View Vacancy - Northern Powerhouse Business Specialist - DIT Rio de Janeiro

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

Overview

The Department for International Trade (DIT) is the Trade and Investment Promotion and Negotiation organisation for the UK.  We promote British trade and investment across the world, we support UK businesses overseas and attract foreign investment to our shores.  We have 3,000 staff across the globe in over 100 countries.

DIT divides the world into 9 regions, each led by Her Majesty’s Trade Commissioner: Jo Crellin leads the Latin American and the Caribbean (LATAC) Region from Sao Paulo.  The Network is represented in 19 Posts with a team of over 140.

The Northern Powerhouse (NPH) is the UK government’s vision for a super-connected, globally-competitive northern UK economy with a flourishing private sector, a highly-skilled population, and world-renowned civic and business leadership.  The region has huge potential in Clean Growth areas, which were showcased during a two-day event in November 2019:  https://npenergyconference.com/

You will support NPH companies currently looking to enter the LATAC region with a focus on “Clean Growth” firms; helping them spot the opportunities and navigate the challenges.  This includes, but not limited to, companies within the following sectors: energy, transport, healthcare, and life science.  This will support UK commercial interests, but also contribute to UK-led efforts to increase regional ambition to tackle climate change, and for countries in the LatAc region to make a clean and resilient recovery from the impacts of COVID19.

What will the jobholder be expected to achieve?

  • Working to the Regional Lead for Clean Growth: map current Clean Growth opportunities and UK companies active in the region and work with Posts and London teams, as well as external stakeholders, to improve country level data on the opportunities.
  • Build capacity and awareness across the region (internal and external) regarding the NPH and Clean Growth trade opportunities, using marketing collateral such as sector propositions, and arranging to engagements by UK experts.
  • Lead on mainstreaming the NPH Clean Growth agenda with all DIT LatAc Country and Sector Teams, as well as wider HMG Prosperity colleagues.
  • Work closely with the Communications team to develop a communications narrative, products and activity in order to support and publicise the agenda.
  • Work with the investment team to map and progress Clean Growth investment opportunities into the NPH region.
  • Establish a business network of Clean Growth NPH Companies working locally who can help to champion the UK’s strengths in the region, and the region’s opportunities to UK companies.
  • Following scoping and mapping; prioritise, plan, deliver and monitor a targeted Clean Growth sector campaign aimed at increasing the demand for relevant sector specific goods and services from the NPH region, and alerting DIT sector teams to non-NPH serviceable opportunities.
  • Provide DIT sector specialists, UK Regions colleagues and local partners with in-country support including (but not limited to): contributing to briefing and reporting as required, facilitating official programmes, trade missions, webinars and events and connecting visitors with senior stakeholders in their market.
  • Provide support for incoming trade missions by working with Post to help to scope out potential for bespoke NPH missions, working with UK based teams to organise and deliver the programme.
  • Increase regional traction for Meet the Buyer events and use enhanced knowledge of regional sector strengths to target substantial buyers to bring to the UK.
  • Develop and maintain strong working relationship with DIT HQ and other HMG colleagues, leveraging appropriate expertise and support to help companies, and deliver where needed.
  • Work as a flexible member of the Consulate-General to support wider post work as needed, including but not limited to, Crisis Work and other 1HMG work and activities.
  • Be an active member of the regional DIT LATAC team, being available to support priority work in other countries and proactively seeking to make a corporate contribution.

Essential on arrival:

  • Undergraduate degree and other relevant professional qualification or experience.
  • Three years’ experience working in clean growth or trade and investment field or similar.
  • Experience of leading teams.
  • Experience of working in or with government departments, NGOs, and similar institutions.
  • Proven track record of cross-team collaboration.
  • A positive, resilient, flexible and adaptable “can-do” attitude that can see way through challenges.

Desirable:

  • Understanding of the NPH and UK Clean Growth offer.
9 August 2020
Higher Executive Officer (HEO)
Full-time, Fixed term, with possibility of renewal
35 (Net)
Latin America and Spanish speaking Caribbean
Brazil
Rio De Janeiro
British Consulate General
1
BRL
10,674
21 September 2020

Due to COVID-19 we are unable to confirm any start date of employment at this time.  We will continue to monitor progress and developments, and will be touch as soon as there is an update.

Must be eligible to live and work in Brazil.

The British Embassy Network offers a strong benefits package.  This package includes generous vacation and leave time, flexible working patterns, and enriching learning and development opportunities.  

Learning and development opportunities:

  • This role provides enormous opportunities to grow and develop given its pan-LATAC leadership role.
  • You will have access to the full suite of DIT and FCO learning and development opportunities including the FCO’s Diplomatic Academy, training in the UK, and will be encouraged to join DIT’s trade profession.  We also provide regular in-house learning opportunities and are committed to supporting further academic opportunities.  Our staff who demonstrate great leadership potential are encouraged to apply for the FCO’s Emerging Leadership Programme.

Working patterns

The hours are 35 per week (not including 1 hour daily lunch break): Monday to Thursday 08:30 - 16:45; Friday 08:30 - 16:30.

Flexible working can be considered for the right candidate, but please note the following:

  • You may be required to work a few evenings each month.
  • You will be expected to travel to other cities across the region and to the UK.  
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.