View Vacancy - MNL - Trade Manager for Department for International Trade, B3(L)

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

MAIN PURPOSE OF THE JOB:

The British Embassy Manila is a large diplomatic mission delivering a dynamic and rapidly expanding programme of activity in support of the UK’s objectives on prosperity, security and consular matters. The Embassy is a modern, diverse and inclusive employer where everyone contributes to the embassy’s values of Well-being, Opportunity, Respect and Collaboration.

The Department for International Trade (DIT) is the UK Government department charged with securing UK and global prosperity by promoting and financing international trade and investment, and championing free trade. In the Philippines, DIT works with colleagues in the British Embassy Manila and other partners to deliver trade objectives as part of the Asia Pacific (APAC) network and against an ambitious Regional Trade Plan. In APAC, DIT has over 200 staff working across 13 countries stretching from New Zealand to Myanmar.

The post advertised is for a Trade Manager based at the British Embassy in Manila, working primarily on trade promotion and market access for the Education sector and Aid-Funded Business/Asian Development Bank (ADB), and will be part of the DIT team that leads on these sectors, reporting to the Senior Trade Manager.  Identifying and addressing sector relevant market issues will be part of the responsibilities. This function may evolve over time.

The successful candidate will help UK companies to export to the Philippines, win business with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and, and identify new market opportunities. The candidate will also promote the identification of market access barriers and deliver action plans to address issues. The candidate is expected to possess project management skills to effectively plan and execute innovative trade/business development activities for the Education sector and for ADB.  S/he will deliver DIT initiatives in the Philippines and the region and collaborate with regional colleagues as part of the APAC education team and the DIT aid-funded business network. S/he will likewise be leading on DIT’s marketing, trade promotion and communications activities.

For the ADB, the candidate will support British companies in accessing opportunities in ADB consultancy and procurement projects, with special focus on infrastructure, energy, healthcare and education sectors. S/he will monitor a pipeline of regional ADB tenders, contribute to the dissemination of business opportunities, organise events, develop and cultivate relationships with the ADB and borrower countries, and support coordination with DIT sector teams and International Trade Advisors (ITAs).

S/he will also be attending official functions outside of office hours, and undertake occasional travel (international and domestic). S/he will be joining a high-performing team and will engage with a diverse range of UK businesses and sector stakeholders in the public and private sector – locally, regionally and in the UK. 

ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

The successful candidate’s functions is allocated 50% to aid-funded business and 50% to education but will need to be responsive to evolving priorities. You will be expected to:

  • Deliver an ambitious set of annual trade targets in covered sectors.
  • Develop a strong network of public and private sector stakeholders in relevant sectors to effectively deliver trade support to UK companies pursuing business in the Philippines market and for ADB-funded projects in the region.
  • Conceptualise a strategy for sector/s engagement, and implement activities with the goals of generating trade opportunities, reducing market access barriers, building relationships, and highlighting the strengths of the UK’s proposition. Develop effective communication materials, as needed, to promote these activities.
  • Collaborate with wider embassy colleagues, including regional and UK colleagues and with other UK government agencies, to support UK prosperity campaigns and economic objectives.
  • Maintain current knowledge of sector trends and capabilities, incentives, and centres of excellence in both the Philippines and UK.
  • Support UK companies to secure contracts with the ADB by enabling strategic partnerships, provide business intelligence and insight, organising procurement clinics, facilitating project and thematic officer engagement. S/he will actively engage with DIT sector teams and International Trade Advisors (ITAs) to share ADB opportunities and attract more UK companies.
  • Maintain strategic working relationships with the ADB, multilateral agencies, borrowers and relevant stakeholders to elevate UK’s presence and influence policy and direction in the key sectors.
  • For Trade promotion, deliver the marketing and trade campaigns of DIT by programming activities, ensuring that delivery partners fulfil commitments and targeted outcomes, and writing content as may be necessary.

RESOURCES MANAGED:

  • Will be accountable for managing assigned resources (manpower and funds) for specific events, projects and official travel.

 

OTHER SKILLS / EXPERIENCE / QUALIFICATIONS:

  • The applicant should have a related educational background in business, economics or finance, and with relevant work history in international trade, business development, marketing, economics, etc.

In addition, the successful candidate should exhibit the following characteristics:

  • Excellent presentation and communication skills (oral & written) in both Filipino and English
  • Able to build a network of key/senior contacts and stakeholders in relevant sectors
  • Flexible and open to evolving priorities
  • Team player driven by values
  • A dynamic self-starter and multi-tasker
  • Highly organised and delivers quality and timely results
  • Good IT skills and familiarity with Microsoft Office applications
  • Additional technical qualifications relating to economics and trade or programme management
  • Local knowledge and network with relevant stakeholders in education, aid funded business and other key priority sectors
  • Previously worked or collaborated with government organisations.
6 February 2022
Executive Officer (EO)
Permanent
36
Asia Pacific
Philippines
Manila
British Embassy
1
PHP
PHP 52,500.00 per month
21 March 2022

This is a full time post. The post holder would be able to work flexibly through altered working hours (e.g. starting early or late, remote work arrangements as agreed by line manager), provided the post holder was able to make calls with colleagues in the UK when necessary and was able to travel as required.

Must be a valid passport holder given that travel outside the Philippines will likely be required.

The post holder’s sector responsibilities are reviewed periodically to ensure that opportunities are maximised for UK plc.

The British Embassy offers a competitive compensation package, 36-hour work week, guaranteed 13th and 14th month pay, 20 days paid annual leave (calculated on Pro-rata basis if joined after 1 January), extensive medical insurance, life insurance and access to a guaranteed 5 days of learning opportunities a year. 

The jobholder must be prepared to undertake work-related national and occasional international travel, including for learning & development purposes.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office is committed to developing its staff, working hard to provide a comprehensive L&D offer. Staff have access to a wide variety of online resources and are strongly encouraged to take advantage of all the available opportunities. All new staff undertake a workplace induction and there are a number of mandatory e-learning courses covering areas such as diversity, health and safety, and information management.

The British Embassy has a formal flexible working policy and welcomes requests for flexible working arrangements, including non-standard working hours (however staff have to be available during opening hours to take calls from customers) or compressed hours. Team members can work from home however there are times staff must come to the office to deal with customers face to face. 

Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, staff are actively encouraged to work from home to limit movement and exposure to others. This impacts normal team-working configurations and work-related travel, which can be discussed with the hiring manager.

Employment offers are subject to successful clearance of pre-employment checks. Staff recruited locally by the British Embassy Manila is subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local Philippine employment law.

No accommodation or relocation expenses are payable in connection with this position. All candidates must be legally able to work and reside in the country of the vacancy with the correct visa/work permit status or demonstrate eligibility to obtain the relevant permit. Any costs related to obtaining or renewing permits and visas are the responsibility of the successful applicant.

Employees who are not liable to pay local income tax on their Mission salary may have their salaries reduced by the equivalent local income tax amount.

Candidates are expected to have a valid NBI Clearance.

All applications must be received before 23:55 Standard Philippine Time on the day of the deadline indicated above. Please be aware that the deadline for submitting applications is considered to be the time zone for the country where the vacancy has arisen.

Incomplete application forms will not be taken into consideration, so please ensure you provide the information requested. Only shortlisted candidates for interview will be contacted. Interviewees will be assessed on the core competencies listed above. Unsuccessful candidates will be notified via the system in due time.

Indicated start date is provisional and subject to successful completion of reference and security checks.

To those applicants not shortlisted, we extend our appreciation for considering the British Government as a potential employer.

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.