View Vacancy - Commercial Attaché (EO)

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 Business and Trade roles (DBT)
Department for Business and Trade (DBT)

The British Embassy in Muscat is looking for a dynamic team player to take up the position of Commercial Attaché under the Department for Business and Trade (DBT), job grade Executive Officer (EO).

The jobholder will develop and diversify the strong and politically important trading relationship between the UK and Oman by driving strategic business development and managing core projects, all in pursuit of quality jobs and prosperity being created in both the UK and Oman.

The role ideally suits someone who is comfortable with (and relishes) making autonomous decisions, developing abstract ideas from scratch, proactively building strong stakeholder networks, and owning direct responsibility for their work. 


Duties and responsibilities:

The Commercial Attaché will develop and lead 4-5 priority projects which will further the UK-Oman trade and investment relationship. The projects all aim to lead to commercial value for UK plc, are at various stages of development, and could fall into up to 4 themes: Sustainability & Infrastructure; Defence, Security, Technology and Skills; Investment; and Trade Policy & Market Access.  

This is a ‘long-leash’ role – the intended outcomes will be agreed as a wider team, and the jobholder will have a creative license to develop and deliver day-to-day activity. Proactivity and confidence is key.

The jobholder will regularly review their 4-5 projects with the wider Embassy – including the team’s Director and Deputy Director, and even on occasion the Ambassador, with a view to either closing them once complete or developing them further. Each project will focus on how an Embassy/ Government can uniquely add value, including:

  • Driving Government-to-Government/Government-to-Business meetings, establishing strategic objectives, and providing background briefings and follow up activity;
  • Working closely with UK companies to devise and develop joint-strategies, with an Embassy focus on leading inward visits of businesses, investors, Ministers and Officials to both Oman and the UK; and
  • Regular reporting on relevant sector developments to colleagues in the British Embassy and across the UK Government’s network.

The jobholder will also be responsible for planning and costing activity within their projects, ensuring activities provide value for money.

Building and maintaining strong working relationships with key officials in Oman including the offices of Omani Ministers is a fundamental part of the role; as is keeping relationships efficient and productive with key UK businesses. Being confident in engaging with senior stakeholders is a day-to-day necessity, as you will be exposed to Ministers (both UK and Oman) and senior business leaders.

The role has no line management responsibility but strong and effective collaboration with colleagues in the team, across the Embassy and wider UK Government network, is essential.  If in future the team hires an intern, there may be scope for line-management if desired.

Alongside these core projects, the jobholder will support colleagues on their lead projects, deliver a corporate objective for the team as well as a corporate objective for the wider British Embassy Muscat, and take on other ad hoc tasks as required – so they will be fully integrated into the wider Embassy family.

The Embassy follows a 70-20-10 model of learning. DBT staff members can access DBT’s online training courses on generic skills. DBT sector teams based in the UK also organise Deep Sector Knowledge courses and “masterclasses” in job-specific topics, which colleagues working in these areas can apply to join. These are sometimes online and sometimes in the UK.

All Embassy staff have access to the online Civil Service Learning site for short courses on a range of skills, and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office’s (FCDO) Diplomatic Academy, which runs a number of “live” courses virtually. All Embassy staff are also required to take mandatory training courses such as employee responsibilities on data protection and security procedures (delivered online) on a regular basis.

Staff are also encouraged to think creatively about non-course based learning they can undertake, and your Line Manager will help you develop a personalised L&D plan and will share opportunities, resources and guidance to ensure you continue your learning and achieve your full potential. 


Key behaviours required:

The candidate will need to demonstrate the following behaviours and the values of who we are during the interview:

  • Seeing the Big Picture - Understand how your role fits with and supports organisational objectives. Recognise the wider Civil Service priorities and ensure work is in the national interest.
  • Communicating and Influencing - Communicate purpose and direction with clarity, integrity and enthusiasm. Respect the needs, responses and opinions of others.
  • Working Together - Form effective partnerships and relationships with people both internally and externally, from a range of diverse backgrounds, sharing information, resources and support.
  • Delivering at Pace - Take responsibility for delivering timely and quality results with focus and drive.

Our Values:

Wherever we work in the world, we share a set of values that guides our decision-making, sets standards for our behaviour, and helps us deliver the UK's national interest internationally. These values are underpinned by the UK Civil Service values (Integrity, Honesty, Objectivity, Impartiality) and complemented by values all One HMG colleagues bring from their own department, service or administration.

