View Vacancy - Head of Export Finance / UK Export Finance - Brazil

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

On behalf of UK Export Finance, the British Embassy in Brazil is seeking a Head of Export Finance, to be based in one of Sao Paulo, Brasilia or Rio de Janeiro.

The UK Government is adding to its commercial team in Latin America to grow UK trade with the region in a mutually beneficial manner.  Finance is a critical part of promoting more trade between the UK and our overseas partners. UK Export Finance has already helped other regions deliver on their trade and investment plans, and in so doing opened opportunities for UK companies. This role provides an opportunity to help shape the long-term UK partnership for prosperity and stability with Latin America.

About UK Export Finance 

UK Export Finance (UKEF) is the UK’s export credit agency (ECA) and operates in partnership with the Department for International Trade (DIT). 

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. In 2020/21, UKEF provided £12.3 billion of support to help 549 exporters sell to over 100 countries.

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 Business Plan

The UKEF four-year business plan has 4 delivery objectives, which set out what we need to achieve to realise our mission, and 3 organisational objectives, which define the resources, skills and operational capabilities we will need to do that. 

You can read our Business Plan Business plan in full here, and find out more about the Department’s work in the latest UK Export Finance Annual Report and Accounts

Partners, stakeholders and observers 

UKEF works closely with partners within government, most notably the Department for International Trade and the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office. In the private sector our principal partners include trade associations and financial institutions. 

Our work is varied and complex, spanning all business sectors and all corners of the world. UKEF is delighted to have been named best Export Credit Agency by Global Trade Review and Trade Finance Global Magazines. This is a recognition of our innovative approach to supporting exporters, comprehensive product offering and substantial appetite to take on new business. 

About the Department for International Trade 

The Department for International Trade (DIT) is the UK government department that helps foster UK exports and inward investment. DIT officers at overseas posts liaise with the UK headquarters and other departments across the British Government to generate commercial, policy and institutional collaborations. In Brazil, DIT is headquartered at the British Consulate in Sao Paulo, with team members also in the Embassy in Brasilia and the other consulates in Rio de Janeiro, Recife and Belo Horizonte.

Main Roles and Responsibilities:

The jobholder will be responsible for promoting UKEF’s export finance capabilities and developing opportunities in Brazil (primarily), Chile, Uruguay, Paraguay and Argentina. The jobholder will be the sole UKEF representative in Brazil based in the British Diplomatic Posts in either Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro or Brasilia depending on applicants.  The purpose of the role is to promote export growth through finance by building relationships and partnerships with business, government and other stakeholders.  

As one of a small network of UK Export Finance executives in the Americas you will work closely with colleagues based in Bogota and Houston to coordinate efforts across the region, and report in to UKEF London HQ. 

The jobholder will support Her Majesty’s Ambassadors in the region to deliver HMG’s trade and investment objectives by delivering the UKEF offer. He/she will work with the DIT and UKEF management teams. The jobholder will help grow UKEF supported exports by focussing on five (5) areas of activity: 

1) Build awareness of UKEF support capabilities 

  • Raise the profile of UKEF regionally through engagement with the local business community, government bodies, and other stakeholder organisations. 
  • Deliver UKEF marketing plans, ensuring that messages are appropriate to the audience.
  • Develop and implement promotion activities that educate the local/ regional business community on UKEF products. 
  • Develop UKEF knowledge base within the local DIT team.                

2) Build and share market knowledge 

  • Develop 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 development plans, priority sectors, and projects. 
  • Act as the lead source of UKEF advice to local DIT teams, including integration of UKEF objectives in priority campaigns (including Clean Energy, Infrastructure, Defence and Healthcare).        

3) Establish and maintain stakeholder relationships - 

  • Use existing knowledge and experience to build business networks and enhance the profile of UKEF. 
  • Record and coordinate business outreach activities with buyers and project sponsors. 
  • 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. 
  • Engage with UKEF’s global network to identify opportunities of mutual interest in third markets with international sponsors and contractors 
  • Build and maintain relationships with other countries’ export finance bodies to learn lessons. 

 4) Create and deliver strategic plans 

  • Develop regional strategies for promotion of UKEF products in Brazil and the coverage markets
  • Support DIT Managers in country strategic planning aligned to UKEF organisational objectives, supporting export campaigns where ‘leading with finance’ could be an important driver. 
  • Embed UKEF offer into DIT export campaign plans. 

5) Progress business development opportunities 

  • Lead the local coordination of UKEF campaign activities. 
  • Lead UKEF collaboration with the local DIT team to develop innovative export solutions for UK companies. 
  • Coordinate and support visits from UKEF management. 

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

Essential on arrival:      

  • Degree and/or equivalent professional financial or accounting experience.  
  • At least eight years professional experience.
  • Banking and financial sector career experience.
  • Commercial skills, well versed in how companies contract and structure projects.
  • Prior experience of business origination/ business development.
  • Proven experience of structured finance / trade finance.
  • Network of contacts in business and financial world in Brazil.
  • Proven ability to take the initiative pursuing the objectives in the job description.
  • Proven competence in leading strategy development and business planning. 
  • Proven advisory and negotiation skills at senior levels –able to express ideas and messages clearly and concisely, both orally and in written communication.
  • Experience working with exporters and project developers.
  • Competent in Microsoft Office applications.
  • Confident public speaking and networking skills.
  • Recognition of the importance of developing a  strong business network.
  • Able to fulfil the travel requirements of the role and work outside normal office hours as required.

Desirable Experience and Skills: 

  • Detailed knowledge of the regulatory macroeconomic and political situation in Brazil and Southern Cone countries. 
  • Experience of project finance delivery in the Brazilian context.
  • Client facing experience, for example with a professional services business (managing businesses, understanding issues and pursuing strategies together).  
  • Knowledge of Export Credit Agency credit risk policy and business environment.
Seeing the Big Picture, Making Effective Decisions, Delivering at Pace, Communicating and Influencing, Working Together
17 August 2022
Grade 7 (G7)
Full-time, Fixed term, with possibility of renewal
36
Latin America and Spanish speaking Caribbean
Brazil
Brasilia, Rio De Janeiro, Sao Paulo
British Embassy
1
BRL
BRL 21,504.60
19 September 2022

Eligibility to work and live in Brazil is required.  

Employees who are not liable to pay local income tax on their Mission salary, eg some non-local national staff and some spouses or partners of UK diplomatic staff, will have their salaries abated by an equivalent amount.

Learning and development opportunities:

The successful applicant will have access to a range of Learning and Development opportunities with in-house and e-learning, with the potential for overseas training. From time to time there will be requirements to assist other teams within the Department, working with other members of the team to build overall experience through delivery of training and awareness session. 

A training programme will be provided with UK Export Finance in London.  

Working patterns:

Flexible working can be considered for the right candidate.  

Any other information (or specific local Post requirements):

The British Embassy Network in Brazil aims to offer an attractive working environment. 




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.