View Vacancy - CPK - Head of Trade and Investment Analysis, C4

Main purpose of job:

This is a challenging role for an experienced and resourceful analyst, to join our Trade Policy Unit in the Embassy. You will be part of the team that engages on China’s trade and investment data and policy, including UK-China flows and delivery of the joint UK-China Trade and Investment Review (launched during the Prime Minister’s visit in January 2018); trade data quality and discrepancies; business planning; market access prioritisation; and links to our economic analysis / trends.  The joint FCO-DIT Trade Policy Unit are an integral resource at the forefront of the trade and investment ambitions articulated in the Regional Trade Plan for the China and Hong Kong region, which are:

Objective 1 - Driving and inspiring UK exports to China, significantly increasing the UK market share of China's goods imports, and more than doubling the value of UK services exports.

Objective 2 – Consistent trade policy engagement with China to achieve incremental market access, mitigate business risk and prepare for future trade deals.

Objective 3 - Broadening and deepening the UK-China investment partnership, positioning the UK as the top European destination for Chinese investment and providing strong support for UK investors.

Detail:

We are seeking a first rate Trade and Investment Analyst who will bring to life the DIT spirit by being ‘Expert, Engaging, Enterprising and Inclusive’ and who will have a rich depth of analytical skills and trade experience. Experience from working across large organisations with complex hierarchies and having a keen interest in the challenges and opportunities available to the UK as we prepare to leave the European Union will be an advantage; plus having a real interest in working in a fast paced government environment.

Roles and responsibilities / what will the jobholder be expected to achieve?

Coordinate the Embassy’s work on the UK-China trade and investment review (c.50%):

• Engage China based stakeholders on the trade review and Chinese data to secure buy-in from MOFCOM, Chinese think tanks (CAITEC, DRC) and Business Groups; and ensure recommendations (on sector based priorities and trade deals) are evidence based.
• Manage follow-up to the Prime Minister’s visit trade review outcome at Post in cooperation with the London project delivery team: regular reporting on progress; strategic advice on next steps; briefing for visiting Ministers.
• Engage priority sector and cross cutting sector teams in Post to ensure they contribute to the review and are able to use it to further their own business plan objectives (e.g. IP, Customs, Digital, FS, Advanced Manufacturing, Agri-Food, Health).
• Contribute to drafting and clearing process of the trade review report (100 pages): negotiating with Chinese side on text; and designing follow-up programme in 2019 (e.g. further analysis).

Analysis of China’s trade and investment data, trends and drivers, in particular UK-China trade and investment flows (c. 40%):

• Reporting and analysis of Chinese trade and investment data: regular updates for London audience, specific sector and regional reports.
• Engagement with China and other partners (e.g. Rhodium) on UK-China trade and investment flows, contributing to core-script and media lines, and responding to queries from London.
• Contribute to wider Post economic reporting (e.g. the contribution of trade to China’s economic growth and work with the Macro team on economic complementarities).
• Feeding into DIT-FCO business planning, tracking progress/ metrics.
• Explore and design potential UK-China projects on trade data if funding available (e.g. to improve quality and consistency of data).

Corporate Contribution (c.10%):

• Play an active role in the Embassy, including promoting values and embedding the ‘DIT Spirit’.

Further Background on DIT

The Department for International Trade (DIT) was established by the Prime Minister in July 2016 to integrate and elevate the Trade agenda, help secure a better deal for the UK as it negotiates a successful exit from the EU and establish new relationships with other countries around the globe. DIT promotes British trade across the world and ensures the UK takes advantage of the huge opportunities open to us, securing and improving the economic well-being and stability of the UK, and helping to create tens of thousands of jobs every year.

Led by Her Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for China and Hong Kong we are one of nine global regions and part of an overseas network that operates in 108 countries. The largest DIT overseas network in the world, with 200 staff across six posts - the British Embassy in Beijing, plus Consulates in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chongqing and Wuhan – DIT, as part of the One HMG network in China and Hong Kong, offers a fast-paced place to work at the heart of UK: China Government relations.

• Good working knowledge of the key analytical tools used in economic and / or trade policy.
• 3 years proven trade or economics experience, ideally in China.
• Good skills in using Excel to manipulate and present data.
• Evidence of ability to work with external stakeholders.
• Degree level qualification or equivalent.
• Excellent communications skills. Highly proficient in spoken and written English and Chinese.