View Vacancy – CPK – Senior Outreach Officer (Shandong), C4(L)

The China Network is operating with reduced staff because of the COVID-19 outbreak. Recruitment for this position may take longer than usual and may be cancelled or suspended. Job offers will be subject to a return to normal operations.

The successful candidate will be part of an Outreach team of “roving Consuls-General” in Northern China. This role will be specifically focused on Shandong, China’s 3rd largest provincial economy, a critical partner for the UK, and a province of great political, cultural and commercial significance. This is an exciting time to work in Shandong: SOEs based there are growing rapidly, private enterprise is playing an increasing role in the economy, major infrastructure projects are opening the region to the rest of China and other markets and the government is focused on improving its service industries in line with UK strengths. Shandong is an ideal partner for the UK.

The jobholder could either be based in Shandong (exact location depends on quality and fit of applicants, but will be either Qingdao or Jinan), or Beijing. In either case regular travel between Beijing and Shandong will be required and if the jobholder chooses to be based in Shandong they will be required spend at least a week in Beijing every month.

The jobholder will act as the UK lead on and in Shandong, owning and driving forward a wide range of activities and projects to build deeper and more active relationships in Shandong, including on prosperity and economic growth, trade and investment, and public diplomacy, establishing the UK as a partner of choice on shared priorities. They will be responsible for guiding partnerships with UK cities and regions to further deepen UK-China regional collaboration. As a Senior Outreach Officer, they will also be expected to strategically lead other teams’ engagement with Shandong and its major cities, acting as a source of expertise and primary point of contact to form, coordinate and deliver the China Network’s business plans in the province.

An outstanding network of high-level government and business contacts is already in place in Shandong, and the jobholder will be required to manage and build on these relationships, as well as maintain strong links with key UK stakeholders such as all departments and teams in the British Embassy Beijing, the Department for International Trade (DIT), British and Chinese businesses, and many others. Once international travel is again possible, they will be involved in supporting inward/outward visits both from UK officials and Chinese provincial leaders.

The successful candidate will need to be comfortable working autonomously, though there will be regular lines of communication and supportive line management. They will need to have plenty of initiative, strong interpersonal and team-working skills, and the drive necessary to deliver results. The job holder may line manage another member of staff. Fluency and confidence in verbal and written Mandarin is essential.

In return, they can expect to be a part of a truly innovative diplomatic network across China; become the UK Government’s expert on Shandong; and have the chance to build a wide range of skills and experience, such as strategic communications, project management and reporting.

This position is advertised on a fixed-term basis for one (1) year, subject for renewal.

Political – 30%

• Build an understanding of the local business and political environment in the region. Develop closer links with the authorities and other relevant organisations in Northern China. Building networks, identifying and developing opportunities for engagement across the range of Embassy activity areas of work.

Prosperity/Commercial Diplomacy – 30%

• Working with colleagues in the Prosperity Cone of the British Embassy as well as from the Department for International Trade, identify and develop opportunities for UK business, organisations, government agencies, educational and research institutes, and other sources of UK expertise. Exploit synergies between commercial opportunities and other teams’ objectives (for example, low carbon policy).

Project/programme management – 20%

• Each Outreach Officer is expected to identify potential policy or commercial projects in the region s/he covers. Engaging project boards on designs for projects, identifying how to resource and run the projects, and then successfully delivering and reporting them.

Line management – 10%

• This role will potentially include the line management of another local employed member of staff. If so, responsibilities will include conducting appraisals, performance reviews, and ensuring their development needs are met.

Public Diplomacy – 10%

• Engage in public diplomacy activities in the region in order to raise the profile of the UK among a specified target audience. Explain and promote HMG’s policies on a range of subjects to a wide range of stakeholders. This includes engagement with the Chevening programme by attracting candidates and maintaining connections with alumni.

• Understanding of the UK and core government policy
• Strong stakeholder and network management skills
• Fluent in verbal and written Mandarin and English