View Vacancy - CPK - DIT Energy & Infrastructure Support Officer, A2(L)

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

The Department for International Trade (DIT) 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. DIT China would value applications from people from the widest possible diversity of background, culture, experience and gender. 

Main purpose of job:

This is an exciting role working in the Department for International Trade’s (DIT) Energy Sector Team, and alongside wider members of the Embassy’s Energy Group, to advance the UK’s trade and investment ambitions in China. You will play a key role in supporting the DIT China region (China & Hong Kong) achieve its objectives as articulated in the Regional Trade Plan, of which the over-arching ambitions are:

Objective 1 - Driving and inspiring UK exports to China, significantly increasing the UK market share of China's goods imports, and more than double the value of UK services exports.

Objective 2 - Strengthened trade policy engagement with China to achieve incremental market access, mitigate business risk and prepare for future trade deals

Objective 3 - Broadening and deepening the UK-China investment partnership, positioning the UK as the top European destination for Chinese investment and providing strong support for UK investors.

Context

The Department for International Trade (DIT) operates in 108 countries. Establishing new relationships around the globe, DIT promotes British 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.

DIT has one of the largest representations of the 18 government departments working in China, which are coordinated and led by Her Majesty’s Ambassador who is responsible for the UK’s relationship with China.

Her Majesty’s Trade Commissioner (HMTC) is responsible for Trade and Investment work in China, one of nine global regions and the largest DIT overseas network in the world. With c.190 staff across six posts - Beijing, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chongqing and Wuhan – DIT, as part of the UK government network in China offers a fast-paced place to work at the heart of UK-China Government relations.

Energy & Infrastructure is a cornerstone of the UK-China trade & investment relationship. Combatting climate change and delivering clean sustainable growth is one of the grand challenges facing the world. As the host of COP26 in November 2012 in Glasgow, this is a key priority for the UK and commercial collaboration with China will be an important part of delivering this. You will work to support trade and investment flows between the UK and China as well as commercial collaboration in third markets.

Detail

The successful applicant will play a key role in providing administrative support for the Energy & Infrastructure teams by providing an interface with other directorates on areas such as budget/finance and performance monitoring/management.  They will also support the Head of the Energy & Infrastructure team’s diary, prioritising and preparing work, and lead on taking forward logistical arrangements for their travel and participation in events.  Very good organisational, interpersonal and communication skills and resilience are key requirements for the role.

The Directorate Support Officer (DSO) will work as part of the wider DIT team, playing a role in delivering high profile activity and visits.  As such the successful candidate will have the opportunity to be part of a high profile, busy and ambitious team.  In addition to core work, the successful applicant will have also the opportunity to play a part in a diverse range of work such as planning and delivering Ministerial and VIP visits, running major events and engaging the business community. If you are flexible, enthusiastic and if you will embrace the ‘DIT Spirit’ that is to be Expert, Engaging, Enterprising and Inclusive, we want to hear from you.

Roles and responsibilities: 

  • 30% - Provide administrative support to the wider team by being the docking point for requests from the Corporate Operations team on finance, budgets and performance management.  Support the team in delivering practical and logistical arrangements for visits and events. Make flight/train bookings/hotel reservations for the team and visitors.  Prepare visit programmes for official visitors & DIT China Senior Leadership Team and provide practical support.
  • 40% - Provide a high standard of secretarial support, including fast and accurate turnaround of documents, e-mails; filing sensitive and personal management papers; handling and escorting visitors; prioritising papers to act on; photocopying and paper distribution; arrangements for official entertainment (placement cards, invitations etc)
  • 10% - Admin support for the Head of the Energy & Infrastructure team, including: supporting papers for meetings, prioritisation and diary scheduling as necessary.
  • 20% - input data onto the DIT customer relationship database in support of the sector teams.

Resources managed (staff and expenditure):

  • Responsible for administering team marketing & events and travel & subsistence spend against budgets
  • No line management responsibility.

Essential on arrival:

  • Excellent communication skills and proven ability to work proactively in a team.
  • Good command of English both spoken and written
  • Previous experience in administrative roles
  • Knowledge of MS Office
  • Skill & resilience in building relationships with external stakeholders in China.
  • Experience in spoken Mandarin, translation/interpreting.
  • Experience of working with Chinese government agencies, or companies/industry associations in energy sector.
  • Knowledge of the energy and/or infrastructure sectors
7 August 2020
Administrative Officer (AO)
Full-time, Fixed Term
35
24 months
Asia Pacific
China
Beijing
British Embassy
1
CNY
Chinese Nationals: 10,997 RMB / British Nationals: 15,404 RMB
31 August 2020
30 August 2022

Learning and development opportunities (and any specific training courses to be completed):

There is plenty of opportunity to develop on the job, and to establish expertise on trade policy. Specific areas and activities include:

  • Courses and materials offered by the DIT and FCO L&D teams and the trade / prosperity academy of the Diplomatic Academy
  • Attending external events and conferences hosted by academic institutions, business chambers, etc
  • Taking part in learning sets with Embassy colleagues
  • Embassy Leadership Programmes

This is a 2 years fixed term position in Beijing, and will be extended subject to performance and availability of funding.

Security clearances will need to be obtained upon successful application for the post. Applicants must be willing to undergo the security assessment process.

We offer a competitive package, which includes basic salary, good leave entitlement, and insurance plan, etc. The gross salary (before all deductions) is CNY 10, 997/ month for Chinese Nationals and an abated monthly salary of CNY 15, 404/month for British Nationals and spouses/ partners (all nationalities) of diplomats who are ‘W’ (diplomatic) visa holders and meet passport criteria.

We also offer excellent development opportunities and a 22-day annual leave entitlement in pro rata.

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

For more details on our Total Rewards Package, please visit our website http://www.gov.uk/government/world/china.

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

Please note that your application must be submitted before 23:55 on the day mentioned in the above field “Application deadline”.

Incomplete application forms will not be taken into consideration, so please ensure you provide the information requested. We regret to advise that we will only be contacting short-listed candidates. Applicants called for an interview will be assessed on the core competencies listed above.

Indicated start date is provisional and subject to successful completion of reference and security checks.

To those applicants not shortlisted, we extend our appreciation for considering the British Government as a potential employer.

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.