View Vacancy - DXB - DIT Regional Infrastructure Specialist D6(L)

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

The British Embassy Dubai has a vacancy for a Regional Infrastructure Specialist for the Middle East, Afghanistan, and Pakistan (MEAP). Whilst based in Dubai, this role has a regional remit and will require an individual who is able to prioritise time and resources on projects where DIT will gain the highest value.

We are looking for a highly capable individual to deliver a high standard of specialist trade and investment support to British companies looking to enter or expand their presence in the Gulf and wider markets. The jobholder will be expected to be the specialist on Infrastructure, providing support and advice for staff in the 12 countries in the MEAP region and scoping potential regional projects. The Infrastructure sector cluster encompasses Construction, Transport, Airports, Water and Waste Water.

This is a challenging position for an experienced candidate to work in a fast paced and high-profile environment in an important central role. As well as working with the UK government network in MEAP, this job requires cooperation and engagement with London-based government departments, in particular the Department for International Trade (DIT), UK Export Finance (UKEF), and the Infrastructure Projects Authority (IPA). The jobholder will also need to build excellent relationships with Directors of Trade and Investment across the MEAP region.

This is a key senior role in the team and the incumbent will be Her Majesty’s Trade Commissioner’s (HMTC) lead advisor on the sector, providing strategic oversight and contributing to planning and vision for the Infrastructure teams in the 12 countries across the region. The role involves working closely with HMTC and senior managers across the region to ensure that the DIT team provides first class support to UK companies looking to trade in MEAP. This position will also see you exposed to Ministers and CEOs of large companies; therefore, strong communication skills and a high level of resilience and persistence are essential, as well as excellent drafting skills and the ability to turn round work quickly and under pressure.

The jobholder will maximise the UAE’s regional hub status to help UK exports across the region, championing the consortium approach to bidding for contracts, liaising with HQ and Infrastructure Exports: UK (IE:UK).

The role will also involve identifying market access issues and working with the region on how to seek resolution.


Duties and responsibilities:

- Major project work

  • Lead on scoping opportunities in the Infrastructure sector for major projects in which UK businesses might successfully bid in the region, leading to export wins for UK companies.
  • Obtain the latest information on commercial projects and promote UK strengths in the sectors.
  • Work with the Infrastructure sector team in the UK, be the regional lead on High Value Campaigns (HVC).
  • Develop and maintain a Strategic Relationship Management (SRM) approach for key interlocutors in the Infrastructure sector for the region.
  • Work with DIT teams in the region, visiting regularly, scoping opportunities on key projects, and developing projects reports for HMTC in order to strategically understand key areas of work for the region, developing solid pipelines for work streams.
  • Work closely with the Prosperity leads across the region on market access issues in the sector, developing a strategy to overcome issues.
  • Work closely with UKEF team in the region on developing the export finance offer in the sector.

- Business development

  • Maintain, build, and proactively develop strategic contacts with key stakeholders in the region in order to identify new commercial opportunities as they arise and promote UK strengths in Infrastructure.
  • Foster relationships between UK businesses and local stakeholders in the UAE and in the region.
  • Undertake visits to the UK for promotion of the MEAP region in the Infrastructure sector, speaking at DIT/ UKEF events to sell the MEAP regional offer to UK companies.
  • Prepare annual business plans and strategies for the sector and regularly update sector reports.
  • Develop partnerships with DIT HQ, DIT Regional Offices, DIT Sectors Group, Chambers of Commerce, and Trade Associations.
  • Provide written and oral briefing for high level visits quickly whilst under pressure.
  • Devise and run with VIP programmes for ministers and senior visiting DIT staff.

- Department for International Trade service delivery

  • Generate business opportunities and wins for UK companies in the region to contribute towards DIT targets.
  • Provide senior level support, particularly to HMTC and country directors, giving advice and insight regarding the commercial environment in the region in the Infrastructure sector.
  • Represent and promote the commercial viewpoint of the British Embassy beyond the DIT team, across the Embassy, and into the wider business community.
  • Working closely with the Infrastructure DIT UAE team and UKEF (UK Export Finance) Counsellor on projects of mutual interest.
  • Contribute to the Regional Trade Plan, providing a strategic vision for the sector and policy advice to HMTC.
  • Work closely with the Expo 2020 Lead on design opportunities in the run up to, during, and legacy after the event.

