View Vacancy - SRR - Trade Advisor, Defence and Security Exports (AO)

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 Business and Trade roles (DBT)
Trade Promotion

The British Embassy Riyadh has a vacancy for Trade Advisor for the Defence and Security Exports (DSE) sector under the Department for Business and Trade (DBT), job grade Administrative Officer (AO), on a fixed-term contract for one (1) year.

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) is the British Government’s trade and investment development organisation. Its aim is to enhance the competitiveness of companies in the UK through overseas trade and investments and attract a continuing high-level of quality foreign direct investment into the UK. We work with UK based businesses to ensure their success in international markets and encourage overseas companies to bring their high-quality investment to the UK. DBT has a network of trade teams in Saudi Arabia (in Riyadh and Jeddah) that work closely together to deliver services to our customers.

The main purpose of the role is to support UK companies that are seeking to develop their business through trade with Saudi Arabia. The jobholder will be required to support the UKDSE First Secretary Defence and Security (FSDS) with the delivery of the UKDSE strategies for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The jobholder will support the FSDS and work alongside the Senior Trade Advisors in delivering wider support to UKDSE in KSA. 

 

Duties and responsibilities:

  • Support the FSDS as required for internal and external meetings. Lead delivery of programmes for inward visits from ministers, DSE officers, and trade missions. Maintain an up to date contact database and written briefing packs for defence and security companies in KSA as well as information days.
  • Liaison in support of FSDS with Saudi businesses, Saudi Government/ Military, UK based companies, and UK Government/ Military.
  • Assist the FSDS in the writing of market research, correspondence, and intelligence for companies interested in the Saudi market, identifying, where appropriate, opportunities to collaborate to form consortia to pursue High Value Opportunities (HVOs). Proactively encouraging UK companies and intermediaries to visit the market by working with DSE in the UK and attending trade exhibitions. Responding to enquiries from UK companies and briefing them on services offered by UKDSE.
  • Support in the organisation of inward and outward trade missions.
  • Providing diary, travel, and back office support to the FSDS and Senior Trade Advisors.

The above list is not exhaustive, and the jobholder will be required to be flexible as specific responsibilities could change in the future and this would be at the discretion of the line manager or head of section. The job description may be reviewed to meet changes in business needs. The jobholder may also take on other ad hoc tasks as required, including participating in the Embassy’s emergency planning and any other response to a crisis.

  

Key behaviours required:

  • Managing a Quality Service - Deliver service objectives with professional excellence, expertise, and efficiency, taking account of diverse customer needs.
  • Making Effective Decisions - Use evidence and knowledge to support accurate, expert decisions and advice. Carefully consider alternative options, implications, and risks of decisions.
  • Seeing the Big Picture - Understand how your role fits with and supports organisational objectives. Recognise the wider Civil Service priorities and ensure work is in the national interest.
  • Communicating and Influencing - Communicate purpose and direction with clarity, integrity, and enthusiasm. Respect the needs, responses, and opinions of others.

Eligibility:

  • The successful candidate must be able to secure a local residence and work permit in Saudi (iqama) OR already have the right to work and reside in Saudi.
  • The British Embassy provides visa sponsorship. The successful candidate will be required to transfer their visa under the Embassy's sponsorship.
  • Ability to multi-task and have good organisational skills. Ability to prioritise own workload and meet deadlines, and respond quickly and flexibly to meet multiple and changing priorities
  • Excellent interpersonal skills and able to influence and network confidently with industry leaders, government officials, and senior business people; and collaborate effectively across Embassy teams.
  • Collaborative approach to colleague and stakeholder partnerships. Ability to develop and maintain a range of contacts to build effective working relationships.
  • Resourcefulness in solving problems and demonstrates good judgement.
  • Team player who is capable of working on their own initiative.
  • Strong customer focus and ability to deliver quality service
  • Excellent communication skills (both written and oral) in English and Arabic. Ability to express ideas and messages clearly and concisely.
  • Strong IT computer skills and in using MS Office applications (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams).
  • Previous experience of and working with UKDSE.
  • Experience of working in and with the private sector on defence or security matters.
Communicating and Influencing, Making Effective Decisions, Managing a Quality Service, Seeing the Big Picture
25 June 2024
Administrative Officer (AO)
Full-time, Fixed Term
35
12 months
Middle East & North Africa
Saudi Arabia
Riyadh
British Embassy
1
SAR
8,383
monthly
18 August 2024

The Embassy aims to offer an attractive working environment and remuneration package for this role.

Monthly salary details:

  • Base Salary - SAR 6,306
  • Housing Allowance - SAR 1,577 (subject to eligibility)*
  • Travel Allowance - SAR 500 (subject to eligibility)*
  • Total - SAR 8,383

*Allowances are not payable to staff who receive official provision for such expenditure in some other form. Spouses/ Dependents of UKBS officers working at the Embassy are not eligible to Housing or Travel Allowance.

No accommodation nor relocation expenses are payable in connection with this position.

This position is full-time, based on 35 hours per week. Normal working hours for the Embassy are from 08:00 to 15:00 from Sunday to Thursday, with core working hours from 10:00-15:00. Core working hours is the period of the day that employees are required to be at work. The working day outside of the core hours is a flexible period, which allows employees to choose when they work, subject to operational needs.

The jobholder will be required to be flexible in their approach to hours worked as these will be dictated by operational needs and may involve working out of hours (evening and weekend), especially during visits and events. Flexible working arrangements may be considered based on operational requirements and agreement with the line manager, and in line with FCDO and Embassy policies.

The successful candidate will be subject to a 90-day probationary period.

The successful candidate will be required to transfer their iqama under the Embassy's sponsorship.

How to apply:

Interested candidates must include with their online application form

1) an updated Curriculum Vitae (CV);

2) a covering letter/ motivation essay stating how you meet the requirements of the role; and

3) specific examples, in the relevant sections of the online application form, of how you meet the key behaviours required.

Applications that do not include these information will not be considered.

The closing date for applications is at 23:55 KSA local time on 25 June 2024.

Applications received after the stated deadline will not be considered.

Internal candidates (i.e., those who are currently employed by the British Embassy Riyadh/ British Consulate General Jeddah) applying for this position should consider informing their current line manager upon submission of their application.

 

Due to the large number of applications we receive, only those shortlisted for the next step in the recruitment process will be contacted.

Appointable candidates who were unsuccessful at interview may be placed on a ‘reserve list’. If during the reserve period of six (6) months the same or a largely similar role becomes available, that role may be offered to the second or subsequent candidate.

The start date mentioned in the advert is a tentative start date and the successful candidate will be required to undergo security-vetting procedures. Any offer of employment will be subject to the candidate achieving suitable clearances and reference checks.

The recruitment process, including security clearance, is expected to take around 2-3 months. The security clearance process includes checks available in country and in the UK, dependant on the security level required for the role and the candidate’s profile and UK footprint. You may experience some delay in the progress of this recruitment campaign, and we are working hard to minimise any disruption. 

 

 

The British Embassy Riyadh is an equal opportunities employer, dedicated to inclusivity, a diverse workforce and valuing difference. Staff recruited locally by the British Embassy is subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local Saudi Arabia employment law.

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.