View Vacancy - Head of Export Finance, Doha

The British Embassy in Doha is part of a worldwide network, representing British political, economic and consular interests overseas and is looking to appoint a Head of Export Finance grade D6 (L).

The UK and Qatar already have a strong trade and investment relationship, with bilateral trade amounting to £7.2bn and investment of over £37bn into the UK. As Qatar prepares for the World Cup 2022, Department for International Trade will play a key role in identifying commercial opportunities and ensuring UK companies are well positioned to access those opportunities.

About the Department for International Trade

This is an exciting time to join the Department for International Trade (DIT) at the British Embassy in Doha. Our aim is to promote British trade and investment across the world which is vital for the prosperity of the UK. DIT brings together policy, promotion and financial expertise to break down barriers to trade and investment in markets across the world to help businesses succeed. This is a great opportunity to be part of an international team that contributes to the success of the UK's trade goals.

About UK Export Finance

UK Export Finance (UKEF) is the UK’s export credit agency (ECA) and operates in partnership with the Department for International Trade (DIT).

UKEF’s mission is to ensure that no viable UK export fails for lack of finance or insurance, while operating at no net cost to the taxpayer. In 2019 we provided £4.4 billion worth of support for exports to 69 countries, and over the past five years we have provided £18.5 billion of support.

UKEF helps UK companies:

• Win export contracts by providing attractive financing terms to their buyers
• Fulfil contracts by supporting working capital loans and guaranteeing performance bonds
• Get paid by insuring against buyer default

Main Purpose of the Role:

The role will focus first and foremost on Qatar. There you will build strategic relationships with Qatari buyers and the local financing environment to market the suite of UKEF products and identify opportunities for UKEF support. You will also help UK exporters access the Qatar market by building a strong pipeline of qualified projects for UKEF to execute.

You will also engage with Qatar project finance banks and other local and international financiers to inform our picture of the opportunities and relationships we may need. This will include exploring the opportunity for blended financing structures with UK and other financiers. You will also explore how Qatar is developing its trade with its partners through finance and its role as a regional finance hub.

You will work closely with the DIT Qatar Infrastructure and Sports Economy Sector leads (amongst other sectors relevant for UKEF and the UK supply chain) to explore how we can better integrate the UKEF offer with the UK’s broader infrastructure offer; supporting pipeline development, UK company account management and innovations in infrastructure financing.

You will be expected to use your wider financial services background to inform the UK Government’s approach to trade with the Qatari market, helping to explain the regulatory and financing environment and to consider the opportunities and barriers to be tackled in each sector, especially in the financial and professional services sector.

As the representative of UK Export Finance executives in Qatar you will build a pipeline with buyers and developers.

As a member of the DIT in-country team, you will also be required to mentor and inspire the DIT trade advisors to understand UKEF’s products, and to develop UKEF engagement seeking opportunities for export finance support in their sectors.

You will be part of the International Export Finance Network, with UKEF functional and task leadership from UKEF Business Development Group in London. The Head of Export Finance will lead the engagement with local buyers, project sponsors and associated stakeholder networks to develop export growth through the provision of trade finance and credit insurance available from UK Export Finance. The Head of Export Finance will guide and support UK Export Finance teams in the UK, DIT colleagues and other third parties to provide this specialist market advice.

You will be based in Doha, sitting with the Department for International Trade’s Commercial Team. This includes the Director of Trade and Investment for Qatar and members of their team. The team works closely with the High Commissioner and other Government Department officials on the British High Commission platform, a number of whom support the trade relationship in their work.

Roles and responsibilities:

• Build a UKEF project pipeline in Qatar identifying buyers and project sponsors, working to raise their awareness of UKEF, and finding opportunities for UKEF support.
• Deliver commercial outcomes: You will have a target, to be set with your line manager on the number of projects and value of financing you can secure. You will need to plan and monitor in order to ensure targets are met.
• Support the UK’s full offer on infrastructure by working with the DIT Qatar Infrastructure Sector Director to explore innovations in access to finance and financial structuring.
• Raise awareness of UKEF support capabilities in Qatar, you will set the framework for what UKEF can deliver and embed the vision, skills and understanding within DIT and wider HMG staff. Raise the profile of UKEF through engagement with the business community, represent the UK Government at project finance events, and give clear, instructive guidance on UK tools, generate new leads and ensure maximum visibility of the UK finance offer.

Key Competencies:

• Seeing the Big Picture: Is about having an in-depth understanding and knowledge of how your role fits with and supports organisational objectives and the wider public needs. 
• Making Effective Decisions: Effectiveness in this area is about being objective; using sound judgment, evidence and knowledge to provide accurate, expert and professional advice. 
• Leading and Communicating: Effectiveness in this area is about leading from the front and communicating with clarity, conviction and enthusiasm. It’s about supporting principles of fairness of opportunity for all and a dedication to a diverse range of citizens.
• Collaborating and Partnering: People skilled in this area create and maintain positive, professional and trusting working relationships with a wide range of people within and outside the Civil Service to help get business done.
• Achieving Commercial Outcomes: Being effective in this area is about maintaining an economic, long-term focus in all activities. It’s about having a commercial, financial and sustainable mind-set to ensure all activities and services are delivering added value and working to stimulate economic growth.

• Postgraduate degree and/or undergraduate degree and other professional qualification.
• At least eight years of professional experience in Financial Services.
• Proven experience and track record in corporate or investment banking.
• Current and relevant commercial management skills, well versed in contracting and finance oversight.
• Proven experience of leading structured finance / trade finance transactions.
• Proven ability to take the initiative pursuing the objectives in the job description.
• Proven competence in leading strategy development and business planning
• Proven advisory and negotiation skills at senior levels –able to express ideas and messages clearly and concisely, both orally and in written communication.
• Management experience of autonomous operations in a sector servicing exporters in financial and credit risk products; or in a relevant role in an exporting business.
• Competent in Microsoft Office applications.
• Confident public speaking and networking skills.