View Vacancy - Africa Trade Services Operations Officer (40/20 JHB)
Main purpose of job:
The Department for International Trade (DIT) Africa is led by Emma-Wade Smith, Her Majesty’s Trade Commissioner. The Department’s role is to increase prosperity in the UK and overseas through increasing trade and investment. The Trade Commissioner’s role is to lead the pan-African trade and investment team to increase the value of the commercial relationship between Africa and the UK.
The Africa Region is exciting and energising and UK firms have a strong presence here, making the UK the second largest foreign investor on the continent. With some of the fastest growing economies in the world and booming population growth, there are numerous more opportunities for UK firms; from tech start-ups in the West to infrastructure in the East and everything in between.
This is a great opportunity to be part of an international team that contributes to the success of the UK's trade goals.
The jobholder will work within DIT Africa in Johannesburg. TSU Operations are the enquiry hub and first point of contact for the whole of the African network. They triage and monitor enquiries and referrals from a wide range of sources, both overseas and within Africa. With excellent interpersonal skills and strong sense of initiative, the jobholder will be part of the TSU Team and will monitor and triage enquiries across Africa.
They will be required to deliver within the team as much as possible, collaborating with colleagues across DIT Africa and other UK Departments in Africa, including the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) when necessary. They will also need to actively engage external stakeholders in the private sector.
Roles and responsibilities:
- Triage and monitor enquiries and referrals from a wide variety of sources, both overseas and within Africa
Assign enquiries and record them on the Enquiries Spreadsheet
Follow up on enquiries to confirm responses, if needed – Tracking and Tracing
Prepare monthly Management Information reports
Build strong and collaborative relationships with officers in the region / regional teams in the UK and across HMG
Upload any relevant interactions weekly onto Data Hub
Write viable export opportunities following guidance and best practice on behalf of the wider DIT network and upload onto the Exporting is Great website
Monitor and forward export opportunity responses received to relevant colleagues
Ensure quality standards are maintained
We are looking for a highly organised person with a strong attention to detail. Someone who is able to take the initiative, work accurately within deadlines and with limited supervision, as well as a strong team member who can work collaboratively in a virtual network.
- Fluent written and spoken English
Great team player, able to build collaborative working relationships across teams
Good client engagement skills
- Strong IT skills in Word, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint
Able to adapt to a quick changing and evolving business environment; working proactively and autonomously
Ability to work with people at all levels of seniority in an international environment and within a fast paced, results orientated organisation
Learning and development opportunities (and any specific training courses to be completed):
The successful applicant will be expected to take responsibility for their professional development and will be supported to do so. A wide range of resources is available through the UK’s Diplomatic Academy, the Regional Learning and Development Centre, mentoring schemes and other on-line resources.
The British High Commission pays in full for the Key Care Plus option on Discovery Health for staff including spouses/partners and dependants.
- Once you have successfully completed your probation the British High Commission will contribute 9% of your monthly salary to a Provident Fund.
- Annual leave entitlement of 25 days
- Working hours per week of 36.5
Must be able to work in South Africa and have a valid passport to travel into Africa.
Please complete the application form in full as the information provided is used during screening
Please check your application carefully before you submit, as no changes can be made once submitted
The British High Commission will never request any payment or fees to apply for a position
Employees recruited locally by the British High Commission in Pretoria are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local employment law in South Africa.
All candidates must be legally able to work and reside in the country of the vacancy with the correct visa/work permit status or demonstrate eligibility to obtain the relevant permit.
The responsibility lies on the successful candidate to;
Obtain the relevant permit
Pay fees for the permit
Make arrangements to relocate
Meet the costs to relocation
The British High Commission do not sponsor visas/work permits except where it may be local practice to do so
Employees who are not eligible to pay local income tax: e.g. certain third-country nationals and spouses/partners of UK diplomats will have their salaries abated by an equivalent amount.
Information about the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Competency Framework can be found on this link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/civil-service-competency-framework Please note: AA=A1, AO=A2, EO=B3, HEO=C4, SEO=C5
Reference checking and security clearances will be conducted on successful candidates
Please log into your profile on the application system on a regular basis to review the status of your application
This opportunity is closed to applications.