View Vacancy - Head of Critical Supply Chains

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.

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).

This is a challenging and rewarding role leading a small, dynamic team across Canada and represents an opportunity to directly contribute the way the UK Government collaborates and negotiates with Canada on key issues related to Trade and Investment promotion.  The Head of Canada, Critical Supply Chains will work across the North American Advanced Engineering and Manufacturing, Life Sciences and Defence and Security sectors, at a time where these markets are significant priorities for both the UK and Canada. The successful individual will account manage some of Canada’s largest companies, and will build strong relationships with leaders in the business community to help increase the exposure and presence of Canadian investors in the UK and exporters in Canada.  Whilst this sector cluster encompasses the subsectors of automotive, aerospace, space, life science, defence and security, this role will be responsible for actively prioritising the subsectors and individual opportunities that offer the most value either for UK exporters or for inward investment into the UK. They will be expected to exercise their sector knowledge and judgement to deploy their resources for maximum impact to the UK economy, in support of Ministerial and HMG priorities.  This will include acting as lead investment/trade officer for the subsectors and/or region that fits your expertise, abilities, and locations.

Roles and responsibilities:

Management and Leadership

  • Forge positive relationships with North America and UK business leaders, trade associations and other key partners.
  • Key account management of Canada’s largest companies in the Advanced Engineering and Manufacturing, Life Sciences and Defence and Security sectors by building positive relationships at multiple levels while coordinating closely with North American colleagues and DIT headquarters in London.
  • Be a trusted referrals partner to prospective and existing investors and exports; manage and drive a pipeline of curated investment and export opportunities to successful closure.
  • With the Sector Directors shape and deliver an ambitious integrated sector business plan for Canada in consultation with stakeholders and wider UK Government Departments.
  • Lead and develop an agile Canadian team in partnership with the Sector Directors to curate and deliver a pipeline of high value, high impact, and knowledge-driven investment projects across Canada including setting and overseeing the delivery of targets for the Canadian Advanced Engineering and Manufacturing, Life Sciences and Defence and Security team members.
  • Work closely with the Director of Trade and Investment Promotion and the Canadian Country Director to provide regional and corporate leadership, including in support of Consul General Engagement, to develop and deliver regional trade and investment and broader strategies.

Sector Specific Knowledge and Execution

  • Provide sector specific expertise across North America, with a focus on the Canadian economy through sharing sector knowledge, fostering strong industry connections and maintaining a detailed understanding of the Canadian economy and political system.
  • Seek to influence trade policy in the UK as it relates to the sector by establishing positive relationships and providing expertise and input from the North American market and companies.
  • Maintain current knowledge of market trends, incentives, and centres of excellence across Canada and the UK. Promote UK strengths effectively to a North American audience.
  • Provide in-person support across North America for major events, VIP/Ministerial visits, or high value investment and export deals.
  • Represent the Department for International Trade and the British Consulate at external functions, including occasional speaking engagements.
  • Undertake travel in Canada and the US and occasional travel overseas (approximately 10-20% of the time).
  • Any other duties as assigned.

Resources managed:

  • Direct line management and strategic leadership of Canadian sector Team (2-6 staff).
  • Counter-sign and provide support to members of the wider team (2-4).
  • Management of local team running cost budgets.
  • Senior Reporting Officer for programme activity from multiple funding sources (FCDO Prosperity Fund, UK core events marketing budget, other government stakeholders, commercial sponsorships).

 

  • Demonstrated professional experience, gained within a business or economic development role
  • Proven management and leadership skills with the ability to deliver results through others
  • Proven competence in leading strategy development and business planning
  • Proven advisory and influencing skills at senior levels
  • Excellent stakeholder management abilities
  • An excellent network of industry contacts and the ability to develop new networks, with senior business and industry leaders
  • Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills
  • Excellent interpersonal, presentation and networking skills
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills
  • Fluent oral and written English, oral and written French is an asset
  • Must have the legal status to live and work in Canada
  • An in depth knowledge of the Canadian economy
  • An understanding of international relations and UK Government policy
Seeing the Big Picture, Making Effective Decisions, Managing a Quality Service, Delivering at Pace, Leadership, Communicating and Influencing
29 June 2022
Senior Executive Officer (SEO)
Full-time, Permanent
37.5
Americas, Caribbean & Overseas Territories
Canada
Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto
British Consulate General
1
CAD
$97,696.88 annually ($8,141,41 monthly)
15 August 2022

Learning and development opportunities:

We actively encourage learning & development and will develop a specific plan in collaboration with the successful candidate.

The successful candidate will already have strong leadership, interpersonal, communication and analytical skills and will be encouraged to develop these further.  The candidate will have access to a range of in-house and e-learning Learning opportunities, 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.

Courses and other opportunities to be completed in the first year include

  • FCDO and DIT induction.
  • Familiarisation visit to DIT HQ in London and a regional organisation.
  • Shadowing a DIT operation in a North American post.
  • Trade Policy training.

Opportunities also exist for senior leader mentorship.

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.
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.