View Vacancy - CQ - Senior Trade & Investment Officer, Aviation and Rail, EO (Maternity Cover)

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)

Main Purpose of Job:

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) embraces and values diversity in all forms. We welcome and pride ourselves on the positive impact diversity has on the work we do, and we promote equality of opportunity throughout the organisation. DBT China would value applications from people from the widest possible diversity of background, culture, experience and gender. 

This is an exciting time to join the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) as Senior Trade & Investment Officer (Aviation and Rail) for DBT China and Hong Kong. Our aim is to promote UK trade and investment across the world, which is vital for the prosperity of the UK. DBT brings together policy, promotion and financial expertise to break down barriers to trade and investment in markets across the world to help businesses succeed. This is a great opportunity to be part of an international team that contributes to the success of the UK's trade goals.

DBT operates in 108 countries. Establishing new relationships around the globe, DBT promotes UK trade to ensure the UK takes advantage of the huge opportunities open to us, securing and improving economic well-being, stability, and helping to create tens of thousands of jobs. DBT has one of the largest representations of the 18 government departments working in China, which are coordinated and led by His Majesty’s Ambassador who is responsible for the UK’s relationship with China. His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner (HMTC) is responsible for Trade and Investment work in China, one of nine global regions and the largest DBT overseas network in the world. With c.190 staff across six posts - Beijing, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chongqing and Wuhan – DBT, as part of the UK government network in China offers a fast-paced place to work at the heart of UK-China Government relations.

As a Senior Trade & Investment Officer, Aviation & Rail West China, you will: 

  • Supported by a China Airport Specialist, identify business opportunities for UK/China partnerships in the aviation supply chain by visiting the key airport clients in West China including Kunming Airport, Chongqing Airport, Chongqing New Airport, Xi’an Airport, and develop a robust trade pipeline to ensure that projects progress and deliver that against the team exports objectives.  
  • Within a framework agreed with your line manager, maintain relationships with key stakeholders in West China, including the airports, airlines, in-country UK supply chain companies, LDIs (CSWADI, CREEC), trade associations, government departments in order to match demand with supply.  
  • Work across wider network, including: Outreach, SIN, Trade Associations, DAs, ITAs to improve business matching and identification of new business leads.
  • With guidance and support from Line Management, use the full range of diplomatic tools to achieve commercial outcomes for the UK. This includes facilitating high-level engagement (e.g. for The Ambassador, His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner, Consul-Generals, and Directors) with more complex/senior relationships as appropriate.  
  • Utilise marketing budgets to arrange events and promotional activities such as trade missions, company calls to support the achievement of trade and investment objectives as agreed with the line manager.

Other sector responsibilities:

  • Spend 20% of time to support the Energy sector including scoping the policy and commercial environment for hydrogen development in South West China;
  • Identify key Hydrogen stakeholders in the region; identify opportunities in CCUS, Hydrogen and related for UK companies in the region, similarly, identify Chinese companies with the potential to invest into the UK in CCUS, Hydrogen and related; capture your findings and recommendations in a short report, with it forming the basis for DBT’s future work on Hydrogen, focusing on pipeline development.
  • You will have regular catch-up meetings with the Head of Energy Transition and Integration, and join the team meetings at regular intervals.
  • Support Aerospace Sector for any potential business opportunity in Southwest China but this work would be minimum and should not be prioritised over Aviation and Rail sector work.

Corporate Contribution (10%)

  • Provide support where necessary in delivery of the wider objectives of the Corporate Operations and DBT China team, including on cross-cutting issues.
  • Promote and contribute to the China business plan and network values, actively and constructively participating in Post activities.

Resources managed (staff and expenditure): N/A

  •  A diplomatic, tactful manner when dealing with contacts and colleagues.
  • Good organisational skills, positive approach to teamwork, and a pro-active attitude.
  • Good administrative and IT skills (e.g. Word, Outlook, Excel, and PowerPoint).
  • Candidates must also be available for occasional domestic travel.
  • Commercial understanding and experience working for/with companies.

