View Vacancy - Midlands Engine Regional Overseas Specialist for Advanced Engineering and Manufacturing (TUR20.355)

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Department for International Trade roles (DIT)
DIT

Due to COVID-19, you may experience some delay in the progress of this recruitment campaign and we are working hard to minimise any disruption.

This is an exciting time to join the Department for International Trade (DIT). 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 and investment goals. The role is for a new regional specialist for the UK's Midlands Engine region with a focus on the Advanced Engineering and Manufacturing (AEM) sector. It has been created as part of the UK Government’s ‘Levelling Up’ agenda, which includes increasing trade and investment support for key UK regions.  

DIT Eastern Europe and Central Asia Network (EECAN) is one of the nine DIT overseas regions and is led by HM Trade Commissioner (HMTC) for Eastern Europe and the Central Asian region (EECAN) who is based in Istanbul. The Hub for the region is also based in Istanbul where this post will be located. EECAN consists of 14 markets. Our markets include Turkey, Russia, the countries of the former Soviet Union (excluding the Baltics), and Mongolia. We are focused on nine key sectors, including AEM.

Your job will be to lead on the AEM sector for the Midlands Engine region here in EECAN, although you may on occasion need to work across other sectors too and respond to live opportunities when they arise. Your initial focus will be on Turkey where you will be based, but you will need to be mobile across the region to respond where we see strong business opportunities in the sector for the UK. You will be primarily responsible for helping Midlands Engine companies to win business in the sector, but we would also anticipate you spending c.20% of your time focused on scoping inward investment opportunities too (i.e. companies looking to invest into the UK). You will work closely with the DIT Midlands Trade and Investment team, relevant DIT Sector teams (both in London and here the EECAN region) and local regional trade partners.

The Midlands has a working population of over 4m, over 500,000 of whom are involved in manufacturing and engineering. The region provides 20% of the manufacturing output of the UK. It is home to the largest cluster of rail manufacturers in Europe and the world’s second largest jet engine manufacturer (Rolls-Royce), with 400 companies involved in the aerospace supply chain. Every major car manufacturer is represented in the Midlands, including Toyota and Jaguar Land Rover, with strong component supply capability. Alongside global brands such as JCB, Bombardier and Thyssenkrupp, hundreds of companies specialise in sectors ranging from rail, mechanical engineering to battery technology and medical devices.

The role provides opportunities to work at strategic and operational levels. This is a challenging and rewarding job and we are looking for an experienced professional with a deep knowledge of the AEM sector in Turkey and the wider EECAN region if possible. You will have a well-established range of high-level contacts in the AEM sector in Turkey, which will allow you to rapidly acquire a sophisticated knowledge of the opportunities and challenges for Midlands Engine companies in trading with this market.

Main Duties and Responsibilities 

You will need strong business development skills and acumen, and be energetic and creative, with good judgement to prioritise and keep focused on the delivery of your objectives. Importantly, you must have strong communication and influencing skills to be credible with business and to expand your network to support your goals. The following sets out more detail on the duties and responsibilities of this new role:

1. Export campaign development and delivery aimed at increasing the demand for Midlands Engine sector specific goods and services in Turkey (65%)

You will use your knowledge, connections, and analysis to develop and deliver targeted campaigns in the sector to increase Midlands Engine exports to EECAN. You will build strong links with sector associations, key companies and decision-makers in the sector to deliver. Your activity will be targeted at Turkey initially where, for example, we see opportunities in supporting digital transformation of the manufacturing sector. An important part of your job will be to facilitate Midlands Engine trade missions, webinars and events, and by connecting visitors with senior stakeholders in market. This will include ensuring that Midlands Engine opportunities and expertise in the AEM sector are fed into trade campaigns being run in other EECAN markets too e.g. Russia.  

For incoming missions, you will provide strong on the ground support by working in collaboration with colleagues in the DIT EECAN sector teams and external delivery partners e.g. British Chamber of Commerce in Turkey. This will include plotting out mission programmes, organising seminars/workshops and securing possible buyers and speakers. You will work alongside the DIT Midlands Trade teams to organise and deliver mission programmes. 

