The British Consulate General in Jeddah has a vacancy for a Senior Trade Advisor for NEOM and North-West Saudi under the Department for International Trade (DIT) on a fixed-term contract for one (1) year with a possibility of renewal.
The Department for International Trade (DIT) is a Department of State within the British Government. DIT has responsibility for the promotion of international trade overseas and works with UK-based companies to ensure their success in international markets. DIT in Saudi Arabia has a network of three trade teams based in Riyadh, Jeddah, and Al Khobar. The teams work closely together to deliver services to our customers.
The jobholder will lead on support of British companies from all sectors wishing to do business/ invest in (principally) NEOM, developing contacts in this and other priority Saudi Vision 2030 projects in order to assist companies in sectors including Infrastructure, Creative/ Sports, Smart Cities and Technology, Healthcare, Education, Energy, and more. The jobholder should be flexible in responding to changes of sector priorities based on project needs, market trends, and operational requirements. As such, the jobholder will be required to be based in and to operate from within close physical proximity to NEOM.
This is an interesting and varied role and comes at a time when the political and commercial relationship between the UK and Saudi Arabia is strong. The jobholder’s main role is to lead on liaison with NEOM with regard to UK business introductions, visiting trade delegations and visits from UK ministers and other VIPs. The jobholder will thoroughly understand the requirements of NEOM and other projects and use those insights to match their needs with the UK commercial offer, identifying opportunities and helping UK companies to provide goods and services, and to invest in, NEOM.
This role would also cover projects in North-West Saudi Arabia, particularly Al Ula. However, the exact split of time allocation will depend on the volume of work on the NEOM project.
Duties and responsibilities:
The main purpose of this job is to support UK companies seeking to develop their business through trade with Saudi Arabia, with a particular focus on NEOM. The Senior Trade Advisor will work with the Head of Trade based in Jeddah on a strategy of engagement with key NEOM (and other) interlocutors in order to facilitate UK trade and investment success in the project. Responsibilities include:
The above list is not exhaustive and the jobholder will be required to be flexible and take on other ad hoc tasks as required, including participating in the Embassy’s emergency planning and any response to a crisis.
Key behaviours required:
Eligibility:
The position is available to Saudi Nationals and to current holders of valid Saudi residence permits or transferable iqamas. The successful candidate will be required to transfer their sponsorship to the British Consulate General.
The successful candidate will be required to be based in and to operate from within close physical proximity to NEOM.
The Embassy aims to offer an attractive working environment and remuneration package for this role.
Salary details:
*Allowances are not payable to staff who receive official provision for such expenditure in some other form.
No accommodation and relocation expenses are payable in connection with this position.
The successful candidate will be required to be based in and to operate from within close physical proximity to NEOM. The successful candidate must also be available for occasional travel to the Consulate General in Jeddah within KSA (and possibly further afield) for business/ official purposes.
This position is full-time, based on 35 hours per week. Normal working hours are from 08:00 to 15:00 from Sunday to Thursday, with core working hours from 10:00-15:00. Core working hours is the period of the day that employees are required to be at work. The working day outside of the core hours is a flexible period, which allows employees to choose when they work, subject to operational needs.
The jobholder will be required to be flexible in their approach to hours worked as these will be dictated by operational needs and may involve working out of hours, especially during visits and events. Flexible working arrangements will be considered based on operational requirements and upon agreement with the Line Manager and in line with the Embassy’s policies.
The successful candidate will be subject to a 90-day probationary period.
How to apply:
Interested candidates must attach 1) an updated Curriculum Vitae (CV) and 2) a covering letter stating how you meet the requirements of the role.
Your application must also include examples of when you have demonstrated the required behaviours in the Behaviours Questions section of the online application form.
Applications that do not include these information will not be considered.
The closing date for applications is at 23:55 KSA local time on 21 August 2022.
Applications received after the stated deadline will not be considered.
Due to the large number of applications we receive, only those shortlisted for the next step in the recruitment process will be contacted.
The start date mentioned in the advert is an assumed 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, medical clearance and reference checks.
The British Consulate General is an equal opportunities employer, dedicated to inclusivity, a diverse workforce and valuing difference. Staff recruited locally by the British Consulate General is subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local Saudi Arabia employment law.
This opportunity is closed to applications.
