View Vacancy - Senior Trade & Investment Officer – Creative, Media, & Sport

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. The FCDO operates an agile workforce and to facilitate this, you may be required to undertake other duties from time to time, as we may reasonably require.
Other British Government Departments (Partners across Government, including UK Visas)
DIT

Main purpose of job:

Be part of the Department for Business and Trade’s (DBT) mission to drive more trade and investment between North America and the UK. With a mature, high spending consumer market and an open economy, world-class talent and a business-friendly regulatory environment, the UK is the leading destination for foreign investment in Europe, and the second highest investment destination in the world. The UK is also the world’s seventh largest exporter and the second largest services exporter. 

 
We employ over 150 people across North America, all united by our vision of a future where we champion open and fair global trading that drives growth, creates better jobs and higher wages, and improves living standards in the UK and around the world.  We seek talented team members with the passion and drive to help us in our mission to build a global appetite for British goods and services; drive investment; negotiate trade deals and open up markets; improve international trading standards and fight unfair trading practices. 


Based at British Consulate-General in Houston, the Senior Trade & Investment Officer for Creative, Media, & Sport will proactively identify export opportunities in the Central US region for market ready UK companies in the Creative, Media, & Sport sectors to achieve new business for UK companies, and work with companies seeking to launch into, or expand in, the UK market. You will be part of the North America Creative, Media, & Sport sector team with responsibility for the screen: film/tv/animation, games, experience economy, advertising/brand and strategy/marketing. and music/music-tech subsectors as well as being a valued contributor to the Houston based regional team.   

Roles and responsibilities:

  • Provide a comprehensive account management service to key US prospects in the Creative, Media, & Sport sectors looking to maintain or grow their footprint in the UK.
  • Work with innovative and industry leading Creative, Media, & Sport companies in the Central US region to successfully build and manage a pipeline of knowledge-driven projects that have the potential to bring high-value jobs and R&D to the UK. 
  • Assist high-growth and innovative UK SMEs and established British businesses to develop US market entry strategies and / or grow US market share; and support established British companies in-market to address any concerns around US trade policy or market access barriers. 
  • Deliver against an ambitious set of annual trade and investment targets.
  • Support positive relationships with US and UK business leaders, trade associations, regional Creative, Media, & Sport companies and other key buyers within the market.
  • Develop and implement high impact, targeted marketing programs and events in conjunction with stakeholder partners to build our brand awareness, promote key messaging, and showcase UK competitiveness in the Creative, Media, & Sport industries. 
  • Keep pace with market trends in North America and the UK to identify commercial opportunities and provide informed advice to clients and stakeholders.
  • Deliver all aspects of high-impact programming, including roundtables, seminars and trade missions.  
  • Support cross-team projects to advance UK economic and trade policy goals.
  • Other duties as assigned.  

Resources managed (staff and expenditure): 

  • Trade & Investment Officer
  • Some budget management.

Essential on arrival: 

  • Demonstrated professional experience in an economic development, creative, media, & sport or business role.
  • Thorough knowledge of the creative, media, & sport industries, major companies, and trends in Texas and the Central US region – and preferably in the UK.
  • Excellent stakeholder management abilities.
  • Excellent interpersonal, presentation and networking skills.
  • Excellent management and collaboration skills with the ability to negotiate and deliver results.
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills.  
  • Excellent organizational skills and meticulous attention to detail.
  • Ability to multitask and complete work while traveling.
  • Proficiency in standard Microsoft applications.
  • Must be able to attend events outside of office hours and undertake travel in the US and internationally up to 20% of your time.  

Language requirements: 

  • Language: English
  • Level of language required: excellent verbal and written English.

  • An understanding of international relations and UK Government policy preferred.
Communicating and Influencing, Delivering at Pace, Managing a Quality Service, Seeing the Big Picture
21 July 2025
Higher Executive Officer (HEO)
Full-time, Permanent
40
Americas, Caribbean & Overseas Territories
United States
Houston
British Consulate General
1
USD
$77,759
yearly
8 September 2025

Working patterns:

This role is 40 hours a week.

The British Embassy and its US Network embraces hybrid working.  We are an organization that also recognises the critical value of teamwork, and we embrace and endorse collaboration by ensuring that all staff attend the office flexibly yet regularly.  

If based in the Houston, you are required to work from the office 3 days a week. 

If based in Austin, the role will be fully remote, though occasional travel to the Consulate in Houston will be required.


US State Department requirements, the UK Government in the US has restrictions on the type of visas our non-diplomatic staff may hold. If you are not a US Citizen or a US Permanent Resident, or the dependent of a diplomat (with an EAD card), you may not be eligible for employment with the UK government. We cannot accept student Visas (J1, F or M) nor other forms of work Visas (I, H, P). If you hold a work visa it is best to check on your eligibility to work for a foreign government before applying for a position.

You may refer to our website for additional information: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/living-in-the-usa.

All selected candidates are subject to background checks and will require a security clearance prior to starting work.

The British Embassy and its US Network embraces hybrid working. We are an organization that also recognises the critical value of team work and we embrace and endorse collaboration by ensuring that all staff attend the office flexibly yet regularly. 

Please note: The British Embassy and its US Network is committed to all employee’s ongoing learning and development needs. We offer a comprehensive platform for personalised learning for everything from soft skill development (communicating with impact, handling difficult conversations, time management) to more technical or professional skills necessary to complete your job (software training, formal qualifications etc.).

The UK Government operating in the US offers a substantial benefits package including generous leave, a choice of medical insurance, 401(k) matching up to 7%, extensive learning opportunities and a great work/life balance.  

Please note that the tax arrangements imposed by the US on staff working for foreign governments, as well as those imposed by the UK Treasury on British and dual nationals working for the UK Government overseas, are atypical. The UK Government cannot withhold taxes (including FICA) on behalf of a US taxpayer.  Instead, a US taxpayer is required to file taxes as if they are self-employed, and a FICA allowance is granted for those required to pay the employer contribution. Certain categories of staff (for example dual UK-US nationals and some visa holders) who work at Consulates General are not subject to US taxes.  For those not subject to US taxes the UK Government reduces gross pay to a level broadly equivalent to taxed net pay. There are also social security implications for dual UK-US nationals. Please keep all this in mind when looking at the salary and the benefits package. If you are offered a job with the UK’s US Network you will be given further tax and social security information relevant to your personal circumstances and place of work; you are advised to consider this information and its impact on your circumstances carefully – potentially with the advice of a tax professional - before accepting a job.

Closing date of receiving applications is before 23:55 (Local Time) on 21 July 2025.

All applicants must fully complete the online application form, including the sections for employment and educational details, experience, and behaviour-based questions. Only those applications that contain all required information will be considered. To ensure the sift process remains anonymous, please do not include any personally identifiable information in your application form.

Only successful candidates will be contacted. Please no phone calls. Due to the high volume of resumes we receive, we cannot guarantee consideration of your application if the submission instructions are not properly followed.

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

Internal candidates must inform their supervisor before they apply to a different position.


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.