View Vacancy - CPK, SH, GZ - Directorate Support Officer for Energy & Infrastructure, 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.
Department for Business and Trade roles (DBT)
Department for Business and Trade (DBT)

Main purpose of job:

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT), formerly Department for International Trade (DIT), embraces and values diversity in all forms. We welcome and pride ourselves on the positive impact diversity has on the work we do, and we promote equality of opportunity throughout the organisation. DBT China would value applications from people from the widest possible diversity of background, culture, experience and gender. 

This is an exciting time to join the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) as Directorate Support Office, Energy & Infrastructure for DBT China and Hong Kong. Our aim is to promote UK trade and investment across the world which is vital for the prosperity of the UK. DBT 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.

DBT operates in 108 countries. Establishing new relationships around the globe, DBT promotes UK trade to ensure the UK takes advantage of the huge opportunities open to us, securing and improving economic well-being, stability, and helping to create tens of thousands of jobs. DBT has one of the largest representations of the 18 government departments working in China, which are coordinated and led by His Majesty’s Ambassador who is responsible for the UK’s relationship with China. His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner (HMTC) is responsible for Trade and Investment work in China, one of nine global regions and the largest DBT overseas network in the world. With c.190 staff across six posts - Beijing, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chongqing and Wuhan – DBT, as part of the UK government network in China offers a fast-paced place to work at the heart of UK-China Government relations.
 
Energy & Infrastructure is a cornerstone of the UK-China trade & investment relationship. We are a team of 27 and work across: renewable energy, civil nuclear, energy transition, aviation & rail, environment, and construction. Combatting climate change and delivering clean sustainable growth is one of the grand challenges facing the world. Building on the work of COP26 in November 2021, the energy transition and sustainable infrastructure are key priorities for the UK and commercial collaboration with China will be an important part of delivering on the ambitions set out in Glasgow. You will work to support trade and investment flows between the UK and China as well as commercial collaboration in third markets in conjunction with UK Export Finance (UKEF).

The successful applicant will play a key role in providing administrative support for the Energy & Infrastructure teams by providing an interface with other directorates on areas such as budget/finance and performance monitoring/management.  They will also support the Head of the Energy & Infrastructure team’s diaries, prioritising and preparing work, and lead on taking forward logistical arrangements for their travel and participation in events.  Very good organisational, interpersonal and communication skills and resilience are key requirements for the role.
 
The Directorate Support Officer (DSO) will work as part of the wider DBT team, playing a role in delivering high profile activity and visits (physical, hybrid & virtual). As such the successful candidate will have the opportunity to be part of a high profile, busy and ambitious team. In addition to core work, the successful applicant will have also the opportunity to play a part in a diverse range of work such as planning and delivering VIP visits, running major events and engaging the business community. If you are flexible, enthusiastic and if you will embrace the ‘DBT Spirit’ that is to be Expert, Engaging, Enterprising and Inclusive, we want to hear from you.
 
There is also the opportunity to learn and build your knowledge of the wider energy & infrastructure sectors. Previous job holders have, in addition to their DSO responsibilities, supported sector teams on specific market access and/or investment projects. This provides a real opportunity to build your skill set and engage in sector team work and to work with colleagues both in Beijing and across the China network.

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

  • Provide administrative support to the wider team by being the docking point for requests from the Corporate Operations team on finance, budgets and our team’s performance management.  Support the team in delivering practical and logistical arrangements for visits and events. Make flight/train bookings/hotel reservations for the team and visitors.  Prepare visit programmes for official visitors & DBT China Senior Leadership Team and provide practical support.
  • Provide a high standard of secretarial support, including fast and accurate turnaround of documents, e-mails; filing sensitive and personal management papers (including optimising our Microsoft Team sites); handling and escorting visitors; arrangements for official entertainment.
  • Administrative support for the Head of the Energy & Infrastructure team, including: supporting papers for meetings, prioritisation and diary scheduling/travel bookings as necessary.
  • Input data onto the DBT customer relationship database in support of the sector teams and liaise with Data team on both pipeline development and export/investment wins to ensure accurate management information reporting.
  • Support sub-teams on project basis, i.e. market access or investment, developing sector specific knowledge to enhance team delivery against regional trade plan targets.

