View Vacancy - SRR - DIT Trade Service Unit Advisor B3(L)

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

The British Embassy Riyadh has a vacancy for a Trade Service Unit Advisor on a fixed-term contract for two (2) years with a possibility of renewal.

The Department for International Trade (DIT) is the Trade and Investment arm for the UK. We promote British trade and investment across the world, support UK business overseas, and attract foreign investment to our shores. We have over 3,000 staff across the globe in over 100 countries.

DIT divides the world into nine (9) regions, each led by Her Majesty’s Trade Commissioner (HMTC). The Middle East, Afghanistan and Pakistan (MEAP) region is led from Dubai and represents 12 markets with a team of some 120 staff.

The MEAP Trade Service Unit is MEAP’s universal entry point for UK business. The role is part of a wider Trade Service Unit based in the UAE. As Trade Service Unit Advisor for KSA, you will work with DIT colleagues in KSA and International Trade Advisors based in the UK to help UK SMEs enter the MEAP market and win business. However, the jobholder should also be flexible in responding to changes to priorities based on operational requirements as guided by the DIT KSA Director. 

 

Duties and responsibilities:

  • Review and answer enquiries sent to the KSA sub-Hub, adopting an effective relationships management approach for UK SMEs.
  • Working with colleagues, you will be responsible for various defined tasks in support of UK companies currently in-market or looking to enter the market; helping them to spot opportunities as well as navigate the challenges. This could include organising visit programmes, helping identify potential local partners, and attending either virtual or face-to-face briefings, trade missions, and/ or exhibitions in KSA.
  • Act as an advocate for the MEAP Trade Services Unit Hub externally and internally, and embed the Hub into MEAP team’s ways of working.
  • Record, allocate, track and trace, and report all SME approaches; manage follow-up actions from enquiries and facilitate consultative client discussions with DIT KSA colleagues and other key stakeholders in MEAP.
  • Working with the Trade Service Unit Manager in Riyadh, you will support the running of the MEAP Hub (based in Dubai) by providing timely, accurate and comprehensive management information on a monthly basis in order to meet KPIs.
  • Work with the DIT MEAP Marketing and Communications Team to create materials to promote the Riyadh sub-Hub.
  • Conduct market research either by sector, country, or region, and prepare documentation and data to support SME business and internal DIT MEAP reporting tools, including devising metrics and compiling reports.
  • Provide ad hoc administrative support to the Trade Service Unit Manager and the DIT KSA Head of Trade in Riyadh as required.

The above list is not exhaustive and the jobholder will be required to be flexible and take on other ad hoc tasks as required, including participating in the Embassy’s emergency planning and any response to a crisis.


Key competencies required:

  • Managing a Quality Service - Valuing and modelling professional excellence and expertise to deliver service objectives and striving to improve the quality of service, taking account of diverse customer needs and requirements. Effectively planning, organising, and managing time and activities to deliver a high quality, secure, reliable and efficient service, applying programme and project and risk management approaches to support service delivery.
  • Collaborating and Partnering - Being a team player who creates and maintains positive, professional and trusting working relationships with a wide range of people within and outside the organisation to help get business done. Working collaboratively, sharing information appropriately, and building supportive, responsive relationships with colleagues and stakeholders, whilst having the confidence to challenge assumptions. Being approachable, delivering business objectives through creating an inclusive environment, encouraging collaboration, building effective partnerships including relationships with Ministers and welcoming challenge however uncomfortable.
  • Changing and Improving - Being responsive and innovative, and seeking out opportunities to create effective change. Learning from what has worked well and what has not, being open to change, suggesting ideas for improvements to the way things are done, and working in ’smarter’, more focused ways.
  • Achieving Commercial Outcomes - Maintaining an economic, long-term focus in all activities. Having a commercial, financial and sustainable mind-set to ensure all activities and services are delivering added value and working to stimulate economic growth. Identifying economic, market, and customer issues and using these to promote innovative business models, commercial partnerships, and agreements to deliver greatest value.
  • Relevant professional or hands-on trade related experience in MEAP region and/ or holds a relevant undergraduate degree.
  • Experience of market/ business data analysis and interpretation.
  • At least 2 years’ experience working in a trade-related and investment field or a relevant customer facing role.
  • Track record of delivery through collaboration and partnering in complex environments.
  • Ability to prioritise own workload and meet deadlines without compromising the quality of the work.
  • Ability to multi-task and respond quickly and flexibly to meet multiple and changing priorities.
  • Strong interpersonal skills. Confident and comfortable dealing with senior officials and business people.
  • Resilient, decisive with a can-do attitude, and calm under pressure and with a proactive approach to problem solving.
  • Team player who is capable of working on their own initiative as well as with others, including in a fast-paced and changing environment.
  • Excellent communication skills in English. Able to express ideas and messages clearly and concisely, both orally and in written communication.
  • Strong IT skills and well-versed in the use of Microsoft Office applications (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Teams).
Experience of working in virtual teams.
23 September 2021
Executive Officer (EO)
Full-time, Fixed term, with possibility of renewal
35
Middle East & North Africa
Saudi Arabia
Riyadh
British Embassy
1
SAR
11,097.26
17 November 2021

Eligibility:

The position is available to Saudi Nationals and to current holders of valid Saudi residence permits or transferable iqamas. The successful candidate will be required to transfer their sponsorship to the British Embassy. 

 

Working hours and remuneration:

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

Salary details:

  • Base Salary including Eid bonus - SAR 8,557.81
  • Housing Allowance - SAR 2,139.45 (subject to eligibility)*
  • Travel Allowance - SAR 400 (subject to eligibility)*

*Allowances are not payable to staff who receive official provision for such expenditure in some other form.

No accommodation and relocation expenses are payable in connection with this position.

 

Normal working hours for the Embassy are from 08:00 to 15:00 from Sunday to Thursday. This position is full-time, based on 35 hours per week.

Given the nature of the role, the jobholder should also 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 events, visits, business receptions, and other networking activities. Flexible working arrangements will be considered based on operational requirements upon agreement with the Line Manager and in line with the Embassy’s policies.

The position will cover the entire Saudi network and will also involve domestic and potentially some regional travel.

 

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

How to apply:

Interested candidates must attach 1) an updated Curriculum Vitae (CV) and 2) a covering letter stating how you meet the requirements of the role.

Your application must also include examples of when you have demonstrated the required competencies in the Competence-Based Questions section of the online application form.

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

The closing date for applications is at 23:55 KSA local time on 23 September 2021.

Applications received after the stated deadline will not be considered.

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

The start date mentioned in the advert is an assumed 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, medical clearance and reference checks. 

 

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.