View Vacancy – Commercial Attaché

The British Embassy Muscat has a vacancy for the post of Commercial Attaché grade B3 (L) to start as soon as possible.

The Department for International Trade (DIT) is a UK Government Department, whose responsibilities include the promotion of UK exports; promoting investment into the UK; identifying and seeking to overcome barriers to trade in international markets; and contributing to Government-to-Government relationships.

The DIT team for Oman is based in the British Embassy Muscat, and part of DIT’s Middle East, Afghanistan & Pakistan (MEAP) region. This comprises 12 countries across the Gulf (KSA, UAE, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar and Kuwait), and just beyond (Afghanistan, Pakistan, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq and Iran).

Main Purpose of the Job:

The primary purpose of this job is to support UK Companies looking to secure contracts and business in Oman, with a particular focus on the Energy and Mining sectors; and to play an active role in the Energy Transition Debate with both commercial and government stakeholders. In part, this involves leading on support to UK companies targeting Oil & Gas clients / projects in Oman. As Oman seeks to further diversify its economy away from hydrocarbons, the role also, and increasingly, involves taking a proactive role in scoping opportunities for UK companies to engage in renewable energy projects (including solar, offshore and onshore wind, hydrogen, carbon capture, and waste to energy); and in establishing contacts and scoping opportunities in the power and mining sectors for UK companies.

The post holder will also be expected to proactively contribute to wider DIT priorities as defined in the Regional Trade Plan and Strategy, and to work closely with peers across the MEAP region to share information and provide cohesive support to UK companies active in more than one market. The post holder will liaise with colleagues in UK Export Finance on projects, which may be eligible for its support, and assist UK companies looking to develop business partnerships with Omani companies or investors.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Identify and help to secure business/commercial opportunities in Oman for UK companies, with a particular focus on the Energy, Power and Mining/Minerals Sectors.

General activities undertaken in support of this responsibility will include:

• Build and maintain effective network of relationships with key stakeholders in the Energy, Power and Mining sectors in Oman.
• Develop and maintain knowledge of key UK strengths in the Energy, Power and Mining sectors.
• Develop and maintain a pipeline of opportunities in the Energy, Power and Mining sectors; and promote specific opportunities to UK companies using DIT networks and tools as appropriate.
• Maintain “sector reports” in Oman for healthcare / life sciences and tourism / creative industries, and provide written and verbal briefings to visiting officials and companies on request.
• Work closely with the Energy and Mining sector teams (based in DIT HQ in London), in order to shape business planning, set realistic targets for campaigns including the (outgoing) High Value Campaign for Oil & Gas in Oman.
• Identify opportunities, and advertise them to eligible British companies.
• Build and/or maintain internal databases of contacts and opportunities.
• Plan and manage events in support of sectoral development; such as online webinars and conferences, and, in due course, face-to-face seminars, receptions and networking events.
• Provide assistance to companies exhibiting at trade fairs/exhibitions in Oman.
• Where relevant, provide lobbying support for British companies looking to secure contracts in Oman.

2. Lead DIT engagement in the Energy Transition debate in Oman, and seek to identify commercial opportunities.

General activities include:

• Collaborating with colleagues across the Embassy to monitor Energy Transition policy developments in Oman and the UK, and briefing relevant colleagues across the DIT network in the MEAP region and in London and the UK regions
• Researching and enhancing knowledge of the UK “offer” in relation to the production, storage, transmission, distribution and management of energy from renewable sources, including offshore and onshore wind, hydrogen and solar.
• Coordinating DIT / wider Embassy links with major commercial players in the Energy space including PDO, BP and Shell.
• Engaging UK Export Finance as appropriate with potential Renewable Energy projects in Oman.
• Contributing to verbal and written briefings for senior Government officials on request
• Briefing UK companies on the Energy Transition in Oman in support provided to them.

3. Support UK companies in the energy, power and mining sectors to attract investment, and to explore investment opportunities in Oman on request. And develop partnerships with Omani companies for Joint Ventures and / or investment.

General activities in this objective include:

• Maintaining and further developing relationships with Omani private investors with an interest in the energy, power and mining sectors
• Collaborating with team colleagues to maintain relationships with institutional investors in Oman in relation to energy, power and mining projects
• Assisting UK companies seeking partnerships with Omani companies for Joint Ventures and / or investment
• Working with team and Embassy colleagues to monitor upcoming privatisation and PPP projects in Oman, in the UK’s energy, power and mining sectors, and raising awareness of potential opportunities to UK companies and the DIT network.

4. More generally, all team members are expected to be able to:

• Maintain DIT / British Embassy management information systems, internal databases and other knowledge management systems.
• Answer generic enquiries on doing business in Oman.
• Undertake market research on non-priority sectors on request.
• Prepare visit programmes for UK government officials / VIPs / companies visiting from the UK, as required.
• Provide support to Omani officials visiting the UK, as required.
• Help to organise events (largely virtual at the present time).
• Support the corporate objectives of the British Embassy Muscat
• Contribute to DIT priorities for the MEAP region, working with DIT colleagues across the region on crosscutting priorities or issues, as well as working collaboratively with DIT colleagues in Oman.
• Travel to events outside of Oman in support of DIT objectives (and for personal development).

Key Competencies:

The candidate will need to demonstrate the following competencies and the values of who we are during the interview:

• Leading and Communicating: Effectiveness in this area is about leading from the front and communicating with clarity, conviction and enthusiasm. It’s about supporting principles of fairness of opportunity for all and a dedication to a diverse range of citizens.
• Collaborating and Partnering: People skilled in this area create and maintain positive, professional and trusting working relationships with a wide range of people within and outside the Civil Service to help get business done.
• Achieving Commercial Outcomes: Being effective in this area is about maintaining an economic, long-term focus in all activities. It’s about having a commercial, financial and sustainable mind-set to ensure all activities and services are delivering added value and working to stimulate economic growth.
• Delivering at Pace: Effectiveness in this area means focusing on delivering timely performance with energy and taking responsibility and accountability for quality outcomes. 

Our Values:

Who We Are is a statement bringing together the six values that most important in helping us to deliver for the UK internationally. Wherever we work in the world, we share a set of values that guides our decision-making, sets standards for our behaviour and helps us deliver the UK’s national interest internationally.

These values are underpinned by the UK Civil Service values (Integrity, Honesty, Objectivity, Impartiality) and complemented by values all One HMG colleagues bring from their own department, service or administration.

• Proficient user of IT and Microsoft Office.
• Excellent written and oral (English) communication and interpersonal skills,
• Ability to form collaborative partnerships/relationships and establish trust with others,
• Awareness of DIT structures, processes, and objectives.
• Prepared to travel to the UK and occasionally within the region for events and/or training.