs and higher wages, and improves living standards in the UK and around the world. We seek talented team members with a passion and drive to help us promote exports to North America of British goods and services, two-way investment between the UK and North America, and mutual improved market access to help grow our bilateral trade (see www.gov.uk/DIT).

The role is part of the wider UK Government networks in the United States and Canada which offer a unique career enhancing opportunity and are committed to supporting staff through a variety of benefits including generous leave, insurance packages and a highly competitive 401k programme.  We also promote a culture of flexibility which enables people to better maintain wellness through an excellent work/life balance approach that encompasses hybrid working, including working from home and flexible hours, where possible.  In this role you would be working in a diverse international environment side-by-side with UK diplomats, armed forces personnel and other country based staff operating across the British Government’s network of Consulates and Government Offices in the United States and Canada. This network provides a platform for approximately 30 Government departments and agencies to conduct their work in the United States and Canada and is made up of over 1000 staff with rich and diverse backgrounds, skill sets, and experiences.

Roles and responsibilities:

  • Lead and develop an agile and effective sector team for the creative, media and sports industries.
  • Shape and deliver an ambitious integrated sector business plan in consultation with stakeholders and wider UK Government Departments.
  • Using the reach of the UK Government, seek to influence effective trade policies in the UK and US as it relates to the creative, media and sports economy industries.
  • Regularly review progress against targets to ensure effective delivery by team.
  • Using your expertise, drive strategic discussion and planning with UK-based counterparts and UK Government.
  • Work with partners on the UK Government’s broader priorities in North America, including Trade Agreements, the UK’s climate ambitions and the UK Government’s Levelling Up agenda to build long-term strategic economic initiatives.
  • Provide in-person support across North America for major events, VIP/Ministerial visits, or high value investment and export deals.
  • Key account management of existing and potential high value investors and trade partners, using business intelligence to influence business planning.
  • Work with marketing team to develop digital campaigns and PR to highlight successful investments and UK export deals, and showcase UK leadership and innovation.
  • Manage budget and make resource recommendations to senior leadership

Any other duties as assigned.

Resources managed (staff and expenditure):  

  • Strategic leadership of the Creative, Media & Sports team (approximately12 people).
  • Financial responsibility for multiple programme activities including other Government Stakeholders and commercial sponsorships. 
  • Management of business development budget.    

Essential on arrival:

  • Substantial professional experience, gained within a business development or economic development role, ideally in the Creative and Media Industries.
  • In-depth knowledge of Creative Industries, Media or Sports.
  • Excellent management and leadership skills with the ability to deliver results through others.
  • Proven competence in leading strategy development and business planning
  • Excellent stakeholder management abilities.
  • Proven advisory and influencing skills at senior levels.
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
  • Excellent interpersonal, presentation and networking skills.
  • Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
  • An excellent network of industry contacts and the ability to develop new networks with senior business and industry leaders.

Language requirements:

Language: English

Level of language required: Excellent verbal and written English.

Desirable:

  • An understanding of international relations and UK Government policy a plus.
  • An in-depth knowledge of the US and the Canadian economies a plus.
Seeing the Big Picture, Making Effective Decisions, Delivering at Pace, Leadership, Communicating and Influencing, Developing Self and Others
22 May 2022
Grade 7 (G7)
Full-time, Permanent
40
Americas, Caribbean & Overseas Territories
United States
Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco
British Consulate
1
USD
New York and San Francisco - $116,443 Los Angeles - $108,499
11 July 2022

Under US State Department requirements, the UK Government in the US may only employ, as non-diplomatic staff, persons who are US citizens, US Permanent Residents or A visa holders with EAD cards*. If you hold a visa other than an A visa you are not currently eligible to work at our office.  Please refer to our website for information on exceptions to this policy at www.gov.uk/government/world/usa.  All selected candidates are subject to background checks and will require a security clearance prior to starting work. 


*A visas are acceptable at the Embassy and Consulates. The UK Mission to the UN (UKMIS) accepts G visas, and British Defense Staff (BDS) outposts accept A or NATO visas.  

Learning and development opportunities:

The British Embassy and its US Network is committed to all employee’s ongoing learning and development needs. We offer a comprehensive platform for personalised learning for everything from soft skill development (communicating with impact, handling difficult conversations, time management) to more technical or professional skills necessary to complete your job (software training, formal qualifications etc.).

The UK Government operating in the US offers a substantial benefits package including generous leave, a choice of medical insurance, 401(k) matching up to 7%, extensive learning opportunities and a great work/life balance. Employees who are not liable to pay local income tax on their Mission salary, eg some non-local national staff and some spouses or partners of UK diplomatic staff, will have their salaries abated by an equivalent amount. Internal candidates must inform their supervisor before they apply to a different position.

Only successful candidates will be contacted. Please no phone calls. Due to the high volume of resumes we receive, we cannot guarantee consideration of your application if the submission instructions are not properly followed. The British Embassy is committed to a policy of equal opportunities and to creating a diverse working environment, free from discrimination, where everyone is included and treated fairly, based on merit alone. We are an equal opportunity employer, making all employment decisions without regard to race, gender, gender identity, religion, national origin, citizenship, disability, age, sexual orientation, political affiliation or any other criterion protected by law.

Working patterns:

This role is 40 hours a week, but does not require set working hours each day, we are able to accommodate a varied working pattern

The British Embassy and its US Network embraces hybrid working, allowing its staff to typically work from home 2 or 3 times a week.  We are an organization that also recognises the critical value of team work and we embrace and endorse collaboration by ensuring that all staff attend the office flexibly yet regularly. 

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.