View Vacancy - Sector Director, Technology - North America

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 International Trade roles (DIT)
DIT

Main purpose of job:

Be part of the Department for International Trade’s mission to drive more trade and investment between North America and the UK. With a mature, high spending consumer market and an open, liberal economy, world-class talent and a business-friendly regulatory environment, the UK is the leading destination for foreign investment in Europe, the second highest investment destination in the world and the world’s sixth largest exporter and the second largest services exporter.

This is a challenging and rewarding role leading a 20 person team across North America. The role sets and implements the UK’s strategy for increasing transatlantic trade and investment in technology sector – a sector that that is vital to the success of the UK economy. The jobholder acts as a visible leader and will be expected to represent DIT on behalf of the UK Government in a range of high profile settings, and to build and maintain a network of influential people across tech to further the UK’s trade and investment interests. This role also collaborates with other functions in the UK Government in North America, including regional leaders and other UK Government entities such as the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and the UK’s Tech Envoy to the United States, to deliver wider UK interests in North America.

The Department for International Trade employs over 150 people across North America, all united by our vision of a future where we champion open and fair global trading that drives growth, creates better jobs and higher wages, and improves living standards in the UK and around the world. We seek talented team members with a passion and drive to help us promote exports to North America of British goods and services, two-way investment between the UK and North America, and mutual improved market access to help grow our bilateral trade (see www.gov.uk/DIT).

The role is part of the wider UK Government networks in the United States and Canada which offer a unique career enhancing opportunity and are committed to supporting staff through a variety of benefits including generous leave, insurance packages and a highly competitive 401k programme.  We also promote a culture of flexibility which enables people to better maintain wellness through an excellent work/life balance approach that encompasses hybrid working, including working from home and flexible hours, where possible.  In this role you would be working in a diverse international environment side-by-side with UK diplomats, armed forces personnel and other country based staff operating across the British Government’s network of Consulates and Government Offices in the United States and Canada. This network provides a platform for approximately 30 Government departments and agencies to conduct their work in the United States and Canada and is made up of over 1000 staff with rich and diverse backgrounds, skill sets, and experiences.

Roles and responsibilities:

  • Lead and develop an agile and effective tech sector team.
  • Shape and deliver an ambitious integrated sector business plan in consultation with stakeholders and wider UK Government Departments.
  • Using the reach of the UK Government, seek to influence effective trade policies in the UK, Canada and the US as it relates to tech.
  • Regularly review progress against targets to ensure effective delivery by team.
  • Using your expertise, drive strategic discussion and planning with UK-based counterparts and UK Government.
  • Work with partners on the UK Government’s broader priorities in North America, including Trade Agreements, the UK’s climate ambitions and the UK Government’s Levelling Up agenda to build long-term strategic economic initiatives.
  • Provide in-person support across North America for major events, VIP/Ministerial visits, or high value investment and export deals.
  • Key account management of existing and potential high value investors and trade partners, using business intelligence to influence business planning.
  • Work with marketing team to develop digital campaigns and PR to highlight successful investments and UK export deals, and showcase UK leadership and innovation.
  • Manage budget and make resource recommendations to senior leadership.
  • Any other duties as assigned.

Resources managed (staff and expenditure):

  • Strategic leadership of the Technology sector team  (approximately 20 people).
  • Financial responsibility for multiple programme activities including other Government Stakeholders and commercial sponsorships. 
  • Management of business development budget.    

Essential on arrival:

  • Substantial professional experience, gained within a business development or economic development role, ideally in a related sector.
  • In-depth knowledge of one or more key industries or technologies: AI; Cyber and Trust Architecture; Internet of Things; Telecoms; Next Generation Computing.  
  • Excellent management and leadership skills with the ability to deliver results through others.
  • Proven competence in leading strategy development and business planning.
  • Excellent stakeholder management abilities.
  • Proven advisory and influencing skills at senior levels.
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
  • Excellent interpersonal, presentation and networking skills.
  • Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
  • An excellent network of industry contacts and the ability to develop new networks with senior business and industry leaders.

Language requirements:

Language: English

Level of language required: Excellent verbal and written English.

Desirable:

  • An understanding of international relations and UK Government policy a plus.
  • An in-depth knowledge of the US and the Canadian economies a plus.
Seeing the Big Picture, Making Effective Decisions, Delivering at Pace, Leadership, Communicating and Influencing, Developing Self and Others
11 July 2022
Grade 7 (G7)
Full-time, Permanent
40
Americas, Caribbean & Overseas Territories
United States
Boston, New York, San Francisco
British Consulate
1
USD
New York and San Francisco - $116,443 Boston – $108,499
22 August 2022

Learning and development opportunities:

The British Embassy and its US Network is committed to all employee’s ongoing learning and development needs. We offer a comprehensive platform for personalised learning for everything from soft skill development (communicating with impact, handling difficult conversations, time management) to more technical or professional skills necessary to complete your job (software training, formal qualifications etc.).

Working patterns:

Able to accommodate a varied working patternThis role is 40 hours a week.

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.