View Vacancy - DXB - Assistant Development Executive - Scottish Development International (AO)

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)
SDI (Scottish Development International)

The British Embassy Dubai has a vacancy for an Assistant Development Executive with Scottish Development International (SDI).

SDI is a joint venture between Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, and the Scottish Government. Its purpose is to support the internationalisation of Scottish companies, to engage with and attract overseas companies to invest in and collaborate with Scotland and Scottish companies, potentially leading to foreign direct investment, and to maximise investment opportunities.

SDI is seeking to recruit an assistant development executive to support both SDI’s EMEA Consumer Industries team (80%) as well its UAE hub (20%) to deliver Scotland’s international economic development activities.

The EMEA Consumer Industries Team comprises of six people from France, Spain, Germany and the UAE. The successful candidate will be responsible for supporting the team to ensure it functions as effectively as possible.

Duties and responsibilities:

  • Support the Consumer Industries team in preparation of meetings, briefing notes, liaison with stakeholders and development of resources, as required.
  • Provide excellent administrative management of our resources, ensuring that value for money is achieved at all times.
  • Responsible for ensuring best practice, compliance with the organisations policy regarding CRM usage, analysing data, and preparing quarterly reports.
  • Produce a monthly report on all activities (combination of CRM and other data) and a preview of activities in the upcoming month on a timely basis. Present data in written form creatively, meaningfully, and insightfully.
  • Plan and deliver various networking events and VIP visits and support Consumer Industries related events.
  • Provide marketing support.
  • Participate as a member of the EMEA team with colleagues in Scotland and elsewhere.

The above list is not exhaustive, and the jobholder will be required to be flexible and take on other ad hoc tasks as required, including participating in the Embassy’s emergency planning and any other response to a crisis affecting UK citizens.  

The FCDO is an inclusive and diversity-friendly employer. We value difference, promote equality and challenge discrimination, enhancing our organisational capability. We do not discriminate on any basis, including categories protected by law. In keeping with the FCDO’s commitment to disability inclusion in the workplace, hiring managers must incorporate the principles set out in the FCDO Disability Confident scheme job applications in the CBS recruitment process.  Our CBS are recruited by Missions in-country in line with local employment laws.

 Key behaviours required:

  • Working Together: Form effective partnerships and relationships with people both internally and externally, from a range of diverse backgrounds, sharing information, resources, and support.
  • Delivering at Pace: Take responsibility for delivering timely and quality results with focus and drive.
  • Managing a Quality Service: Deliver service objectives with professional excellence, expertise, and efficiency, taking account of diverse customer needs.

 

 

  • Recent experience of CRM, interpreting market intelligence, analysing/ processing data accurately.
  • Previous experience of budget management.
  • Excellent ICT skills and working knowledge of online creative tools.
  • Strong interpersonal skills, with the confidence to establish relationships. A team player.
  • Able to work well under pressure to tight deadlines in a challenging and demanding environment.
  • Able to work on own initiative and taking accountability for your responsibilities and actions.
  • With an awareness of and sensitivity to the different cultures in the region.
  • High level of written and oral communication skills in English
  • A strong understanding of the Scottish geographical, economic, cultural and political landscape.
  • Previous experience of working in the Gulf Region.
  • Previous experience in delivering events.
  • Experience in managing a complex database.
Delivering at Pace, Managing a Quality Service, Working Together
27 July 2025
Administrative Officer (AO)
Full-time, Fixed Term
40
36 months
Middle East & North Africa
United Arab Emirates
Dubai
British Embassy
1
AED
12,952
monthly
15 September 2025

Working hours and remuneration:

The Embassy aims to offer an attractive working environment and remuneration package for this role, which includes 25 days of leave per annum (calculated pro-rata).

The salary for this role is AED 12,952 per month

There are no other allowances payable as part of this package. No accommodation and relocation expenses are payable in connection with this position.

This role is for a full-time employment, on a fixed term contract basis for three (3) years, subject to six (6) months’ probationary period. The contract may be extended, subject to satisfactory performance and on on-going business requirement.

The Embassy is open from Monday to Friday from 0700 to 1800 hrs.  The Employee’s normal weekly working hours are forty (40) Monday to Friday (inclusive). This is inclusive of one-hour paid rest break for each five (5) hours worked; the timing of the rest break shall be approved by the Employee’s Line Manager and in accordance with operational requirements.

The Embassy has an active Learning and Development Committee, and the whole of Post is committed to providing the time and resources for staff to develop personally and professionally. The 70/20/10 learning and development model is applied in a flexible manner, with extensive informal and formal opportunities readily available. 

The successful candidate will be required to transfer their visa under the Embassy's sponsorship.

How to apply: 

Interested candidates must ensure that the following is fully completed:   

  1. Fully completed online application form which must include:
  2. Fully completed education details and employment history
  3. Fully completed experience, professional skills and behaviour-based sections in the online application form. Please refrain from the use of AI based tools when completing your application, this is to ensure a fair competition for all candidates and helps maintain the integrity process. If the use of AI is identified, your application will be rejected. 

Please note: It is mandatory that all applicants complete the online application form including the employment and educational details, technical, skills and experience sections and the behaviour-based questions. Applications that are incomplete in any respect will not be considered whilst shortlisting for the next stage.  

Closing date for applications is at 23:55 UAE local time on 27th July 2025. 

Applications received after the stated deadline will not be considered. 

Internal candidate (i.e., those employed by the British Embassies in Abu Dhabi & Dubai) applying for this position are advised to inform their current line managers upon submission of their application. 

Process: 

The recruitment process, including security clearance, is expected to take around two to three months. The security clearance process includes checks available in country and with UK, dependant on the security level required for the role and the candidate's profile and UK footprint. You may experience some delay in the progress of this recruitment campaign, and we are working hard to minimise any disruption. 

Due to the large number of applications, we receive, only those shortlisted for the next step of the recruitment process will be contacted. 

The start date mentioned in the job advert is tentative and the successful candidate will be required to undergo security vetting procedures before employment can begin. Any offer of employment will be subject to the candidate achieving suitable clearances. 

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. 

The FCDO operates an agile approach to delivery. To facilitate an agile workforce, you may be required to undertake other duties from time to time as we may reasonably require.  The British Embassy Dubai is an equal opportunities employer, dedicated to inclusivity, a diverse workforce and valuing difference.

 

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.