View Vacancy - VNM (Ho Chi Minh) - DIT South East Asia Operations & Relationships Manager C4(L)

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)
DIT

Main purpose of job:

This is a hugely exciting time to join the Department for International Trade in Asia Pacific (APAC). The UK Government is building stronger ties with the APAC region, and particularly with South East Asia, as part of its strategic Indo-Pacific Tilt. Trade and investment sits at the heart of this deepening relationship – the dynamic growth of South East Asian economies is presenting immensely exciting opportunities for UK companies, across sectors ranging from technology to healthcare, education to renewable energy. New Free Trade Agreements with Singapore and Vietnam have strengthened the UK’s bilateral trade ties in the region, and the UK has formally applied for accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) trade bloc.

This is a broad and varied role, offering an exciting opportunity to drive key elements of DIT’s extensive portfolio in South East Asia (SEA). You will have extensive exposure to teams across SEA, supporting DIT Country Directors and working closely with the Deputy Trade Commissioner for SEA to enable effective delivery across the region. You will strengthen relationships between DIT teams through effective L&D strategies. You will chair monthly SEA Country Director calls, driving key strategic initiatives in the region and supporting teams with delivery.  You will take ownership of priority policy areas for the region, ensuring SEA is fully in step with central Secretary of State and Ministerial steers. This could include leading key work streams relating to DIT’s clean growth strategy, or promoting the HMG ‘levelling up’ agenda. You will manage vital relationships between HMG and delivery partners, including the UK-ASEAN Business Council, ensuring UK companies are properly accessing new opportunities in SEA markets. You will hold partners accountable, ensuring robust management of grant funding. You will have regular responsibility for delivering ad-hoc priority projects, including Ministerial visits to the region, ASEAN event delivery, and co-ordinating regional input into central HQ commissioning.

The successful candidate will have excellent leadership and communication skills, and proven ability in managing high-profile, complex work. You will be a strong relationship builder, with proven ability in engaging effectively with new and diverse stakeholders. You will be able to manage multiple workstreams, and to cope effectively with fast-paced activity. You will have demonstrable experience in communicating confidently with colleagues and external partners. You will need to show awareness of UK Government priorities in the APAC region, and motivation to champion the UK trade and clean growth offers. You will be based in Vietnam, so will be expected to make a positive contribution to the DIT and wider HMG team across the Vietnam network.  Travel around South East Asia may be required, depending on COVID19 protocols.

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

  • Your primary role will be to support the Deputy Trade Commissioner in South East Asia, and Country Directors across the region, with the delivery of regional DIT priorities. You will work closely with DTC’s team in Singapore, and with the Deputy Director for SEA Trade, based in Vietnam, on priority policy and project delivery across the region. This work will be fast-paced and varied, depending on central HMG steers.
  •  You will be accountable for relationship management with key DIT partners, including regional business chambers, the UK-ASEAN Business Council, and other regional trade bodies. You will ensure that delegated grants are managed robustly and hold partners accountable through comprehensive financial reporting.
  • You will support the delivery of DIT teams across the region, building close relationships with Country Directors and regional sector leads. You will communicate clearly on behalf of DIT HQ in London, to ensure regional teams are looped into evolving policy and project priorities. You will support the operational delivery of SEA region, devising and driving creative change management programmes to enable more effective delivery.
  • You will manage the monthly regional DIT calls, setting the agenda and chairing the meetings. You will use this forum to strengthen regional team culture and enable effective sharing of good practice.
  • You will lead on priority policy work streams in the region, ensuring SEA DIT are fully aligned to the priorities of DIT’s Secretary of State. You will hold teams accountable for effective delivery and reporting against central HQ commissioning. You will lead on ad hoc project delivery, offering resilience and expertise to regional teams.
  • You will be a collaborative and collegiate member of the Ho Chi Minh City Consulate team, and the wider HMG Vietnam network, leading corporate initiatives to strengthen network culture and delivery.

Resources managed (staff and expenditure):

  • None

Essential on arrival:

  • Proactive self-starting approach to work with the ability to deliver effectively with limited day-to-day supervision in a fast-paced environment;
  • Regional awareness of South East Asia, and awareness of UK Government priorities in the region;
  • Demonstrable ability to build a strong network and collaborate effectively with diverse stakeholders;
  •  Ability to work under pressure and to tight deadlines;
  • IT proficiency, including Office and the ability to learn FCDO applications/systems.

Language: English

Level of language required:  Excellent written and oral communication skills in English is essential for this role. Fluency in Vietnamese would be an additional advantage given the location of the role. 

  • Familiarity with UK business associations;
  • Experience of regional delivery;
  • Experience of working in a diplomatic context.
23 February 2022
Higher Executive Officer (HEO)
Full-time, Fixed term, with possibility of renewal
35 nett
Asia Pacific
Vietnam
Ho Chi Minh City
British Consulate General
1
VND
VND645,714,833 gross per year
1 April 2022

This position is being advertised as a 12 months fixed term position in Ho Chi Minh, with possibility of renewal.

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

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is committed to developing its staff, working hard to provide a comprehensive L&D offer. Staff have access to a wide variety of online resources through the Diplomatic Academy and Civil Service Learning. Staff are strongly encouraged to take advantage of all the available opportunities.

The job-holder will be required to take some specific training courses related to their role. All new staff undertake a workplace induction and there are a number of mandatory e-learning courses covering areas such as diversity, health and safety, and information management.

Employment offers are subject to successful clearance of pre-employment and security checks. Staff who are locally recruited by the British Embassy are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local employment law.

No accommodation or relocation expenses are payable in connection with this position. Visa sponsorship may be possible for non-Vietnamese nationals if meet local requirements.  

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.

Disabled and ethnic minority applicants will be invited to interviews if meeting the minimum requirement of the job.

Working patterns:

This role will require office based work at the Consulate in Ho Chi Minh City with limited scope for remote or flexible working. There may be travel required to other SEA markets, depending on COVID19 protocols and local restrictions.

All applications must be received before 23:55 (Local Vietnam Time) on the day of the deadline indicated above.

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

Incomplete application forms will not be taken into consideration, so please ensure you provide the information requested. Only shortlisted candidates for interview will be contacted. Interviewees will be assessed on the core competencies listed above. Unsuccessful candidates will be notified via the system in due time.

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.