View Vacancy - Country Director DIT Prague (CZE21.012)

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

Due to COVID-19, you may experience some delay in the progress of this recruitment campaign. We are working hard to minimise any disruption.

The British Embassy in Prague is part of a world-wide network, representing British political, economic and consular interests overseas and is now looking for a Country Director DIT to lead the Department for International Trade (DIT) team in Czech Republic.

The Department for International Trade (DIT) is the British government’s international economic department. The UK and Central Europe are long-standing trade and investment partners. In 2018, the UK remained the number one investment destination in Europe with total investment of £573bn by the EU.

This is a senior leadership position. The DIT Prague team has undergone a recent Change and Transformation programme. You will build on the work of the transition team by creating a positive culture; ensuring continual professional development; and driving a strategic focus on new and high value opportunities. The jobholder will lead DIT Prague and assume responsibility in the British Embassy Prague for promoting bilateral trade and encouraging FDI between the UK and Czech Republic. This includes management of a budget and responsibility for business planning. The jobholder will be responsible for assisting British companies operating or looking to operate in Czech Republic, and with Czech companies looking to invest in the UK, combining strategic level management with operational delivery. The jobholder will develop and maintain a network of relations with key business and institutional stakeholders in the Czech Republic, including the Europe Trade Hub and the British Chamber of Commerce Czech Republic.

 Main tasks and responsibilities

  • Provide leadership to the team by building on the work of the transition team, creating a positive culture; ensuring continual professional development; and driving a strategic focus on new and high value opportunities.
  • 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 Prague, including within the Central Europe Network and ad-hoc support to the wider Europe Network.
  • Contribute to regional efforts to represent the interests and maintain/improve the reputation of the Central Europe Network (CEN).
  • Development, maintenance and utilisation of a network of key contacts in Czech Republic (and, where necessary) Eastern and Central Europe and London in order to deliver strategic objectives.
  • Representation of DIT Prague to outside stakeholders, including meeting and providing advice to British companies interested in doing business in Czech Republic.
  • Support the Trade Hub, currently delivered through the British Chamber of Commerce, and integrate their activities into DIT Campaigns.
  • Regular interaction with political team to ensure coordination across the Embassy on areas of policy overlap, joint visits and events.
  • Provide advice to Her Majesty's Ambassador, Deputy Head of Mission and other senior officials on matters requiring their attention relating to trade.
  • Representation of the British Embassy Prague and DIT where appropriate, attending conferences, delivering speeches and giving interviews relating to trade between the UK and Czech Republic.
  • The jobholder will generally be the responsible officer for matters pertaining to trade relations between the UK and Czech Republic, and for encouraging the growth in trade between the two countries.
  • The jobholder will also contribute to the overall strategic objectives of the Embassy.




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

  • At least 5 years of leadership experience
  • 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 C1 level* and Czech, both oral and written;
  • Strong IT skills using Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Office and the Internet.


  • Understanding of the role of international trade in business success.
  • Working cooperatively with others.
  • Attention to detail and effective time management.
  • Proactive attitude in project and relationship management;
  • Track record of delivering projects in virtual/regional teams.

 


8 March 2021
Higher Executive Officer (HEO)
Full-time, Fixed term, with possibility of renewal
37.5
Europe, Eastern Europe & Central Asia
Czech Republic
Prague
British Embassy
1
CZK
80,920
1 May 2021
30 April 2023

This is a full-time position of 5 working days (37.5 hours net) per week, for a fixed term contract with possibility of renewal for 2 years. Working hours are Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 17:00 with a flexible working hours arrangement. Staff are entitled to time-off-in-lieu for extra hours worked. The annual leave entitlement is 25 days per year pro rata and the Embassy enjoys an average of 14 Czech/UK public holidays per year.

The successful candidate will be subject to professional background check, security clearance and 3 months probationary period.

The successful candidate must have pre-existing work authorisation for the Czech Republic in order to apply.

Staff recruited locally by the British Embassy in Czech Republic are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local Czech Republic employment law.

Visa / Passport requirements: Candidates must currently hold the independent right to live and work in Czech Republic and be prepared to ensure that right remains throughout the scope of the contract.

The British Embassy does not sponsor for work permits.

*Please refer to the “Common European Framework of Reference for Languages”. We are looking for a C2 level or equivalent. CEFR indicates Level C2 as mastery or proficiency level which can understand with ease virtually everything heard or read. Can summarise information from different spoken and written sources, reconstructing arguments and accounts in a coherent presentation. Can express him/herself spontaneously, very fluently and precisely, differentiating finer shades of Proficient meaning even in more complex situations. CEFR indicates Level C1 as mastery or proficiency level which can understand a wide range of demanding, longer texts, and recognise implicit meaning. Can express him/herself fluently and spontaneously without much obvious searching for expressions. Can use language flexibly and effectively for social, academic and professional purposes. Can produce clear, well-structured, detailed text on complex subjects, showing controlled use of organisational patterns, connectors and cohesive devices. For more information please click on the following link http://www.coe.int/en/web/common-european-framework-reference-languages/homeCEFR.

Please bear in mind in case you are invited for an interview your languages skills are going to be assessed.

Please note that the deadline for applications is 23:55 on the day mentioned in the above field “Application deadline”.

We advise you to allow enough time to complete and submit your full application, since only applications completed and submitted before the deadline will be considered.

Please be aware that the deadline for submitting applications is considered to be the time zone for the country where the vacancy has arisen.

Please be advised that the British Diplomatic Missions will not be able to meet the travel costs incurred when travelling to the interview, nor the costs connected with relocation if offered a job.



 

Additional Information (due to Covid 19):

  • You may experience some delay in the progress of this recruitment campaign and we are working hard to minimise any disruption

  • Interviews will be done remotely if the existing situation determines this to be the right course of action

  • Starting date may be delayed depending on circumstances at the time and it will be agreed with the selected candidate.

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.