View Vacancy - Regional Analyst - Department for International Trade (16/21 JHB)
Main purpose of job:
The Department for International Trade (DIT) wants to support the development of strong, prosperous and peaceful African nations, through modern, dynamic and long-term partnerships that deliver mutual benefit for the UK and Africa. The UK is making a new and distinctive offer to work alongside, invest in, and partner with African nations, with our ambition to be Africa’s investment partner of choice. By supporting African-led ambitions with British expertise, we want to create more opportunities, more jobs and greater stability – both at home and for our African partners.
It is an exciting time to join DIT Africa. The UK’s independent trade policy frames our trade and investment activity across Africa. In marking the one-year anniversary of the 2020 UK-Africa Investment Summit in January this year, the Prime Minister reiterated the UK’s ambition to be Africa’s investment partner of choice. The UK government can unlock real economic growth and job creation through our trade and investment work. Our trade and investment work is also essential to achieving the priorities of the HMG Integrated Review.
This role is part of the most significant and long-term increase in HMG staff across the African continent in a generation. As such, it offers applicants the opportunity to help shape this new, long-term UK partnership for prosperity and stability with Africa.
We are looking for a numerate candidate, with an interest in economics, the ability to communicate clearly and ideally experience of working as part of a trade promotion team. The successful candidate will have regular contact with a broad range of colleagues within the region, in the UK and beyond, and provide important support to senior management, who depend on a solid evidence base to inform its decisions and show the impact of the work we do.
Roles and responsibilities:
- Support the Strategy Director/SLT to make the case for trade and investment with Africa, utilising forward-looking data to demonstrate what we could achieve in. This will require close working with Analysis Group and the ability to focus using an understanding of Ministerial, DIT and cross-HMG (including HMT) priorities
- Support the Strategy Director with macro-economic and strategic African insights, and lead on analytical deep dives to drive the performance of DIT Africa, with examples such as:
- what areas can we prioritise to better support our businesses
- how should we utilise our network resource for maximum impact
- what learning can we apply to Africa from the Asian Tigers growth model
- To have oversight of the network’s data, results and performance as DIT Africa, ensuring it feeds into our strategic thinking and that the metrics, use and interpretation are consistent with the Departmental Performance Framework and tracking of delivery against priority outcomes. Also to help teams present the story of successes better, and to do deep dives into data where useful in understanding performance
- To promote the use of external, forward-looking data for use in the Africa network and planning and strategy work. To keep track of key macro-economic and trade figures relating to Africa and the UK’s trade with the region
- To engage with internal HMG analysts, leveraging the wealth of existing tools within HMG whilst ensuring they are fit for use within DIT Africa and to feed in relevant analysis to inform our thinking
- To provide analytical support to country/sector/export and investment leads and to support network colleagues to access, produce and analyse data
- Strong experience in the area of evidence, research or evaluation which can be applied to this role. The candidate needs to be able to understand the strengths of different kinds of data, be able to interpret it and feed into both strategic and operational decision making
- Degree in Economics or other numerate subject
- Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Excel
- Experience of analysing trade performance data and examining Africa economic insights
- Understanding of trade promotion, investment, and market access work
- Advanced knowledge of international trade data and use of public trade data sets
- Committed team player with ability to self-motivate, resilience, and autonomy
- Ability to work with a wide range of data and stakeholders to formulate arguments
- Excellent research and report writing skills in English
- Ability to innovate, solve problems, prioritise, organise and manage multiple tasks
- Understanding of the principles of Green Book appraisal
- Experience in working in or on Africa and an interest in the region
- Experience of working for the UK Government or a strong understanding of the UK offer and ambitions
- Experience developing log frames, logic models and theories of change
Learning and development opportunities:
The key to our success as DIT Africa is our people – a priority in which we will continue to invest in. You will have access to the full suite of DIT and FCO learning and development opportunities including the FCO’s Diplomatic Academy, training in the UK, and will be encouraged to join DIT’s trade profession. We also provide regular in-house learning opportunities and are committed to supporting further academic opportunities.
The British High Commission pays in full for the Key Care Plus option on Discovery Health for staff including spouses/partners and dependants.
- Once you have successfully completed your probation the British High Commission will contribute 9% of your monthly salary to a Provident Fund.
- Annual leave entitlement of 25 days
- Working hours per week of 36.5
This is a 12 months contract position, with possibility of renewal
Working patterns:
This role will be based in Johannesburg. We would be happy to consider people who work flexibly in one way or another. There will be opportunities for significant travel to Africa and the UK as a part of this role when circumstances post-Covid permit.
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.
- The British High Commission will never request any payment or fees to apply for a position.
- Employees recruited locally by the British High Commission in Pretoria are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local employment law in South Africa.
- All candidates must be legally able to work and reside in the country of the vacancy with the correct visa/work permit status or demonstrate eligibility to obtain the relevant permit.
- The responsibility lies on the successful candidate to;
- Obtain the relevant permit
- Pay fees for the permit
- Make arrangements to relocate
- Meet the costs to relocation
- The British High Commission do not sponsor visas/work permits except where it may be local practice to do so.
- 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.
- Please log into your profile on the application system on a regular basis to review the status of your application.
This opportunity is closed to applications.
