Who we are?

The British Embassy in Helsinki is part of a world‑wide network, representing British political, economic, and consular interests overseas.

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) works to support UK businesses to grow internationally and succeed in global markets. At the British Embassy in Helsinki, the DBT team plays a key role in strengthening trade between the UK and Finland by identifying opportunities, supporting exporters, and building strong commercial relationships.

We are now looking for a Senior Market Adviser (UK Exports) to join the DBT team in Helsinki. The successful candidate will work closely with DBT colleagues and collaborate with teams across Europe and the UK to deliver practical support to UK companies and contribute to tangible export outcomes.

What you will be doing?

As a Senior Market Adviser, you will support UK companies to grow exports of goods and services from the UK to Finland across a number of priority sectors (typically 3-5 sectors aligned with the UK’s Industrial Strategy). These sectors may include Advanced Manufacturing, Financial and Business Services, Digital Services and Technologies, and Creative Industries.

Your work will focus on:

• Working with companies (exporters and buyers) to increase UK exports of goods and services to Finland. This includes delivering outreach activities such as trade missions, delegations and seminars, as well as providing market advice, information, introductions and network-building;
• Proactively identifying high‑value export opportunities for UK businesses in Finland;
• Building and maintaining a strong network of contacts with potential buyers, decision‑makers and project developers in Finland, in order to understand their requirements and identify business opportunities for UK exporters;
• Supporting UK companies participating in Tenders, by becoming familiar with relevant suppliers and market requirements;
• Addressing market access barriers that affect UK exporters, including investigating potential solutions and coordinating actions needed to resolve the issues;
• Designing and delivering small programmes, such as trade missions, delegations, and other events, to build a pipeline of new export opportunities, ensuring activities run smoothly and are delivered to time and budget;
• Supporting visits and high‑level meetings, including Ministerial and senior official engagements, by helping deliver programmes, site visits, and associated communications;
• Working closely with Embassy communications colleagues to promote UK-Finland trade.

You will work independently on your portfolio while collaborating closely with colleagues in Finland, across Europe and in the UK.

Why apply?

This is a hands‑on, outward‑facing role that offers the opportunity to:

• Work directly with businesses and decision‑makers in an international context;
• Contribute to tangible outcomes by helping UK companies succeed in the Finnish market;
• Build expertise across key commercial sectors and international trade;
• Be part of a supportive Embassy environment with access to a wide range of learning and development opportunities, including the UK Government’s learning catalogue and role‑specific development.

Our ideal candidate shows:

• Proficiency in English and Finnish (written and spoken, minimum of C1 level for CEFR* framework);
• A university degree (or equivalent professional experience) in business, economics, international relations, finance, or another relevant field;
• A minimum of 3 years’ relevant work experience in export promotion and/or international business development;
• Proven experience building and maintaining relationships with external stakeholders (e.g. businesses, buyers, partners) to achieve defined outcomes;
• Strong organisational skills, with the ability to prioritise tasks, manage routine work and meet deadlines;
• The ability to work collaboratively and effectively as part of a small team;
• A proactive, fast‑learning approach, demonstrating initiative and resilience.