View Vacancy – Infrastructure Advisor C4 (15/21 ACC)

Background & Purpose of the Job:

This is an exciting opportunity to lead an important and ever-expanding area of DIT Ghana’s work. 

Home to five of the world’s fastest growing economies, Africa’s GDP could double between 2015 and 2030. Yet for too many Africans, this prosperity – and the improvements to education, health and security that come with it – still feel distant, and we expect this disparity only to sharpen in the wake of COVID-19. In a global world, this is a global challenge: by 2050 a quarter of the world’s population will live in Africa.

DIT wants to support the development of strong, prosperous and peaceful African nations, through modern, dynamic and long-term partnerships that deliver mutual benefit for the UK and Africa. The UK is making a new and distinctive offer to work alongside, invest in, and partner with African nations. By supporting African-led ambitions with British expertise we want to create more opportunities, more jobs and greater stability – both at home and for our African partners. 

The UK government is committed to its presence in Africa. This role offers applicants the opportunity to help shape this new, long-term UK partnership for prosperity and stability with Africa. You will join the Department for International Trade’s Africa network, providing crucial leadership and expertise. You will be networked closely with colleagues from across HMG working on prosperity issues as DIT can only successfully deliver our commercial ambitions by working seamlessly as part of joint and coordinated prosperity teams alongside our Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) colleagues. This is an exciting time to join DIT Africa, at the British High Commission in Accra, as we increase our ambition to deliver the objectives contained within the refreshed DIT Africa Regional Trade Plan.

The British High Commission in Accra remains a large post, currently employing 50 UKB staff and 200 Country Based Staff (CBS), and is charged with delivering high impact and complex programmes and campaigns on security, development, and trade and economic partnerships.  All staff embody the new FCDO approach to cross-HMG working, and the High Commission aims to be a highly-inclusive place to work, celebrating a workforce with both diversity of thought and background. To help achieve this the British High Commission takes a values-based approach to leadership and people management, and has a zero-tolerance for bullying and harassment. Our local values are Respect; Openness; and Honesty & Integrity. An understanding and commitment to inclusion and values-based leadership will be discussed during interview and tested during probation.

The Government of Ghana has ambitious plans for infrastructure development and the UK is a strong and reliable partner on infrastructure development.  There is an opportunity to strengthen the UK-Ghana partnership on infrastructure further, using the UK-Ghana Business Council as a vehicle. This role will seek to maximise on the capacity of the UK private sector to contribute to Ghana’s ambitious infrastructure development plans, leading the development and execution of a strategy that harnesses UK capabilities and products to meet demand in Ghana. The impact of COVID-19 will present both challenges and opportunities for the UK’s trade presence in Ghana, and the post holder will need to have a strong focus on how the UK infrastructure offer can support Ghana’s post COVID-19 recovery.

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.

Roles and responsibilities:

We are looking for someone with credible private sector experience, ideally in the infrastructure sector, with the gravitas to form and manage relationships with senior people in both the private sector and government departments. This role will require an organised, strategic thinker, with an ability to take initiative and spot opportunities, working collaboratively with others to execute these opportunities as deals. The post holder will need to develop and execute a comprehensive plan that will position the UK as a partner of choice for infrastructure in Ghana. This will be particularly important in supporting a strong UK-Ghana approach to a green post COVID-19 recovery. With a broad remit, the post holder will be required to shape this role to bring maximum impact for both the UK infrastructure sector and the UK’s relationship with Ghana more broadly.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide strategic direction for DIT infrastructure activity in Ghana, identifying and regularly reviewing priorities for trade, and investment, ensuring that these are fully aligned to the UK-Ghana Business Council priorities, the Africa Regional Trade Plan and Ghana’s approach to COVID-19 economic recovery;
• Build and maintain a network of contacts in the Government of Ghana and UK private sector to support pipeline development;
• Identify and deliver a pipeline of export business opportunities in Ghana for UK companies in the infrastructure sector, in consultation with business and based on an understanding of UK business interests and capability;
• Market the UK’s capability in infrastructure to key stakeholders in the Ghanaian public and private sectors, to help land multi-million pound deals;
• Work closely with the DIT Investment Advisor and UK Export Finance to ensure that UK companies have the financial support they require to export to Ghana;
• Lead both outward and inward trade missions to support UK trade and investment opportunities;
• Providing input into briefings for ministers and senior officials as required.

Resources managed (staff and expenditure):  

No direct reports. Some budget responsibility may be delegated on a project basis.

• Have worked within Ghana’s private sector in business development for major local or international companies, for a minimum of 4 years;
• Strong oral and written English communication skills;
• Relevant work experience, a track record of delivery through collaboration and partnering in complex environments
• Campaign or project management experience, strong eye for business in identifying potential business partners; capacity to identify gaps and barriers for market creation opportunities in the assigned country.
• Ability to work well under pressure and to tight deadlines;
• Resourcefulness in solving problems;
• Good interpersonal skills and comfortable dealing with senior officials and business people;
• Flexible, adaptable and resilient;
• Strong organisational skills and keen attention to detail.