Language Requirements: 

  • English & Mandarin
  • Level of language required: Excellent/Highly Proficient
  • Previous experience of working within or closely related to the airport and rail industries in the UK and/ or China is highly advantageous.
  • Sound understanding of the airports, airline services, rail/metro sectors, including drivers and barriers to trade and investment and key players, an advantage.
  • Strong existing network of contacts with leading industry players within airport and rail sector, and experience of managing relations with key clients and stakeholders.
  • Commercial awareness and understanding, including ability to identify companies with a potential/ interest to grow. 
Making Effective Decisions, Managing a Quality Service, Delivering at Pace, Working Together
5 April 2023
Executive Officer (EO)
Fixed Term, Full-time
35
8 months
Asia Pacific
China
Chongqing
British Consulate General
1
CNY
Chinese: CNY 17,208 per month | British: CNY 23,822 per month
5 June 2023

This role is advertised as an 8-month maternity cover contract.

We offer a competitive package which includes:

  • Gross monthly salary (before all deductions) of CNY 17,208 for Chinese Nationals paid in 13-month instalments and an abated monthly salary of CNY 23,822 per month for British Nationals and spouses/partners (all nationalities) of diplomats who are ‘W’ (diplomatic) visa holders and meet passport criteria.
  • Insurance plans such as social and housing fund (Chinese Nationals), commercial insurance package including accidental, life, medical and business travel insurance.
  • 22 days annual leave entitlement in pro-rata which increases by 0.5 per full calendar year worked up to maximum of 25 days.
  • We offer different types of compulsory leave in accordance with Chinese law, e.g., Maternity Leave, Paternity Leave, Marriage Leave, Parental leave, etc.
  • In addition to the above compulsory leave, we also offer other types of leaves with pay e.g., Study Leave, Volunteering Leave to support staff who undertakes volunteering activities, Special Paid Leave to deal with emergencies involving a close family member, and more.
  • Employee Assistance Programme which is a confidential service providing help, support and information to staff to resolve and manage situations causing concern whether at work or personal nature is available to staff 24/7

There is also plenty of opportunity to develop on and off the job and establish expertise and build capability. We are strongly supportive of the job holder continuing to develop their professional skills. The Mission encourages a blended learning culture based on the 70/20/10 model which includes e-learning, mentoring, coaching, other development activities and role-specific required trainings. This offer also includes supporting staff members to take part in a 5 days of learning activities each year.

Conditioned working hours is 35 hours/week from Monday to Friday and flexible working can be arranged upon personal needs.

Staff recruited locally by the British Consulate General Chongqing is subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local Chinese employment law.

Employment offers are subject to successful clearance of pre-employment and security checks. Staff who are locally recruited by the British Embassy are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local Chinese employment law.

No accommodation or relocation expenses are payable in connection with this position. 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. Any costs related to obtaining or renewing permits and visas are the responsibility of the successful applicant.

Learning and Development Opportunities (and any specific training courses to be completed):

There is plenty of opportunity to develop on and off the job, and to establish expertise and build capability. We are strongly supportive of the job-holder continuing to develop their trade and investment professionalism. 

In addition, opportunities and activities include:

  • Attending external events and conferences hosted by academic institutions, business chambers, etc
  • Learning and Development programmes, which have recently included leadership, line management, interpretation, presentation skills, effective remote working and trade policy.
  • Opportunities for job shadowing across the network
  • An individual bid fund providing funding to support more tailored learning and development needs.  

Please note that the deadline for applications is 23:55 on the day mentioned in the above field “Application deadline”.

Please be aware that the deadline for submitting applications is considered to be the time zone for the country where the vacancy has arisen.

We advise you to allow enough time to complete and submit your full application, since only applications completed and submitted before the deadline will be considered.

Note: All applicants are required to mandatorily fill the online application form completely including the employment and educational details, experience, professional skills and behaviour-based questions. We will be thoroughly reviewing the applications and incomplete form in any respect may not be considered while shortlisting for the next stage.
 
Only shortlisted candidates for interview will be contacted. Interviewees will be assessed on the core behaviours/qualifications listed above. Unsuccessful candidates will be notified via the system in due time. Appointable candidates who were unsuccessful may be placed on a ‘reserve list’. If during the reserve period of 6 months the same or a largely similar role becomes available, that role may be offered to the second or subsequent candidate.

For inclusivity and diversity, please remove the following personal information when uploading your CV: name, address, email address, age, date of birth, gender, and nationality.

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.

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.