View Vacancy - Head of Sector - Energy, Environment and Infrastructure

The Department for International Trade (DIT) is the UK Government’s international business development agency. DIT working closely with other agencies in the United Kingdom, promotes and supports transatlantic trade development between the UK and the US, and assists US companies looking to invest in the UK. See www.gov.uk/DIT for further information. 

DIT USA works closely with DIT Headquarters in London, together with representatives of the three Devolved Administrations of Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales, and other departmental agencies in the UK.

The Energy, Environment, and Infrastructure (EEI) team is a North America (Canada, Mexico, and US)-wide team committed to delivering foreign direct investment into the UK, and supporting UK companies in the North American market. EEI encompasses the subsectors of oil & gas, nuclear, renewables, construction, water and transport infrastructure.

Based in the British Consulate-General, Houston, the Head of Energy, Environment, and Infrastructure (EEI) Sector works with the wider sector teams in North America, specifically the US, Mexico, and Canada. The Head of Sector works with diverse clients and stakeholders across North America proactively generating and supporting trade and investment between companies in the US, Mexico, and Canada and the UK.

The Head of EEI is a key leader who inspires, leads, and assists their local and virtual team achieve their goals. As leader of the North American-wide sector team, the successful candidate will be responsible for drafting and implementing a strategy for the delivery of DIT’s EEI objectives in the region. This individual will provide leadership for an integrated trade and investment team, with regional responsibility for the EEI sectors, mentor staff in the virtual team to help them meet their objectives, and be responsible for the regional sector team achieving its annual targets. He/she will also establish and communicate a vision for how DIT can best serve our clients and meet targets across different verticals.

The appointee will report directly to the local Head of Trade & Investment. The appointee will interact and influence EEI teams across North America. He/she will also line manage one Trade & Investment Associate.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• With UK and US/Mexico/Canada government and business experts, develop an ambitious, overarching, and aligned strategy to support business collaboration between the UK and the North American region that delivers a measurable increase in collaboration and deal flow in the EEI sector.
• Create strong, visible, relationships with colleagues across the Region and UK and work collaboratively with them to ensure the continued growth of foreign direct investment into the UK and development of the export pipeline.
• Oversee North American Region EEI targets and ensure successful completion of targets at all relevant posts throughout the DIT network.
• Forge strong relationships with business leaders, trade associations and interlocutors both in the UK and North America.
• Provide a comprehensive account management service to key North American Region prospects looking to set up in the UK, and support Regional companies already active in the UK market to grow their footprint.
• Successfully build and manage a pipeline of knowledge-driven projects, to include R&D collaborative ventures between companies on both sides of the Atlantic.
• Develop and implement high impact, targeted marketing programs and events in conjunction with stakeholder partners (including high level dinners, seminars etc.) to build DIT brand awareness; promote key messaging relating to EEI, the UK economy and its competitiveness.
• Mentor and assist high growth/ innovative UK SMEs and new-to-export companies to develop North American Region market entry strategies and /or grow Regional market share.
• Identify and disseminate information on in-market business opportunities to UK companies through proactive engagement with procurement, supply chain and technology licensing professionals. Provide strategic advice to UK companies looking to bid for those contracts.
• Monitor market trends and contribute to North America-wide, sector-focused strategic planning.
• Work with multiple internal and external stakeholders to deliver high level/VIP visit programs and background information material, and manage cross-Consulate activities that capitalize on the synergies that exist between the US and UK and help advance key UK campaigns.
• Represent DIT and the British Consulate at external functions, including the occasional speaking engagement.

• A minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in relevant field, Master’s preferred.
• 10 years relevant work experience in business development, in Energy, Environment and/or Infrastructure.
• A deep understanding of the energy industry, including supply chain and policy topics relevant to international energy businesses.
• An excellent network of industry contacts in the energy sector in the Region or the ability to develop such a network, including demonstrating the ability to develop strategic relationships with senior industry figures.
• Ability to lead a remote team and be their conduit for information flow between the North American Region and UK stakeholders.
• Proven experience delivering creative and innovative solutions to business challenges.
• Solid understanding of both the North American Region and UK business environments, in addition to public versus private sector operations.
• Clear motivation and personal commitment to meeting challenging targets with a demonstrable track record of achievement.
• Strong client account management and project management experience.
• Excellent research, analysis and report writing skills, particularly the ability to produce high quality outputs in a short amount of time.
• Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to work in a closely-knit team towards shared goals and strong networking skills.
• Proven leadership experience.
• Strong written and oral communication (including presentation) skills.
• Computer literacy in standard Microsoft applications and Client Relationship Management (CRM) software; experience of utilizing new media platforms for business development and campaign marketing purposes.
• Driving license and ability to undertake air travel, including overnight stays.

Under US State Department requirements, the Embassy may only employ, as non-diplomatic staff, persons who are US citizens, US Green Card holders or A or NATO visa holders with EAD cards*. If you hold a visa other than an A or NATO visa you are not currently eligible to work at the Embassy.  Please refer to our website for information on exceptions to this policy at www.gov.uk/world/usa.  All candidates will be subject to background checks and security clearance. 

*A visas or NATO visas with EAD cards are acceptable at the Embassy, Consulates, and British Defence Staff (BDS) outposts.