You will also support the planning of inward market roadshows to the Midlands Engine region and ‘Meet the Buyer’ events, helping to raise the awareness of opportunities and recruiting businesses to join. This will include using your enhanced knowledge of regional sector strengths to target substantial buyers to bring to the UK.

2. Scoping of inward investment opportunities (20%)

On investment, your role will be to explore inward investment opportunities in the sector working in close collaboration with the Midlands Engine Investment AEM Specialist based in the UK, who will provide support and guidance. You will need to become familiar with Midlands Engine investment propositions in the sector.

3. Building awareness of Midlands Engine capability (10%)

You will need to gain a good understanding of Midlands Engine capability in the sector and use this to build capacity and awareness in EECAN DIT sector teams to support your objectives, both to win more export business for Midlands Engine companies, but also to encourage inward investment. The postholder will also utilise newly developed Midlands Engine Trade Sector propositions. 

4. Reporting (5%)

You can expect to provide a range of reporting and analysis on the sector to the DIT regional teams and local partners, including contributing to briefing. In addition, you will need to produce a monthly progress report on your activities for DIT Midlands, as well as input to a quarterly steering group looking at the overseas champions programme as a whole. The postholder will also input into DataHub (DIT’s CRM system) for the appropriate activities.

The postholder will support dedicated EECAN quarterly review meetings between the Deputy HM Trade Commissioner (DHMTC) and DIT Midlands Heads of Trade and Investment to ensure continued alignment of shared objectives.

 


  • A deep knowledge of the advanced manufacturing and engineering sector in Turkey along with a substantial network of high-level contacts. Ideally you would have a relevant engineering qualification too;
  • Minimum 5 to 8 years’ business development/commercial experience in the advanced manufacturing and engineering sector, with a strong functional knowledge of the local business environment;
  • Experience of developing relationships and building influence with multiple stakeholders at a senior level in the public and private sector;
  • Good computer skills and the ability to use high-quality data management systems;
  • Excellent communication skills in English and Turkish, both written and spoken;
  • Good analytical skills and the ability to draft reports, as well as provide briefing for generalist and specialist audiences, often to very tight deadlines;
  • Excellent interpersonal skills and a strong team player who can work on their own initiative and across virtual teams. 
  • Experience of working in trade/export promotion;
  • Account management experience;
  • Knowledge of the sector in other EECAN markets e.g. Russia;
  • Russian language skills;
  • Knowledge of key sector capabilities in the Midlands region;
  • Previous experience of working with the UK Government and understanding of Midlands Engine political landscape and/or experience of working with Midlands Engine local partners. 
27 September 2020
Senior Executive Officer (SEO)
Full-time, Fixed term, with possibility of renewal
36.25
Europe, Eastern Europe & Central Asia
Turkiye
Istanbul
British Consulate General
1
USD
5,070.18 gross
1 November 2020

This is a 24 month fixed-term, with the possibility of extension full-time position for 5 working days (36.25 hours net).

The monthly salary for this position is 5,070.18 USD gross C5 level. Please note that staff members are responsible for paying any income tax required by local law.

All applicants should have the right to live and work in Turkey. The British Consulate does not sponsor for work permits.

The successful candidate will be subject to professional background check, security clearance and a probation period of 2 months.

Staff recruited locally by the British Consulate General in Istanbul are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local Turkish employment law.

British Diplomatic Missions are equal opportunities employers, dedicated to inclusivity, a diverse workforce and valuing difference. We are committed to developing a learning organisation that enhances business performance, maximises our staff’s potential and encourages staff innovation and development.

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 Consulate 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.

Additional Information (due to Covid 19):

  • You may experience some delay in the progress of this recruitment campaign and we are working hard to minimise any disruption;

  • Interviews will be done remotely if the existing situation determines this to be the right course of action;

  • Starting date may be delayed depending on circumstances at the time and it will be agreed with the selected candidate.

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.