View Vacancy - Senior Trade & Investment Officer – Financial and Professional Business Services
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.
You will be responsible for developing positive relationships with senior executives from companies in the Financial Services sector, predominantly Fintech, Asset Management, and Professional Business Services, across the US state of Texas and bordering states (including New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana). You will play a key role as an account manager to these firms, some of which are the most important investors in the UK within the sector. This involves frequent engagement with key decision-makers and proactive work to identify and cultivate potential new investment opportunities for US companies in their portfolio.
The role of the Senior Officer is to increase cross-border economic cooperation, attract foreign direct investment into the UK economy, and support British businesses with US market entry. Based out of the British Consulate in Houston, the Senior Officer will also have responsibility for leading implementation of the financial and professional services components of the newly signed UK-Texas Statement of Mutual Cooperation (SMC).
Texas is the second largest US state by GDP and leads the nation with the most companies in the Fortune 500. The UK is the state’s 8th largest international export market, with total trade in goods already worth £14.7 billion in 2023.
Roles and responsibilities:
- Provide a comprehensive account management service to key US prospects in the financial and professional services sectors looking to maintain or grow their footprint in the UK.
- Successfully build and manage a pipeline of knowledge-driven projects that have the potential to bring high-value jobs and investment to the UK.
- Assist high-growth and innovative UK SMEs, the UK’s leading fintechs, as well as 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.
- Assist UK professional services companies, including legal, accounting, and consulting firms, with raising their brand profile across the southwestern and southcentral US.
- Deliver against an ambitious set of annual trade and investment targets.
- Forge positive relationships with US and UK business leaders, from start-ups through F500, as well as trade associations, local development agencies, regional financial and professional services providers and other key buyers/partners within the financial and professional services industry.
- 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 financial and professional services industries.
- Keep pace with market trends in North America and the UK to identify commercial opportunities and provide informed advice to clients and stakeholders.
- Work with internal and external stakeholders to deliver high-impact programming, including developing and hosting round tables, trade missions and matchmaking events, seminars and supporting VIP visit programs.
- Support cross-team projects to advance UK economic and trade policy goals.
- Represent DBT and the British Consulate at external functions, including occasional speaking engagements.
- Assist in a consular crisis, if required.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
Resources managed:
- This role will operate as part of a wider North America sector team but will not have direct reports.
- Some budget management.
- Demonstrated professional experience in an economic development, financial services or business role.
- Thorough knowledge of the financial and professional services industry, major companies, and trends in Texas and the Southwestern 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.
- An excellent network of industry contacts in the financial services sector and/or start-up ecosystem in the US, or the ability to develop such a network.
- 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.
Under US State Department requirements, the UK Government in the US may only employ, as non-diplomatic staff, persons who are US citizens, US Permanent Residents, A and NATO visa holders with EAD cards, and L2 visa holders with an up-to-date I-94 form.
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
- An understanding of international relations and UK Government policy preferred.
The British Embassy and its US Network is committed to all employee’s ongoing learning and development needs. We actively encourage learning & development and will develop a specific plan in collaboration with the successful candidate.
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.
We would like the candidate to start as soon as possible (subject to the security check processes).
This role is 40 hours a week.
The British Embassy and its US Network embraces hybrid working. You are required to work from the office 3 days a week. 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.
Appointable candidates who were unsuccessful may be placed on a ‘reserve list’. If during the reserve period of 6-12 months the same or a largely similar role becomes available, that role may be offered to the second or subsequent candidate.
Employees who are not liable to pay local income tax on their Mission salary, eg some non-local national staff and some spouses or partners of UK diplomatic staff, will have their salaries abated by an equivalent amount.
Internal candidates must inform their supervisor before they apply to a different position. 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.
The British Embassy is committed to a policy of equal opportunities and to creating a diverse working environment, free from discrimination, where everyone is included and treated fairly, based on merit alone. We are an equal opportunity employer, making all employment decisions without regard to race, gender, gender identity, religion, national origin, citizenship, disability, age, sexual orientation, political affiliation or any other criterion protected by law
This opportunity is closed to applications.
