View Vacancy - International Export Finance Executive (TUR539)

The British Consulate General in Istanbul is part of a worldwide network, representing British political, security, economic and consular interests overseas and is looking for a International Export Finance Executive – UKEF International Network for the Department of International Trade (DIT).

The job holder will be responsible for leading the engagement with local buyers, project sponsors and associated stakeholder networks to develop export growth through the provision of trade finance and credit insurance available from UK Export Finance (UKEF).

This includes identify opportunities to develop the procurement of high value goods and services from the UK whilst developing understanding and creating impact around UKEF’s financial products and services.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

The International Export Finance Executive will act as the eyes and ears of the UKEF Business Group supporting the objectives of DIT in Turkey and the region and the UKEF International Business Development (IBD) team to grow UKEF supported export wins by focussing on 5 key areas of activity:

1. Build Awareness of UKEF Support Capabilities

• Lead local campaigns to raise the profile of UKEF internationally through engagement with the business community, government bodies and other stakeholder organisations;  
• Deliver UKEF marketing plans, ensuring that messages are appropriate to the audience. Remove complexity and build understanding. Develop a localised message where possible;
• Develop and implement PR activities that educate the business community on UKEF products;
• Develop an UKEF knowledge base within the regional DIT teams.

2. Build and Share Market Knowledge

• Develop detailed knowledge and insight of public and private sector organisations, including their strategic business planning and development objectives. Implement findings into UKEF strategic plans;   
• Understand and interpret host government trade policy, priority sectors and projects;
• Ensure timely export intelligence and insight for IBD, enabling opportunities for UKEF;  
• Act as the lead source of UKEF advice to regional DIT teams, including integration of UKEF objectives into High Value Campaigns (HVCs);
• Take the lead in leveraging expertise, knowledge and networks of local staff, business chambers, and other local channels in their capacity as multipliers;  
• Identify the competitive framework (Export Credit Agencies and Supply Chain), articulate the difference of the UKEF offer. Seek collaboration where appropriate;
• Exploit local knowledge, experience and networks to gather intelligence of local commercial banking sectorial focus and appetite for risk.

3. Establish and Maintain Stakeholder Relationships

    UKEF primary stakeholders are buyers, UK exporters, project sponsors, host government departments etc. This role will be required to:

• Identify key buyers and sponsors in the target markets;
• Exploit knowledge and experience to build robust business networks and develop calling plans to enhance the profile of UKEF;
• Oversee the development of mechanisms to record and coordinate business outreach activities;
• Maintain and develop regular contacts with local senior sponsors, banks, public sector organisations, government bodies and UK businesses to identify export opportunities that could benefit from UKEF support.

4. Create and Deliver Strategic Plans

• Lead and coordinate country strategic planning, aligned to UKEF organisational objectives, supporting HVCs where ‘leading with finance’ could be an important driver;  
• Embed UKEF offer into DIT HVC execution plans.

5. Progress Business Development Opportunities

• Lead the local coordination of UKEF local campaign activities;
• Engage the UK Export Finance Manager (EFM) Network to ensure seamless coordination between the UK supply chain and local sponsor;  
• Lead UKEF local relationships with providers of trade finance and risk mitigation products (e.g. banks, credit insurers, brokers, and others) and to introduce customers / sponsors who require their services;
• Lead UKEF collaboration with the regional DIT teams to develop innovative export solutions for UK companies;  
• Coordinate and support visits from UKEF Business Group management.

This list is not exhaustive; the International Export Finance Executive may be required to carry out   additional duties according to business needs.

UK Export Finance

UK Export Finance (UKEF) is the UK’s export credit agency (ECA) and a government department that reports to the Secretary of State for International Trade through the Minister for Trade and Investment. It works alongside the Department for International Trade (DIT) as an integral part of its strategy and operations.

UKEF’s mission is to ensure that no viable UK export fails for lack of finance or insurance, while operating at no net cost to the taxpayer.

UKEF helps UK companies:

• win export contracts by providing attractive financing terms to their buyers;
• fulfil contracts by supporting working capital loans and guaranteeing performance bonds;
• get paid by insuring against buyer default.

UKEF can support exports for any size of company and across all sectors, from capital goods to services and intangibles such as intellectual property.

• Fluent in Turkish and English; an operational level of Russian would be helpful, but is not essential;
• Strong financial services background;
• Knowledge of local Capital Markets;
• Local and regional understanding of the drivers and stakeholders in industry sectors.

We seek a credible financial interlocutor with strong networks in business and government. We are therefore willing to consider flexible working arrangements of either full-time part-time or contractor options as appropriate.