 

Eligibility:

  • The successful candidate must hold or must be able to secure a local work permit in Muscat.
  • The British Embassy provides Visa Sponsorship. The successful candidate will be required to transfer their visa under the Embassy's sponsorship.
  • Relevant experience in business development and trade or government relations.
  • Self-starter with proven ability to research and get up to speed on new subject matter quickly. Ability to plan strategically develop and maintain relevant contacts, and work proactively towards strategic goals within a team setting.
  • Relevant experience in managing and implementing projects from end-to-end.
  • Collaborative approach to colleague and stakeholder partnerships Ability to drive delivery of outcomes and overcome obstacles, especially when working with and through others.
  • Excellent communication skills in English, both written and spoken. Able to express ideas and messages clearly and concisely. Able to simplify complexities and adapt communication so others can understand.
  • Able to organise and prioritise workload and meet deadlines and changing priorities.
  • Strong IT skills and literacy in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams).
  • Knowledge of one or more priority trade sectors: AI/ Cyber/ Technology; Green Energy; Education/ Skills; Finance and Investment; Trade Policy.
  • Experience of working in Oman and an understanding of the local commercial market.
  • Holds a clean and valid Oman driving license.
Seeing the Big Picture, Delivering at Pace, Communicating and Influencing, Working Together
11 June 2023
Executive Officer (EO)
Full-time, Permanent
35
Middle East & North Africa
Oman
Muscat
British Embassy
1
OMR
1,177.473
13 August 2023

The Embassy offers an attractive working environment and remuneration package for the role, including a non-negotiable salary of Omani Riyals 1,177.473 per month inclusive of all allowances; and use of on-site recreational facilities including a swimming pool and social club.

This position is for a full-time employment, on a permanent basis, subject to 3-month probationary period.

Conditioned working hours are 35 hours per week. Standard working hours are from 07:30 to 14:30 from Sunday to Thursday. However, the successful candidate may sometimes be required to work outside normal working hours (evening/ weekend) to support trade mission receptions, working dinners, etc. Time Off In Lieu (TOIL) can also be recorded to recoup time spent working out of hours.

Occasional overnight travel to attend events in the Middle East region (typically Dubai) and possibly further afield to the UK may also be required.

Holiday entitlement is 30 days per year (calculated on a pro rata basis) following successful completion of a 3-month probation period. Holidays that have already been booked will be honoured. There are also national/ public holidays determined annually by the Embassy, which usually total 14 days per year.

Employment in the advertised position is dependent on the potential employee having or acquiring valid UK security clearance. Security clearances can take several weeks to process. Inability to obtain a clearance will preclude employment. Loss of a security clearance at any time will lead to termination of employment.

How to apply:

Interested candidates must include to their online application form 1) an updated Curriculum Vitae (CV); and 2) specific examples, in the relevant sections of the online application form, of how you meet the key behaviours/ skills required.

Applications that do not include this information will not be considered.

Applications must be submitted before 23:55 Oman local time on 11 June 2023.

Applications received after the stated deadline will not be considered. Telephone applications and enquiries will not be accepted.

 

Process:

The recruitment process, including security clearance, is expected to take around two-three months. The security clearance process includes checks available in country and with UK, dependant on the security level required for the role and the candidates profile and UK footprint. You may experience some delay in the progress of this recruitment campaign, and we are working hard to minimise any disruption.

Appointable candidates who were unsuccessful at interview may be placed on a ‘reserve list’. If during the reserve period of six (6) months the same or a largely similar role becomes available, that role may be offered to the second or subsequent candidate.

The start date mentioned in the job advert is a tentative start date and the successful candidate will be required to undergo security-vetting procedures. Any offer of employment will be subject to the candidate achieving suitable clearances and reference checks. The successful applicant's employment will only be confirmed after the completion of any security clearance/ checks. The checks can take several weeks to complete and the applicant will only be employed if the UK security clearance is granted. 

 

The British Embassy Muscat is an equal opportunities employer, dedicated to inclusivity, a diverse workforce and valuing difference.  Staff recruited locally by the British Embassy are subject to terms and conditions of service according to local Muscat 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.