View Vacancy - VNM - Trade Officer (Financial and Professional Services), B3(L)

Main purpose of job: 

The Department for International Trade (DIT) was established by the Prime Minister in July 2016.  We secure UK and global prosperity by promoting and financing international trade and investment and championing free trade.  The DIT Team in Vietnam has a network of 2 trade teams based in the British Embassy in Hanoi and the Consulate-General in Ho Chi Minh City.  We work closely with key partners, in particular the British Business Group of Vietnam.  .

The role will be responsible for leading DIT’s activities in the financial and professional services sectors, including (but not limited to): banking and capital markets, Fintech, insurance, accountancy and legal services.  You will lead the team’s work to build a strong network of commercial contacts and with officials in the Vietnam government and with regulators, in both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.  You will need to be able to leverage those networks to achieve commercial outcomes for UK companies.

The successful candidate will need a sound knowledge of the financial services sector and be able to develop their knowledge of the other services sectors.  You will need to be able to communicate this to a British audience and be able to articulate the opportunities for British companies to increase their exports to Vietnam.

You will also be expected to make a positive contribution to the wider DIT and One-HMG team across the Vietnam network.  Occasional travel to Ho Chi Minh City will be required.

Roles and responsibilities:

• Establish, develop and maintain a network of key contacts across Vietnam’s financial and professional services sectors.  
• UK Exports: Provide advice, support and guidance to UK financial and professional services firms seeking to establish either new operations, or expand existing operations, in Vietnam. In addition, support exports of these firms by introducing to relevant clients and by designing and delivering activities, such as trade missions and matchmaking events, designed to build the UK brand and grow UK financial and professional services exports.
• Work with UK financial and professional services companies to understand and feedback any potential concerns of market access barriers to trade opportunities in Vietnam.
• Participate in the activities and events conducted by industry associations and other multipliers, building awareness of DIT in the business community and serving as a point of contact for UK market information.

• Excellent written and oral communication skills in both English and Vietnamese are essential for this role.
• Proactive self starting approach to work with the ability to deliver effectively with limited day-to-day supervision in a fast paced environment;
• Experience of working with the Vietnamese government;
• A network of industry contacts in the financial and other professional services sectors in Vietnam, or the ability to develop such a network;
• Strong interpersonal and networking skills;
• IT proficiency, including Office and the ability to learn FCO applications/systems.