View Vacancy - Senior Trade & Investment Advisor

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.
Other British Government Departments (Partners across Government, including UK Visas)
Department for International Trade (DIT)

The Department for International Trade (DIT) is the UK Government’s Department responsible for ensuring UK-Based companies succeed in the global economy and assists overseas companies to bring their high quality institutional investment to the UK.

You will be responsible for supporting the Head of Trade & Investment and the team towards strengthening the trade and investment relationship between the UK and Bahrain; in particular helping position UK companies to capitalise on major commercial opportunities in Bahrain.

Duties and Responsibilities

Strategic Planning:

  • Lead on several priority sectors and/or a High Value Opportunity (HVO) where applicable. As the lead, you will be responsible for obtaining market intelligence on your sectors, including identifying commercial opportunities for UK companies, monitoring market trends and projects, assessing demand for UK products and services and key areas of growth, actively seeking to engage with stakeholders, gathering market leads and seeking potential clients or partners for UK companies.
  • Work closely with Head of Trade & Investment, Deputy Head of Mission and Her Majesty’s Ambassador to monitor development of strategic business opportunities and develop strategy to identify how to maximise opportunities for UK companies.
  • Supporting Head of Trade & Investment with setting priorities for the DIT team, overseeing a comprehensive DIT calendar of events, guiding team members and leading on strategic campaigns to ensure delivery of targets.
  • Work with Prosperity and Communications teams on prosperity agenda and commercial diplomacy.

Finance and Procurement:

  • Responsible for managing, monitoring, analysing and recording budget spend for DIT on a monthly basis with support from A2(L) Trade and Investment Advisor, then reporting to Head of Trade & Investment for final sign-off.
  • Ensure monthly forecast and spend is reflected accurately on Hyperion and delivered on time.
  • Working with Head of Trade & Investment to produce yearly forecast in addition to compiling the Post Financial Plan (PFP) for each financial year.

Managing External Stakeholder:

  • Build and maintain a wide network of high-level contacts in the Bahraini and British business community through working closely with the Bahrain British Business Forum, key business families, government bodies, trade-related bodies and attending relevant events.
  • Organising business development events to highlight UK Excellence in lead sectors and target contacts through the GREAT campaign, including exhibitions, launches, business receptions and seminars.

Contributing to DIT Targets:

  • Overseas Market Information Service (OMIS): Negotiate and deliver bespoke, chargeable services for relevant UK-based companies seeking access to the Bahrain market.
  • Export opportunities: Monitor the progress of key projects in Bahrain to identify opportunities for UK companies and post any export opportunities on the DIT website.
  • Export wins: Build an effective network of relationships with senior leaders in key companies and organisations in Bahrain and the UK, including intermediaries, trade associations, and government departments, understanding their strategic intentions, business needs and identify opportunities for collaboration, and use this to secure and record actual high-value business contracts for UK companies.

Inward Visits:

  • Manage visit programmes for incoming Trade Missions and commercial delegations. Arrange meetings and events with key stakeholders to maximise exposure for UK companies and liaise with Political, Press and Public Affairs on media and press. Provide relevant briefings, information and introductions to help UK companies secure business in the market, working with other markets (where relevant) to align regional priorities of the visit.
  • Support Head of Trade & Investment on VIP visits, provide trade/sector briefings and other programme assistance as required. Support Head of Trade and Investment to draft and submit ministerial bids and DipTels.

Other:

  • Responding to enquiries from UK companies by email, telephone and in person.
  • Communicating and working with regional colleagues to deliver strategy, share ideas, information and best practice.
  • Updating the Customer Relationship Management system.
  • Attend events and meetings to promote DIT and the British Embassy in Bahrain and occasionally overseas.
  • Contribute to wider Embassy objectives through participation in Embassy communications, committees and non-DIT Embassy activities.

Competences Required

  • Delivering at Pace: Effectiveness in this area means focusing on delivering timely performance with energy and taking responsibility and accountability for quality outcomes.
  • Collaborating and Partnering: creating and maintaining positive, professional and trusting working relationships with a wide range of stakeholders to help get business done.
  • Making Effective Decisions:  Demonstrate accountability and make unbiased decisions. Examine complex information and obtain further information to make accurate decisions.
  • Engaging Internationally: Effectiveness in this area is about leading internationally, engaging our staff, contacts and international partners to help deliver UK Government objectives.
  • Changing and Improving: People who are effective in this area are responsive, innovative and seek out opportunities to create effective change.
  • Achieving Commercial Outcomes: Being effective in this area is about maintaining an economic, long-term focus in all activities. For all, it’s about having a commercial, financial and sustainable mindset to ensure all activities and services are delivering added value and working to stimulate economic growth.
  • 3-5 years business development experience in the private sector or relevant work experience.
  • A solid understanding of the commercial world and the drivers and challenges being faced today by industry in Bahrain and in the UK.
  • Experience of working internationally and exporting.
  • Experience in one of Bahrain’s key industry sectors and/or one of the DIT’s priority industry sectors.
  • The ability to develop and maintain a high level network of contacts, to identify business opportunities and to facilitate business connections and partnerships accordingly.
  • Excellent interpersonal skills and be able to influence and network confidently with senior business people, senior officials and other interlocutors.
  • Team player who is capable of working on their own initiative.
  • Able to manage a budget and a good understanding of financial concepts

Language requirements:

English : Fluent written and oral

  • Understanding of Bahraini internal and external political landscape.
  • Understanding of the Bahraini economic development strategy and the economic sectors which capitalise on Bahrain’s competitive advantages.
  • Understanding the UK’s Department for International Trade and its responsibilities and strategy, as well as the key industry sectors which we will be promoting.
31 May 2017
Executive Officer (EO)
Full-time
Middle East & North Africa
Bahrain
Manama/Bahrain
British Embassy
1
BHD
1025
1 July 2017

A non-negotiable monthly salary package of 1025 BHD as well as private medical insurance, a leave entitlement and training package. Specific training and mentoring for the role will be provided for the successful candidate.  This may include training in London and the region.   

Flexibility will be required on the working hours, including providing leave cover, but the usual working pattern will be Sunday to Thursday 0730 – 1430.

No accommodation or relocation expenses are payable in connection with this position.

The successful candidate will be subject to a 3 month probationary period and will need to commence security clearance procedures through the Embassy as soon as possible. Employment offers are subject to successful clearance of pre-employment checks. 

Application Process

Interested candidates must attach the following documents when applying online. 

1. An updated Curriculum Vitae including three references.  

2. Please provide examples of performance in each competency on the motivation section of the online application form.

3. A covering letter stating why you feel you have the necessary skills to perform well in the above role.

The closing date for applications is Wednesday 31st May 2017.

Applications received after the stated deadline will not be considered.

Process

The recruitment process, including security clearance, is expected to take around two months.

Due to the large amount of applications the Embassy receives only those shortlisted for interview will be contacted.

The successful candidate will be required to undergo security vetting procedures. Any offer of employment will be subject to the candidate achieving suitable clearances.

 

The British Embassy Bahrain is an equal opportunities employer, dedicated to inclusivity, a diverse workforce and valuing difference.

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.