View Vacancy - DIT Europe Region Chief Operating Officer (DEU18.252)
The British Embassy in Berlin is part of a world-wide network, representing British political, economic and consular interests overseas. The Department for International Trade (DIT) is seeking to appoint a Chief Operating Officer, based in Berlin to support the broader European Region.
Working to Her Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for Europe, the job holder will lead and direct corporate and operational work for the new Department of International Trade Europe Regional Overseas Network, with two principal overarching tasks:
- To oversee the establishment of the new regional structure, ensuring that the network is resourced and managed in such a way as to secure the objectives set out in the Regional Trade Plan;
- To lead on matters of governance, finance, HR and resourcing for the region;
The jobholder will chair the Europe Regional Operations Board and be responsible for cross-Regional coordination of resourcing and corporate support for a DIT team of 250 based in over 30 British Embassies and Posts around Europe. In turn, the Board will drive the delivery of DIT front line services in Europe across UK export and investment promotion and market access during and after the UK’s exit from the European Union.
The job holder should be willing to travel regularly to the UK and within Europe.
This is one Regional position advertised in 3 main countries: Germany/Berlin; France/Paris and Italy/Milan, the successful candidate will be based in the location that he/she applied.
Main Duties and Responsibilities:
- To evolve structures and governance: from senior Heads of Mission to administrative staff that lead to collective performance improvement against ambitious and demanding priorities that can compete;
- To lead on business planning: directing the Operations Board and inputs from over 30 markets with different priorities;
- To manage DIT Europe’s £16 million budget, achieving value for money for the British tax payer;
- To manage performance and associated processes and analysis and reporting to HQ, to deliver against Europe Region’s balanced scorecard;
- To establish the culture of the Europe regional network through embedding focus on teamwork, joint sector campaigns, account management, delivering results and proactive business development;
- To achieve more structured development and engagement of staff across the DIT Europe region;
- To work closely with DIT HQ to align the Europe region to our corporate strategy and to get the maximum from HQ resource;
- To ensure resources are focussed on highest value-add opportunities (export and investment) and to create a consistent service quality across the region;
- To drive active partnerships with other British Government Departments in the UK and in Embassies and missions in order to pursue HMG’s prosperity objectives;
For more information of Department for International Trade please follow the link .
- Proficiency in English (written and spoken, minimum of C2 level for CEFR framework*);
- Minimum of 7 years of relevant experience in strategic planning and/or corporate finance unit;
- Strong problem solving skills and experience in designing and implementing new organisational structures and processes;
- Tried and tested project and budget/financial management skills;
- Excellent interpersonal, team working and people management skills. You will need to show a solid track record of dealing with senior level decision makers;
- Self-starter with personal initiative and drive;
- Experience of working in the UK; knowledge of the FCO, DIT (formerly UKTI) or how Her Majesty’s Government operates overseas;
- Experience of working with a virtual, networked team;
- Fluent in French; German or Italian (written and spoken) would be desirable;
This is a full-time position of five working days 37.5 hours per week, for a contract period of two years.
The British Embassy in Berlin has a strong ethos of Learning and Development, including our Learning and Development Week. In addition, there will be many opportunities to attend external seminars and events on relevant issues. This is in addition to the induction programme offered to all Embassy staff.
The successful applicant will be encouraged to be actively involved in the corporate life of the Embassy, contributing to the wider objectives of the British Government’s Germany network and supporting the Embassy’s positive working environment.
The successful candidate will be subject to professional background check and security clearance.
All applicants should have the right to live and work in Germany. The successful candidate must have pre-existing work authorization for Germany in order to apply. The British Embassy does not sponsor for work permits.
Staff recruited locally by the British Embassy in Germany are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local German employment law.
* Please note Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, Teaching, Assessment indicates Level C2 as Mastery or proficiency Level which comprehends that a person can understand with ease virtually everything heard or read; can summarize information from different spoken and written sources, reconstructing arguments and accounts in a coherent presentation; can express themselves spontaneously, very fluently and precisely, differentiating finer shades of meaning even in the most complex situations. For more information please click on the following link CEFR. Please bear in mind in case you are invited for an interview your languages skills are going to be assessed.
Please note that the deadline for applications is 23:55 on the day mentioned in the above field “Application deadline”. We advise you to allow enough time to complete and submit your full application, since only applications completed and submitted before the deadline will be considered.
Please be aware that the deadline for submitting applications is considered to be the time zone for the country where the vacancy has arisen.
Please be advised that the British Embassy will not be able to meet the travel costs incurred when travelling to the interview, nor the costs connected with relocation if offered a job.
This opportunity is closed to applications.
