View Vacancy - Trade Adviser DIT (04/17 CKY), No successful candidate

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Department for International Trade roles (DIT)
Department for International Trade (DIT)

Main purpose of job:

To build knowledge of, develop demand for, and deliver exporting success for British business in Guinea and West Africa;  to work closely with British companies exploring their exporting options in the region; to provide market insight and sector-specific analysis according to their needs; to lead on the work of the DIT Guinea High Value Campaign (HVC) on Mining to maximise the exports of British goods and services to the mining sector as part of a structured project and to achieve challenging export targets as set out in the project plan.  The HVC is part of a West Africa project which includes both Ghana and Guinea.

Roles and responsibilities

  • West Africa is a growing and diverse region with opportunites across a range of sectors that the UK has expertise in. It has significant long-term economic potential with vast natural resources and a young and growing population. As a result West Africa offers a wide array of business opportunities , especially in mining  but also increasingly in areas such as renewable energy, infrastructure and agriculture. Current trade figures are good but we want to do better. 
  • As part of the British Government’s commitment to increasing UK exports worldwide to £1 trillion by 2020, the UK’s trade team in West Africa, with offices in Lagos, Abuja, Accra, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea,and Senegal is developing a trade strategy to identify and better tap into this vast potential and increase trade between the UK and West Africa.  The West Africa DIT  team is also shifting to a regional approach, working with trade colleagues in Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire,  Guinea and Senegal to maximise the trading relationship with the UK across West Africa.
  • We are looking for a highly organised person with a strong attention to detail, ability to take the initiative, work accurately within deadlines and with limited supervision, and be a strong team member who works collaboratively.

Key Responsibilities :

  • To work as a member of the British Embassy Conakry to identify opportunities for UK business in Guinea’s expanding mining sector and related areas, and to develop further the Embassy’s network of contacts in the public and private sector. To report on the Embassy’s contacts with UK companies and monitor/record follow up activity.
  • To work with the Regional Co-ordinator and DIT team based in Accra to identify opportunities and monitor sector developments for UK business both new and existing in West Africa. This includes building and developing a network of key contacts across government and private sector, providing information, monitoring procurement websites and proactively contacting British businesses, ensuring a good quality service is provided to our UK customers.
  • To support  the British Ambassador in Conakry and work with the HVC lead in Accra to develop and execute a pipeline of opportunities  for the DIT Guinea Mining HVC in consultation with specialists in DIT London; delivering on export wins targets.
  • Engage directly with British companies who have expressed an interest in exploring exporting opportunities in Guinea and West Africa, charging them where appropriate for producing good quality and detailed reports providing market insights and sector- or product-specific information and analysis.
  • Full participation in ensuring the challenging annual overall DIT targets are met, such as the increase in the number of companies across the region exporting to meet the national ambition of getting 100,000 more  companies exporting by 2020 and targets for export successes.
  • Identify and upload export opportunities onto the UK Department for International Trade’s customised database, ensuring that export opportunity targets are met throughout the year.

Responsibilities:

  • Develop and execute a pipeline of opportunities  for the DIT Guinea Mining HVC in support of the UK Ambassador to Guinea and in consultation with  DIT Ghana, specialists in DIT London; delivering on export wins targets.
  • Assessment of progress on HVC, providing sound analysis and recommendations on risks and any mitigations for the Ambassador, DIT Deputy Head of Trade based in Ghana, DIT senior managers in London and Ministers.
  • Input into future High Value Campiagns to be delivered in West Africa, developing robust pipelines of high value opprotunities and developing strategies to support UK business to successfully compete for them.
  • Engagement with a multitude of  Government Departments, agencies, companies and other organisations, at all levels, to ensure maximum co-operation and understanding of their current needs and aspirations engaging credibly to build strong and meaningful relationships with stakeholders and clients in the UK and Guinea.
  • Build a strong personal and institutional presence in Guinea, such that the UK is well positioned to access trade and investment opportunities in Guinea.
  • Collaborate with the Regional Co-ordinator Ghana in support of DIT strategy to develop future sectors and opportunities in West Africa.  This work is still being developed and there may be changes to align with the final strategic outlook for the region.
  • Working with colleagues across government to maximise a whole of government approach to trade.
  • Responsibility for the smooth running of trade missions comprising British businesses to Guinea, including all preoaration, from arrival to departure, and follow up to the mission.
  • Regularly input data regarding activity into DIT Databases and spreadsheets to support ongoing monitoring of performance.
  • Use the various DIT databases to ensure UK companies are kept fully up to speed on Export Opportunities to Guinea an d the region.
  • Work with colleagues across the regional network to maximise opportunities, increase the impact of inward missions and other visits from the UK. 
  • Prepare trade briefngs,trade statistics, and update the pipeline of opportunities on Guinea to include in annual business planning.
  • Assist with VIP visits including responsibility for programme and logistcs. 
  • Ensure timely and accurate reporting on economic and sector developments in Guinea relevant to trade, working closely with partners in the Embassy to identify barriers to business.
  • Good continuous liaison with the Regional Co-ordinator based in Accra, other Regional DIT teams, and UK customers to ensure you deliver the best possible service, which they will have paid for.
  • Attending out of hours networking events, such as receptions at which many senior contacts will be present.

  • Fluent French; English to a high standard (oral, listening, reading and writing – this will be tested)
  • University (Bachelors) degree in Economics, Business Studies, or another relevant subject
  • Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, Power Point
  • Advanced knowledge of Social Media
  • Numerical and budget management abilities
  • Excellent interpersonal communication and organisational skills
  • Ability to work effectively under tight deadlines
  • Resourcefulness in solving problems
  • Flexible
  • Superior professionalism and judgment
  • Strong work ethic
  • 3 years experience in the private sector, or in a similar position to that advertised
  • Experience of staff management
  • Proven analysis and reporting skills
1 October 2017
Executive Officer (EO)
Fixed Term
12 months
Africa
Guinea
Conakry
British Embassy
GNF 9,000,000 gross
1 November 2017
31 October 2018

Learning and development opportunities:

  • The position offers much opportunity for learning and development on the job, including  through attendance at seminars, workshops and building relationships with relevant contacts. 
  • Visits to the UK or elsewhere in Africa for investment conferences or for training courses are possible. 
  • A Prosperity Officers’ conference also usually takes place once per year.
  • Training will be provided both on the job in Conakry, and may also be through courses delivered by the Regional L&D centre.
  • On-line learning will always be accessible and time will be available for this.

Working patterns:

This position is not suitable for flexible working patterns as we are a small team in a very small Embassy and we need staff to be consistently present to build and strengthen the Embassy team. The C4(L) role is critical in providing leadership as a senior member of local staff, especially when 50% of the LE staff do not have reading/writing skills.

  • 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 Embassy will never request any payment or fees to apply for a position. 
  • Employees recruited locally by the British Embassy in Conakry are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local employment law in Guinea. 
  • 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;
  1. Obtain the relevant permit
  2. Pay the fees for the permit
  3. Make arrangements to relocate
  4. Meet the costs to relocation 
  • Employees who are not eligible to pay local income tax: e.g. certain third-country nationals and spouses/partners of UK diplomats will have their salaries abated by an equivalent 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: Job grade AA=A1, AO=A2, EO=B3, HEO=C4, SEO=C5  
  • Reference checking and security clearances will be conducted on successful candidates.
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.