View Vacancy - SIN - Head of Infrastructure Singapore and Infrastructure HVC SE Asia Regional Lead, C4(L)

This is an opportunity to join the Department for International Trade (DIT)’s Singapore team in the British High Commission as the Head of Infrastructure for Singapore and the regional lead for the DIT’s SE Asia Infrastructure High Value Campaign (HVC). DIT supports UK based businesses to export globally, and encourages overseas investment in the UK.  In Singapore, we focus on technology, infrastructure and healthcare, as well as supporting high quality investment into the UK.

This role will lead on our SE Asia Infrastructure HVC. This HVC focuses on helping UK companies win business across Airport, Bus, Healthcare, Port, Railway, Road, Water and Waste Treatment projects.   This role is split, with a 75% focus on supporting British businesses to access opportunities directly in Singapore, and 25% on leading and coordinating the activity of your colleagues in the Infrastructure HVC teams in the other markets-at present Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam.  The team also covers other linked areas of activity, in particular developing the new Marine Engineering HVC.

Building deep sector and supply chain expertise and strong relationships with companies, as well as with your regional colleagues, is a vital part of this role. You will also work with and keep in close contact with DIT’s UK-based Infrastructure Business Specialists and Sector Team, and with colleagues in other markets, such as Japan and China, where there are opportunities for third country collaboration on infrastructure projects- for example, the Belt and Road initiative. The nature of infrastructure also means that there are links to other HVCs (such as the SE Asia Aid-Funded Business HVC and the Singapore Tech HVC) and to key areas of UK Government activity including the FCO Prosperity Fund.

There are 14 people in the DIT Singapore team. The DIT Regional Director for SE Asia and team are also based in the BHC in Singapore, and we will soon be joined by Her Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for Asia-Pacific. We work closely with the other UK Government departments, including the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO), HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), Invest Northern Ireland (also based in the BHC) and Scottish Development International, to support business and the UK Government’s wider objectives. 

What the role holder is expected to deliver

This role is 75% leadership of Infrastructure and aligned areas in Singapore, and 25% on leading and coordinating DIT’s SE Asia Infrastructure HVC across the region. This breaks down into two key areas:

Leadership of the Infrastructure team, DIT Singapore

The successful candidate will:

• Have overall responsibility for the Infrastructure HVC, leading a team of two to manage, develop and deliver the Infrastructure HVC in Singapore, from identifying a realistic and high quality UK export opportunity pipeline to providing added value support that helps UK companies win business from it, and seeking to exceed the team’s DIT- set UK Export Win targets. 
• Develop a tailored approach for each Infrastructure sub-sector and ensure continuous improvement, from finding the best way to deliver more big export wins, to taking a strategic approach to identify and engage with major buyers and stakeholders.
• Identify the most cost effective and high impact ways to promote the UK’s infrastructure sector through events, marketing, trade press, social and other media, and relationships.
• Lead the design and delivery of high quality infrastructure elements for frequent ministerial and senior official visits, creating activities to drive lead generation and deepen key relationships while meeting policy objectives.
• Drive income generation through oversight of your Singapore team’s market research and support services (known as our Overseas Market Introduction Service or ‘OMIS’) for companies to meet your team’s income targets. 
• Manage the yearly business planning process by coordinating, rationalising and submitting input from across your SE Asia Infrastructure HVC markets, including horizon scanning and exploring new areas of work- in and outside of the sector- as well as take responsibility for all aspects of performance reporting to London.  

Regional HVC leadership

Singapore is the lead market for the Infrastructure HVC.  The successful candidate will:

• Lead the regional HVC, setting direction, building capability and cross-post working, driving the business planning process, monitoring performance, and supporting on activity where needed.
• Build strong relationships with DIT and British Government colleagues in the region and wider.
• Build expertise - personally and in the HVC teams across the region - on infrastructure across SE Asia, from a deep understanding of the diverse markets in the region to understanding the key trends and opportunities.

How the role holder is expected to deliver

The role will require both deep expertise and excellent collaboration and networking skills across both the SE Asia and Singapore areas of focus. The successful candidate will:

• Develop or maintain deep expertise on infrastructure and aligned sectors, covering everything from the technical detail of the companies we work with to the political and economic factors affecting the sector in Singapore and SE Asia
• Actively build on DIT’s strong network of companies, buyers and multipliers in Singapore- particularly those with a regional presence- establishing new relationships and cultivating and maintaining existing ones. Deliver key account management of major investors for the region.
• Maintain a watching brief on all business environment issues across the region which could affect the sector, and take or support action where necessary.
• Collaborate across the High Commission in Singapore, as well as the wider FCO and DIT network, with DIT HQ, and with partners, to ensure that we deliver against HMG objectives and take advantage of opportunities.
• Work as part of the core leadership team for DIT Singapore, alongside the Director, Deputy Director and other team leaders, supporting corporate activities, responding flexibly where needed to other demands on the wider DIT team, and role modelling good line management and leadership.

• Demonstrable relevant and appropriate experience, knowledge and/or qualifications in infrastructure and related areas including a proven record of engaging customers, stakeholders and partners
• A successful track record with significant experience in international trade and investment or business development (including market research, analysing market data and business support)
• Experience of managing teams, as well as strong team work and collaboration skills, including confidence in suggesting new ideas and challenging senior stakeholders
• Excellent communication and influencing skills and the ability to work collaboratively with business contacts and colleagues in Singapore, other SE Asian countries and the UK
• A proactive, can-do approach, combined with high standards for delivery and meeting deadlines
• Ability to work independently at pace, and to prioritise, managing an often heavy workload
• Good judgement and political awareness
• Excellent organisational, IT and administrative skills