View Vacancy – Head of Defence & Security Sectors

Main purpose of job:

The Department for International Trade (DIT) is the UK Government Ministry that brings together trade policy, promotion and financial expertise to break down barriers to trade and investment, and help British businesses succeed globally. We have offices and teams across the globe. Across our network in Brazil we help UK companies succeed.

The Department for   International Trade (DIT) is the UK government department charges with   promoting and financing international trade and development, and championing   free trade. In Brazil, DIT operations   within the British Embassy in Brasília, and Consulates in São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte and Recife, with a team of over 40 staff who work   primarily through a number of sector specific export promotion campaigns.

This is a brilliant opportunity to lead one of the most important export sectors for the British Government in Brazil. You will also lead efforts to ensure coordination and sharing of best practice across UK Government defence and security commercial campaigns in other parts of Latin America and the Caribbean. Your success in this position will primarily be measured on the value of exports you and your team assist British companies to achieve, the market access barriers that are addressed and the support you provide to wider UK Government foreign policy and defence objectives. Through your team, you will be responsible for managing an existing pipeline of commercial opportunities and researching and validating new prospects. This position will involve contact with ministers, high-ranking military and law enforcement personnel and senior executives. To successfully lead your campaign, manage your team well and make a positive contribution to the diplomatic mission, you will need strong communication skills and a high level of emotional intelligence.

This an ideal position for someone with existing leadership qualities to further stretch, as well as the proven ability to develop and deliver strategy across teams and through others, overcoming resistance and obstacles. The job will be challenging and will require the successful candidate to take responsibility for delivering both quickly and to a high quality standard. As a senior role in the UK’s Brazil Network, there will be an expectation of the successful candidate to play an active role across a number of Network issues.

Applications will be considered from candidates based, or willing to move and work, in Rio de Janeiro.

Lead the Defence & Security Team

•To lead and develop campaigns to significantly increase UK exports of   goods and services to Brazil in the defence and security sectors;

•To maintain a detailed understanding of the Brazilian defence and  security sectors and identify relevant commercial opportunities and trends;

•To build strong personal relationships with key Brazilian companies,   Ministries, senior military and public authorities and other customers to  facilitate door opening for UK companies;

•To gain a strong understanding of UK capability and build a network of  export-ready companies with the resilience needed for the Brazilian market;

•To offer and provide high quality advice to UK companies on how to access and navigate the Brazilian market;

•To produce reports on defence and security markets in line with the campaigns’ strategies;

•To identify, plan and organise a select number of events that advance the campaigns, e.g. ministerial and senior official visits, key trade fairs or trade missions, working closely with colleagues in London and the Embassy;

•To brief the Ambassador, Consul-General, Director of Trade and Investment, Defence Attaché and others where necessary on security and defence exports issues;

•To collaborate with the leads of other export and investment campaigns based throughout Brazil, the Embassy’s Defence Section in Brasília and UK  Government Defence and Security colleagues based in London and throughout Latin America and the Caribbean;

Regional Leadership

•To lead renewed efforts to improve coordination and sharing of best practice across all DIT defence and security campaigns in Latin America and the Caribbean;

Brazil Network

• As a senior member or the team at the British Consulate in Rio de Janeiro and in the UK’s Brazil Network, play an active leadership role and provide inputs and recommendations to the Consul General and Deputy Consul General on a range of corporate issues. To lead the response to certain issues to be agreed in due course that contribute to the wider objectives of the British Government’s Brazil network and support its positive working environment.

Language requirements:

Language: English and Brazilian Portuguese

Level of language required: Excellent

Other skills / experience / qualifications: 

• Account management, excellent stakeholder management skills and project management.
• A BA degree in business, International Relations, Economics or a related field.
• At least four years of relevant business development experience and a solid understanding of the Brazilian business environment – preferably in the defence and security sectors.
• Good understanding of, commercial operations, sales, policy expertise, government to government engagement and institutional and business partnerships.
• Clear motivation and personal commitment to meeting challenging targets with a proven track-record of achievement.
• An excellent network of industry contacts in the defence and security sectors in Brazil with a proven track-record of bringing together UK and Brazilian stakeholders.
• Valid passport; the ability to attend official functions outside of office hours; and the ability to undertake domestic and international air travel, including overnight stays.
• At least 3 years of Line Management experience