View Vacancy - Regional Specialist - Advanced Engineering and Manufacturing NPH

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Department for International Trade roles (DIT)
DIT

Main purpose of job:

The British Government’s Consulate in Houston has an exciting opportunity for a proactive, collaborative, and driven person to join the Advanced Engineering & Manufacturing team as Regional Specialist, Advanced Engineering and Manufacturing for the Northern Power House. This opportunity is a rewarding role which supports and further develops the special relationship between the UK and the US, working at the forefront of international diplomacy in order to make a real difference globally.

The US Network offers a unique career enhancing opportunity and is committed to supporting its staff through a variety of benefits including generous leave, insurance packages and a highly competitive 401k programme.  It also promotes 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. This network provides a platform for approximately 30 Government departments and agencies to conduct their work in the United States and is made up of over 900 staff with a rich and diverse background, skill sets, and experiences.

This is a chance to directly contribute to the way in which both Governments collaborate and negotiate on Advanced Engineering and Manufacturing (AEM) With a focus on Chemicals, Lightweight Materials, and Energy 4.0 to promote US investment opportunities into the North of England. Operating across the South Central US region, your territory will include the states of TX, LA, AR, OK, NM, and you will be based in Houston. This forms part of the UK government’s agenda to increase US investment into the UK regions and support the UK economy. 

You will lead on promoting AEM investment into the North of England known as the Northern Powerhouse region (NPH). You will work closely with the UK Regions Investment hubs, DIT Sector teams, regional specialists, IST (Investment Services Team) and local partners to achieve this.

Reporting into the Regional Director for the South Central US region the successful candidate will identify, engage, and account manage potential investors into the UK. They will develop a deep understanding of the AEM sectors and be able to clearly communicate UK opportunities to US businesses looking towards international growth. They will use the Department for International Trade (DIT) account management framework to grow and maintain a client pipeline through outreach and lead-generation.

To be successful, the job holder will need to be innovative, detail-oriented, and proactive. They will have exceptional organizational skills, be deft at relationship management with both external clients and US/UK government stakeholders, be able to analyse emerging market trends in order to respond to new opportunities, and have some experience in sales and/or business development. They will also need to develop new contacts, leads, and deepen relationships. They will be required to attend official functions outside of office hours and undertake occasional travel (US and UK) when safe to do so. They should be confident in using virtual platforms to engage clients and be creative in how they use them.

Roles and responsibilities:

  • Forge strong relationships with business leaders, trade associations, and interlocutors both in the UK and the US.
  • Build and maintain current knowledge of market trends, incentives, and centres of excellence in both the U.S. and the UK to identify commercial opportunities and provide informed advice to clients
  • Provide comprehensive account management to key US prospects looking to set up in the UK, and support US companies already active in the UK to grow their footprint.
  • Build and manage a pipeline of high value, knowledge-driven projects.
  • Develop and implement impactful, targeted marketing programs and events in conjunction with partners and stakeholders to build DIT awareness, promote key messages, and showcase UK competitiveness.
  • Track and report on US sector relevant trends, identifying potential Market Access Barriers
  • Develop and host roundtables, VIP visit programs, speak as a panellist and or keynote.
  • Proactively contribute to cross-team activities, programs and support a collaborative and transparent workplace
  • Plan, deliver and monitor targeted sector campaigns to showcase the business opportunities in NPH. Generate leads and provide exceptional client service to investors actively considering the North of England. 
  • Develop a good understanding of the NPH propositions and opportunities and present as options to potential investors.  
  • Ensure regional opportunities and expertise are fed into campaigns being run in local markets which are relevant to the strengths of NPH. 
  • Set up a business network of Northerners working locally who can help to champion the region’s strengths. 
  • Scope out and organise roundtables/seminars which UK regional sector specialists can deliver and ensure a strong audience of potential investors. 
  • Scope out relevant inward missions to NPH and recruit participants, working with UK based teams to organise and deliver the programme. 
  • Provide DIT sector specialists, UK Regions colleagues and local partners with in-country support including (but not limited to): contributing to briefing and reporting as required, facilitating official programmes, webinars and events, connecting visitors with senior stakeholders in market. 
  • Act as the point of contact for VIP visits/missions from NPH and ensure there are company and senior level meetings in place. 
  • Provide a monthly update on activity to local partners NP11 to ensure alignment with local ambitions and targeted local support. 
  • Develop and maintain strong working relationship with DIT UK Regions Investment hubs, regional sector specialists, DIT Sector colleagues and specialists, regional partners, the Investment Services Team (IST) and colleagues at post. 
  • Contribute to wider Embassy reporting. 
  • Provide support to British Nationals when the Consulate is in crisis mode in the circumstances such as but not limited to hurricanes, floods, pandemics and other unexpected events.

Essential on arrival:

  • Minimum 3 years’ commercial experience. 
  • Cultural awareness and functional knowledge of the local business environment.  
  • Experience of developing relationships and building influence with multiple stakeholders in the public and private sector. 
  • High-quality day-to-day data management. 
  • Excellent communication skills in English, both verbal and spoken.  
  • Ability to draft succinct reports and provide briefing for generalist and specialist audiences, including for ministers, often to very tight deadlines.  
  • Good interpersonal skills.  
  • Team player who can work on their own initiative and across virtual teams.
  • Competent in Word, Outlook, Teams, Excel and using data management software

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.  

Desirable:

  • Knowledge of NPH and UK investment landscape and priorities. 
  • Previous experience of working with the UK Government and understanding of NPH political landscape and/or experience of working with NPH local partners. 
  • Knowledge and relationships with Manufacturing companies in Texas and surrounding States
  • Knowledge of Manufacturing industry and partners in the US
  • An understanding of international business or trade practice. 
Seeing the Big Picture, Managing a Quality Service, Delivering at Pace, Working Together
20 May 2022
Higher Executive Officer (HEO)
Fixed term, with possibility of renewal
40
Americas, Caribbean & Overseas Territories
United States
Houston
British Consulate General
1
USD
$78,162.00
11 July 2022
31 March 2022

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.).

This role is 40 hours a week, but does not require set working hours each day.

Flexible working is possible within DIT Houston.  Possibilities include earlier or later start times in the morning – followed by leaving earlier or later in the evening. DIT Houston allows employees to work remotely, one-to-two days a week, depending on schedule. (Note: this is not always possible during busy periods, or when there are mandatory staff meetings.  Each week is taken on a case-by-case.

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.

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.