View Vacancy - DIT Europe Region Chief Operating Officer (FRA18.387)

The British Embassy in Paris is part of a world-wide network, representing British political, economic and consular interests overseas. The Department for International Trade (DIT) is seeking to appoint a Chief Operating Officer, based in Paris to support the broader European Region.

Working to Her Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for Europe, the job holder will lead and direct corporate and operational work for the new Department of International Trade Europe Regional Overseas Network, with two principal overarching tasks:

• To oversee the establishment of the new regional structure, ensuring that the network is resourced and managed in such a way as to secure the objectives set out in the Regional Trade Plan;
• To lead on matters of governance, finance, HR and resourcing for the region;

The jobholder will chair the Europe Regional Operations Board and be responsible for cross-Regional coordination of resourcing and corporate support for a DIT team of 250 based in over 30 British Embassies and Posts around Europe. In turn, the Board will drive the delivery of DIT front line services in Europe across UK export and investment promotion and market access during and after the UK’s exit from the European Union.

The job holder should be willing to travel regularly to the UK and within Europe.

This is one Regional position advertised in 3 main countries: Germany/Berlin; France/Paris and Italy/Milan, the successful candidate will be based in the location that he/she applied.

Main Duties and Responsibilities:    

• To evolve structures and governance: from senior Heads of Mission to administrative staff that lead to collective performance improvement against ambitious and demanding priorities that can compete;
• To lead on business planning: directing the Operations Board and inputs from over 30 markets with different priorities;
• To manage DIT Europe’s £16 million budget, achieving value for money for the British tax payer;
• To manage performance and associated processes and analysis and reporting to HQ, to deliver against Europe Region’s balanced scorecard;
• To establish the culture of the Europe regional network through embedding focus on teamwork, joint sector campaigns, account management, delivering results and proactive business development;
• To achieve more structured development and engagement of staff across the DIT Europe region;
• To work closely with DIT HQ to align the Europe region to our corporate strategy and to get the maximum from HQ resource;
• To ensure resources are focussed on highest value-add opportunities (export and investment) and to create a consistent service quality across the region;
• To drive active partnerships with other British Government Departments in the UK and in Embassies and missions in order to pursue HMG’s prosperity objectives;

For more information of Department for International Trade please follow the link .

• Proficiency in English (written and spoken, minimum of C2 level for CEFR framework*); 
• Minimum of 7 years of relevant experience in strategic planning and/or corporate finance unit;
• Strong problem solving skills and experience in designing and implementing new organisational structures and processes;
• Tried and tested project and budget/financial management skills;
• Excellent interpersonal, team working and people management skills. You will need to show a solid track record of dealing with senior level decision makers;
• Self-starter with personal initiative and drive;