View Vacancy - Country Director, DIT (MKD20.233)

Due to COVID-19, you may experience some delay in the progress of this recruitment campaign. We are working hard to minimise any disruption. You may find more information in the Additional Information section below.

The British Embassy in Skopje, North Macedonia is part of a world-wide network, representing British political, economic and consular interests overseas and is now looking to recruit a Country Director to lead Department for International Trade (DIT) Skopje and assume responsibility in the British Embassy Skopje for promoting bilateral trade and encouraging FDI between the UK and North Macedonia, and remotely supporting markets in Albania, Montenegro and Kosovo. This includes management of a small budget and responsibility for business planning. The jobholder will be responsible for assisting British companies operating or looking to operate in North Macedonia, and with Macedonian companies looking to invest in the UK, combining strategic level management with operational delivery. The jobholder will support similar work in Albania, Montenegro and Kosovo, in partnership with Embassies in Tirana, Podgorica and Pristina. The jobholder will develop and maintain a network of relations with key business and institutional stakeholders, in North Macedonia, across the Western Balkans, and the Central & Eastern Europe Network.

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

• Deliver DIT’s annual Business Plan targets, and implement the UK Government’s Industrial Strategy for growth and prosperity locally;
• Strategic management including business planning and budgeting.
• Representation of DIT Skopje, including ad-hoc support to the Western Balkan Posts without DIT resource – Tirana, Pristina and Podgorica;
• Contribute to regional efforts to represent the interests and maintain/improve the reputation of the WBN and CEN;
• Development, maintenance and utilisation of a network of key contacts in North Macedonia and as needed the Western Balkans and London in order to deliver strategic objectives;
• Regular contact with British Embassy colleagues in Tirana, Podgorica and Pristina;
• Representation of DIT Skopje to outside stakeholders, including meeting and providing advice to British companies interested in doing business in North Macedonia;
• Regular interaction with political and economic team to ensure coordination across the Embassy on areas of policy overlap, joint visits and events;
• Providing advice to HMAs, DHMs and other senior interlocutors on matters requiring their attention relating to trade;
• Representation of the British Embassy Skopje and DIT where appropriate, attending conferences, delivering speeches and giving interviews relating to trade between the UK and North Macedonia;
• The jobholder will generally be the responsible officer for matters pertaining to trade relations between the UK and North Macedonia, and supporting this work with the other three countries, and for encouraging the growth in trade between them;
• The jobholder will also contribute to the overall strategic objectives of the Embassy in Skopje, and supporting relevant work in the other three Embassies.

To succeed in this exciting and challenging role, you will need the following:

• Strong track record of business development/sales experience, proven market awareness of the national and regional business environment;
• Experience government relations and or public sector;
• Ability to work in a diverse and cross-cultural environment;
• College / University level degree in a relevant area or equivalent experience;
• At least 5 years of commercial experience;
• A record of delivering commercial outcomes;
• Commercial and economic awareness;
• An innovative attitude especially towards customer service and performance management;
• Excellent communication skills;
• Proven ability to develop relationships with customers and stakeholders;
• Fluency in English and Macedonian, both oral and written;
• Strong IT skills using Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Office and the Internet.