- Wider Embassy activities

  • Contribute towards wider Embassy activities.
  • Assist the Embassy team in making arrangements for VVIP visits as required, including drafting briefs and reports.

Key competencies required:

  • Leading and Communicating - Leading from the front and communicating with clarity, conviction and enthusiasm. Supporting principles of fairness of opportunity for all and a dedication to a diverse range of stakeholders. Establishing a strong direction and a persuasive future vision; managing and engaging with people with honesty and integrity, and upholding the reputation of the organisation.
  • Seeing the Big Picture - Having an in-depth understanding and knowledge of how your role fits with and supports organisational objectives and the wider public needs, and focusing your contribution on the activities which will meet the organisation's goals and deliver the greatest value. Scanning the political context and taking account of wider impacts to develop long term implementation strategies that maximise opportunities to add value and support economic, sustainable growth.
  • Collaborating and Partnering - Creating and maintaining positive, professional and trusting working relationships with a wide range of people within and outside the organisation to help get business done. Delivering business objectives through creating an inclusive environment, encouraging collaboration and building effective partnerships with colleagues and stakeholders, whilst having the confidence to challenge assumptions.
  • Making Effective Decisions - Being objective; using sound judgement, evidence and knowledge to provide accurate, expert and professional advice. Showing clarity of thought, setting priorities, analysing and using evidence to evaluate options before arriving at well-reasoned, justifiable decisions. Creating evidence-based strategies, evaluating options, impacts, risks and solutions to maximise return while minimising risk and balancing social, political, financial, economic and environmental considerations to provide sustainable outcomes.
  • Minimum of four years of experience working in a trade-focussed role, ideally in any of the Five Eyes (US, UK, New Zealand, Australia, Canada) embassies in the GCC.
  • Minimum of eight years of experience working in the Infrastructure sector in the private sector within the MEAP region.
  • Previous business development experience.
  • Excellent interpersonal skills and be able to influence and network confidently with industry leaders, government officials, and senior business people.
  • Team player who is capable of working on their own initiative and manage others.
  • Proven record of organisational ability.
  • Attention to detail, strong judgment, problem-solving abilities and service delivery
  • Excellent communication skills in English, both written and oral.
  • Excellent IT skills, proficiency in Windows OS and MS Office applications.
  • A minimum of a bachelor's degree in a relevant field.
  • Post-graduate degree in relevant field.
  • Project management experience.
25 May 2019
Grade 7 (G7)
Full-time, Permanent
38
Middle East & North Africa
United Arab Emirates
Dubai
British Embassy
1
AED
38,091
1 July 2019

The Embassy aims to offer an attractive working environment and remuneration package for this role, including: 25 days of annual leave per annum, on-site parking, on-site swimming pool, gym, and sports facilities. 

Salary is at AED 38,091 per month.

There are no other allowances payable as part of this package. No accommodation and relocation expenses are payable in connection with this position.

Conditioned working hours are 38 hours per week. Standard working hours are from 07:30 to 15:06, including a lunch break of 36 minutes, from Sunday to Thursday. 

However, the successful candidate should be flexible in their approach as the role may also require work outside of normal working hours from time to time to meet regional and operational demands and supporting events in the sector and the wider DIT team.

Whilst based in Dubai, successful candidate will be expected to travel around the region (GCC, Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan) and to the UK.

Eligibility:

The successful applicant will be required to obtain the necessary security clearance. Higher clearances can be granted only to certain nationalities. For this reason, candidates must be of British, American, Australian, Canadian, or New Zealand nationality in order to gain the level of clearance required for this role.

 

How to apply:

Interested candidates must attach the following documents along with their online application form:

  1. An updated Curriculum Vitae (CV)
  2. A covering letter.

Your application must also include examples of when you have demonstrated the competencies outlined above.

Applications that do not include this information will not be considered.

 

Closing date for applications is at 11:55 PM UAE local time on 25 May 2019.

 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 number of applications we receive, only those shortlisted for the next step of the recruitment process will be contacted.

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.



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

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This opportunity is closed to applications.