View Vacancy – DXB – DIT Trade Service Unit Operations Manager C4(L)

The British Embassy Dubai has a vacancy for a Trade Service Unit Operations Manager under the Department for International Trade (DIT).

The Department for International Trade (DIT) is the Trade and Investment arm for the UK. We promote British trade and investment across the world, support UK business overseas, and attract foreign investment to our shores. We have over 3,000 staff across the globe in over 100 countries.

DIT divides the world into nine (9) regions, each led by Her Majesty’s Trade Commissioner (HMTC). The Middle East, Afghanistan and Pakistan (MEAP) region is led from Dubai and represents 12 markets with a team of some 120 staff.

The MEAP Trade Service Unit is MEAP’s universal entry point for UK business. We are currently looking to recruit an Operations Manager who will overseas the day-to-day operations and have a tangible and effective input into the strategic direction of the Hub.

This role will line manage three (3) staff in the UAE and will connect teams in the UK, sector specialists, International Trade Advisors from the UK regions, and colleagues across MEAP with the core aim of helping UK SMEs enter the MEAP market and win business. The ideal candidate will be experienced, high-performing, delivery-focussed, and likely to have business/ trade related experience in MEAP markets. 

Duties and responsibilities:

• Leading, managing, and handling the day-to-day operations of the MEAP Trade Service Unit hub. Adopting an effective relationship management approach to UK SME’s, International Trade Advisors in the UK, and colleagues in MEAP.
• Engage with the DIT HQ programme implementers for the Enhanced International Support Service (EISS).
• Engage with and set up the Overseas Referral Network in UAE – companies who can further support UK SME’s enter the market as and when appropriate.
• Act as an advocate and expert of the Trade Service Unit Hub, externally and internally embed the Hub into MEAP team’s ways of working.
• Help build a pipeline of SMEs to operate across MEAP by anticipating opportunities and challenges.
• Drive KPI across MEAP in terms of response times and quality performance.
• Line manage three (3) Trade Service Unit Advisors.

The above list is not exhaustive and the jobholder will be required to be flexible and take on other ad hoc tasks as required, including participating in the Embassy’s emergency planning and any response to a crisis. 

Key competencies required:

• Leading and Communicating – Showing our pride and passion for public service, leading from the front and communicating with clarity, conviction, integrity and enthusiasm. Championing difference and external experience, supporting principles of fairness of opportunity for all and a dedication to a diverse range of citizens. Managing and engaging with people in a straightforward, truthful and candid way, and upholding the reputation of the organisation.
• Collaborating and Partnering – Being a team player who creates and maintains positive, professional and trusting working relationships with a wide range of people within and outside the organisation to help get business done. Working collaboratively, sharing information appropriately, and building supportive, responsive relationships with colleagues and stakeholders, whilst having the confidence to challenge assumptions. Being approachable, delivering business objectives through creating an inclusive environment, encouraging collaboration, building effective partnerships including relationships with Ministers and welcoming challenge however uncomfortable.
• Seeing the Big Picture – Having an in-depth understanding and knowledge of how your role fits with and supports organisational objectives and the wider public needs. Focusing your contribution on the activities which will meet the organisation’s goals and deliver the greatest value. Scanning the wider context and taking account of wider impacts to develop long-term implementation strategies that maximise opportunities to add value and support economic, sustainable growth.
• Achieving Commercial Outcomes – Maintaining an economic, long-term focus in all activities. Having a commercial, financial and sustainable mind-set to ensure all activities and services are delivering added value and working to stimulate economic growth. Identifying economic, market, and customer issues and using these to promote innovative business models, commercial partnerships, and agreements to deliver greatest value; and ensuring tight commercial controls of finances, resources and contracts to meet strategic priorities.

• Relevant professional or hands-on trade related experience in MEAP region and/ or holds a relevant undergraduate degree.
• Ability to operationalise HQ policy in challenging markets.
• At least 2 years’ experience working in a trade-related and investment field or a relevant customer facing role.
• Proven track record of team leadership including remote team management.
• Able to organise and prioritise workload and meet deadlines and changing priorities whilst maintaining close attention to detail and without compromising the quality of the work.
• Resilient, decisive with a can-do attitude, and calm under pressure and with a proactive approach to problem solving.
• Team player who is capable of working on their own initiative as well as with others, including in a fast-paced and changing environment.
• Excellent communication skills in English. Able to express ideas and messages clearly and concisely, both orally and in written communication.
• Strong IT skills and well-versed in the use of Microsoft Office applications (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Teams).