Resources managed (staff and expenditure):

  • Responsible for administering team marketing & events and travel & subsistence spend against budgets
  • No line management responsibility.

Language Requirements:

  • English - excellent/highly proficient
  • Mandarin - excellent/highly proficient

Essential on Arrival:

  • Excellent communication skills and proven ability to work proactively in a team
  • Excellent command of English both spoken and written
  • Previous experience in administrative roles
  • Knowledge of MS Office
  • Skill & resilience in building relationships with external stakeholders in China
  • Experience in spoken Mandarin, translation/interpreting
  • Experience of working with Chinese government agencies, or companies/industry associations in energy sector
  • Knowledge of the energy and/or infrastructure sectors
Seeing the Big Picture, Managing a Quality Service, Delivering at Pace, Working Together
4 April 2023
Administrative Officer (AO)
Fixed Term, Full-time
35
24 months
Asia Pacific
China
Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai
British Embassy
1
CNY
12,174 for Chinese Nationals | 17,052 for Expats
22 May 2023

We offer a competitive package which includes –

  • A gross monthly salary of CNY 12,174 for Chinese nationals and an abated salary of CNY 17,052 for British Nationals and spouses/partners of diplomats who are ‘W’ (diplomatic) visa holders and meet passport criteria
  • Commercial insurance package including accidental, life, medical and business travel insurance
  • 22 days annual leave entitlement in pro-rata which increases by 0.5 per full calendar year worked up to maximum of 25 days. We offer different types of compulsory leave in accordance to Chinese law, e.g. Maternity Leave, Paternity Leave, Marriage Leave, Parental leave, etc.
  • In addition to the above compulsory leave, we also offer other types of leaves with pay e.g. Study Leave, Volunteering Leave to support staff who undertakes volunteering activities, Special Paid Leave to deal with emergencies involving a close family member, and more.
  • Employee Assistance Programme which is a confidential service providing help, support and information to staff to resolve and manage situations causing concern whether at work or personal nature is available to staff 24/7;
  • There is also plenty of opportunity to develop on and off the job, and establish expertise and build capability. We are strongly supportive of the job holder continuing to develop their professional skills. The Mission encourages a blended learning culture based on the 70/20/10 model which includes e-learning, mentoring, coaching, other development activities and role-specific required trainings. This offer also includes supporting staff members to take part in a 5 days of learning activities each year.

Learning and Development Opportunities:

There is plenty of opportunity to develop on and off the job, and to establish expertise and build capability. We are strongly supportive of the job holder continuing to develop trade and investment professionalism. 

In addition, opportunities and activities include:

  • Attending external events and conferences hosted by academic institutions, business chambers, etc
  • Learning and Development programmes, which have recently included leadership, line management, interpretation, presentation skills, effective remote working and trade policy.
  • Opportunities for job shadowing across the network
  • An individual bid fund providing funding to support more tailored learning and development needs.  

Working Patterns:

This job is a full time role but please speak to recruiting manager about flexible options.

Other Information:

Staff who are locally recruited by the British Embassy are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local Chinese employment law.

No accommodation or relocation expenses are payable in connection with this position. All candidates must be legally able to work and reside in the country of the vacancy with the correct visa/work permit status or demonstrate eligibility to obtain the relevant permit. Any costs related to obtaining or renewing permits and visas are the responsibility of the successful applicant.

Please note that your application must be submitted before 23:55 on the day mentioned in the above field "Application deadline."

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

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.  Applicants called for an interview will be assessed on the core behaviours listed above.

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.

For inclusivity and diversity, please remove the following personal information when uploading your CV: name, address, email address, age, date of birth, gender, and nationality.

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

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.