View Vacancy - Sector Director: Infrastructure South Africa – DIT (70/19 JHB) INTERNAL ONLY

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Department for International Trade roles (DIT)
Department for International Trade (DIT)

Overview

The Department for International Trade (DIT) is the Trade Promotion and Negotiation organisation for the UK. We promote UK businesses overseas and attract foreign investment to our shores. We have 3,000 staff across the globe in over 100 countries. Our aspiration is to address some of the challenges facing the UK, by helping British businesses to internationalise and grow overseas.

DITAfrica is one of the nine DIT global networks and is led by Emma Wade-Smith, HM Trade Commissioner (HMTC) for Africa.The Africa Region is exciting and energising and UK firms have a strong presence here, making the UK the the second largest investor on the continent. With some of the strongest growing economies in the world and booming population growth there are numerous more opportunities for UK firms; from tech start-ups in the West to infrastructure in the East. The Network’s role is to promote these opportunities and position the UK as the continent’s number one trading partner and investor.

Roles and responsibilities:

You will be responsible for leading and delivering DIT Africa’s Infrastructure Sector work with the core aim of helping UK firms win and expand their business on the continent.  

You will develop, manage and lead a pan -Africa virtual sector team of 12. You will set the strategic direction and manage their upskilling, setting clear expectations and performance managing to ensure this new function operates and delivers to a consistently high standard and delivers a clear and valuable service.

You will develop and deliver a clear sector specific delivery plan with clear goals, milestones and deliverables; providing an analytical view of the areas where you believe the UK has a comparative advantage.

Update, expand and deliver a pipeline of possible infrastructure export and investment opportunities for UK business across the continent.  

Manage and deliver the Infrastructure HVC against set targets (£330+ million).

Ensure Infrastructure work is embedded in all Country plans and HMG Prosperity plans to ensure aims are aligned.

You will develop a strategic relationship management approach for the top Infrastructure firms in Africa, ensuring active account management from DIT and HMG’s senior leadership team.

Working closely with DIT, FCO and DFID colleagues in-country, you will be responsible for supporting UK companies currently in market or looking to enter the market; helping them spot the opportunities, and also helping them navigate the challenges.

Ensure alignment with HMG colleagues, such as PF fund and other ODA programmes, to ensure we are maximising secondary benefits for UK firms

Use and leverage UK’s finance offer (UKEF and others) in order to help facilitate and deliver infrastructure projects for UK firms.

Develop and maintain strong working relationship with DIT HQ and other HMG colleagues, leveraging them in order to help deliver where needed.

Manage the pan-Africa DIT Marketing and T&S budget.

  • Undergraduate degree and other relevant professional qualification or experience.
  • At two years’ experience working on infrastructure
  • Experience of planning and delivering on a DIT HVC
  • Experience of leading teams across Africa
  • Experience of working in or with government departments, NGOs, and similar institutions
  • Proven track record of cross-team collaboration
  • A positive, resilient, flexible and adaptable “can-do” attitude that can see way through challenges.
  • Proven leadership experience
  • Knowledge of, and a keen interest of the infrastructure field and the UK offer.
  • Understanding of UKEF

21 October 2019
Senior Executive Officer (SEO)
Permanent
Africa
South Africa
Johannesburg
British High Commission
R56,385.43
21 October 2019

Learning and development opportunities

This role provides enormous opportunities to grow and develop given its pan-Africa leadership role.

You will have access to the full suite of DIT and FCO learning and development opportunities including the FCO’s Diplomatic Academy, training in the UK, and will be encouraged to join DIT’s trade profession. We also provide regular in-house learning opportunities and are committed to supporting further academic opportunities. Our staff who demonstrate great leadership potential are encouraged to apply for the FCO’s pan-African Emerging Leadership Programme.

The successful applicant will be expected to complete the Certificate in UK Export Finance within the first three months of the role.

ODA training will be provided

  • The British High Commission pays in full for the Key Care Plus option on Discovery Health for staff including spouses/partners and dependants.
  • Once you have successfully completed your probation the British High Commission will contribute 9% of your monthly salary to a Provident Fund.
  • Annual leave entitlement of 25 days.
  • Working hours per week of 36.5

Working patterns: 

Flexible working can be considered for the right candidate, but please note the following:

You may be required to work a few evenings each month

You will be expected to travel to other cities in South Africa, and there will be occasional travel to the UK and across Africa


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This opportunity is closed to applications.