View Vacancy - TW - Head of Infrastructure, HEO

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)
Department for International Trade (DIT)

Main purpose of job:

The British Office Taipei (BOT) is recruiting for an opportunity to join its high-performing Department for Business and Trade (DBT) team as the lead for trade and exports in the infrastructure, energy, defence and security sectors. 


The BOT supports all UK interests and priorities in Taiwan, with a particular focus on commerce, trade and science and innovation. The DB supports UK based businesses to export globally and encourages overseas investment in the UK, and is the UK central government department to which the BOT trade and investment team reports.  


The UK-Taiwan trade relationship has been growing strongly in recent years, with bilateral trade reaching £ 8bn in 2022.
You will work closely with DBT’s UK-based sector teams and industry Specialists and with colleagues in UK Export Finance (UKEF) to ensure we are working collaboratively to maximise commercial opportunities for UK businesses in Taiwan.  You will support companies to address short term issues and long term trade policy and regulatory barriers. Building deep sector and supply chain expertise and strong relationships with British companies, customers in Taiwan and Taiwanese authorities will be essential for success. You will work closely with Taiwan authorities and leading Taiwanese infrastructure companies to work with UK exporters.


Though this senior role is an established one, you will be joining the BOT team at a time of significant expansion.  You will be responsible for the development and delivery of a strategy that will ensure we are working effectively across the whole of the BOT, effectively sharing knowledge and best practice and advising the senior leadership team on the deployment of resources. This will require a curious, alert and open approach to all areas of the BOT’s work, so that the right synergies can be achieved and maintained. Creativity and (realistic) new ideas will be at a premium, as will the ability to master quickly existing ways of doing things.

Roles and responsibilities / what will the jobholder be expected to achieve?: 


The successful candidate will: 

  • Identify and resolve market access barriers, working closely with UK industry (e.g. the UK Renewables Committee) and leveraging existing dialogues, trade missions, inward VIP visits to the UK, Trade Talks and other available platforms. 
  • Develop strategic relationships with key external stakeholders, including Offshore Wind developers, supply chain companies, industry associations, UK government departments, Taiwan authorities, regulators etc. 
  • Develop a high-performing and delivery-focussed team.   
  • Develop and implement a detailed strategy to ensure that DBT is delivering a strong pipeline of projects and maximising business opportunities in Taiwan, providing support that helps companies win business.  
  • Promote UK companies and expertise in Taiwan through targeted marketing campaigns, communications, trade missions, government engagement and social and mainstream media etc. 
  • Deliver high quality events, including designing and delivering frequent ministerial and senior official visits to the region, which drive lead generation, strengthen relationships and meet UK government policy objectives.  
  • Identify Senior Taiwan authorities and leading Taiwan firms to work with UK infrastructure companies to do projects in Taiwan. Build strong relationships with Taiwan authorities and industry network to collect early intelligence in key policy and regulators in Taiwan. 
  • Work collaboratively with the wider British Office Team to advise on trade policy and bilateral trade issues that impact UK commercial interests in the infrastructure and energy sector.  
     
  • The successful candidate will also:  
     
  • Have a strategic leadership role at Post, including participating in HQ and regional activities including business planning and strategies.  
  • Manage a team of 4 sector specialists. 
  • Provide operational updates and high quality briefing to Ministers and senior management.  
  • Manage complex trade relationships with political awareness and sensitivity. 
  • Have experiences in working with Taiwan infrastructure projects with international companies. 
  • Familiar with infrastructure business environment in Taiwan. 


How the role holder is expected to deliver 


The role will require you to develop technical expertise, excellent collaboration and networking skills across all of the sectors of focus. The successful candidate will:  

  • Develop and maintain expertise on energy, infrastructure, defence and security sectors; ranging from the technical detail of the companies we work with and relevant policy developments in the UK to the political and economic factors affecting the sector in Taiwan.  
  • Actively build on DBT’s strong network of companies, buyers and multipliers - establishing new relationships and cultivating and maintaining existing ones.  
  • Maintain a watching brief on all business environment issues that could affect the sectors of responsibility and take or support action where necessary.  
  • Take a proactive, problem-solving approach to challenges and work in a collaborative way across teams to support the British Office’s objectives. 
  • Work in an agile and flexible way, in response to changing priorities.  

The successful candidate will also be expected to play an active role to support the wider corporate objectives of the British Office in Taipei and of DBT Asia-Pacific, including a crisis management role at Post. 

Resources managed (staff and expenditure): 
Team of 4 people     

  • A successful track record with significant experience in international trade and investment or business development, including a proven record of engaging customers, stakeholders and partners; 
  • Experience of managing physical and/or virtual 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 from different cultures; 
  • 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; and 
  • Excellent organisational, IT and administrative skills. 
  • Must be fluently bilingual in both reading and speaking (Mandarin and English) 
  • Sector & technical experience, knowledge and/or qualifications in one of the focus sectors i.e. Offshore wind, energy, infrastructure, defence and security;  
  • Experience of running campaigns and  
  • Experience working with the UK and Taiwan Government; and 
  • Experience in a sales environment. 
Seeing the Big Picture, Delivering at Pace, Leadership, Working Together
3 April 2023
Higher Executive Officer (HEO)
Full-time, Permanent
40
Asia Pacific
Taiwan
Taipei
British Office
1
TWD
TWD 95,159
29 May 2023

Learning and development opportunities (and any specific training courses to be completed):


The successful applicant will have full access to a range of DBT and Foreign & Commonwealth Office learning and development opportunities.

The British Office offers a competitive remuneration package with a gross salary of NT$95,159 per month x 13.5, benefits, leave entitlement and training package. The British Office Taipei has a strong commitment to developing staff and supports staff who wish to pro-actively develop their talents and abilities. With a dedicated Learning and Development Committee and opportunities to undertake training including self-study, in-house online training programmes as well as classroom-based training; the British Office is a great place to work for those committed to self-development.

Learning and development opportunities (and any specific training courses to be completed):

Jobholder is entitled to access all learning and development opportunities available for Executive Officer which includes Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) International Academy as well as behaviour-based trainings at post.  

Gain experience working on international issues;
Strengthen strategic and project management skills;
Develop regular contact with senior figures in UK and Taiwanese business and government;
A modern, environmentally aware working environment in the centre of Taipei;
Core and job-related training and development;
A senior management team committed to a healthy work-life balance for its employees.
Employment offers are subject to successful clearance of pre-employment checks. Staff recruited locally by the British Office are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local Taiwan employment law. Candidates must have the correct permit to work in Taiwan in order to apply.

No accommodation or relocation expenses are payable in connection with this position. You must have or be able to obtain correct permit to work or work authorisation in Taiwan in order to apply. 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.

Your application must be submitted before 23:55 on the day mentioned in the above field “Application deadline”.

Applications must include a current CV.

Please be aware that the deadline for submitting applications is considered to be the time zone for the country where the vacancy has arisen. 

All applicants are required to mandatorily fill the online application form completely including the employment and educational details, experience, professional skills and behaviour-based questions. We will be thoroughly reviewing the applications and incomplete form in any respect may not be considered while shortlisting for the  next stage.
 
Only shortlisted candidates for interview will be contacted. Interviewees will be assessed on the core behaviours/qualifications listed above. Unsuccessful candidates will be notified via the system in due time. 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”.

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

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

Please check the application centre regularly for any update on your application.

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.