Department for International Trade roles (DIT)
DIT
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About the Department for International Trade in North America
You will join the Department for International Trade which promotes exports to the North American continent of British goods and services, two way investment between the UK and North America, and mutual improved market access to help grow our bilateral trade. (See www.gov.uk/DIT for further information).
Within British Embassies, High Commissions and Consulates across North America, the Department for International Trade has 150+ members of staff spread across 14 locations, forming a dynamic team that focuses on various sectors including advanced engineering, technology, financial services, life sciences, food & drink, retail and energy & environment. The North America team works closely with our Headquarters teams in London, regional and local colleagues, representatives of the three Devolved Administrations of Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales, with a key objective of driving transatlantic trade and foreign investment into the UK. This is an exciting time to work for the Department for International Trade (DIT). Our mission is to promote British trade and investment across the world which is vital for the prosperity of the UK. DIT brings together export promotion, investment attraction and market access policy work to break down barriers to trade and investment to help businesses succeed.
This is a great opportunity to be part of an international team that contributes to the success of the UK’s trade goals.
Main Purpose of Role
This is a challenging and rewarding job. The jobholder needs to provide strong leadership of a high-performing sector team, good judgement in prioritising competing demands and keeping their teams focused on the delivery of the North America network’s strategy and objectives. They will also need strong communication and influencing skills and commercial awareness in order to perform their client-facing role and be credible with senior stakeholders in business and government.
The Head of Sector contributes to the implementation of DIT’s Regional Trade Plan for North America and is specifically responsible for developing the Integrated Sector Plan and agreeing targets and strategy for the Automotive and Future Mobility sectors.
Roles and responsibilities:
Leadership and Management
- Provide strategic leadership for the North America Civil Automotive sector team through the development of a NA-wide Integrated Sector Plan, in consultation with UK sector teams, policy and wider UK Government Departments (BEIS, DfT, UKEF, Science & Innovation networks, UK Research Institutes, etc.).
- Drawing on sector expertise, provide thought leadership for the Automotive sector within the UK Government and in conjunction with Trade Policy colleagues, seek to influence trade policy in the UK as it relates to the sector.
- Drive strategic discussion for their sector in short, medium and long term and serves as primary docking point for UK Sector Directors and London HQ.
- Lead on and coordinate the business planning process for the Automotive sector team in consultation, liaising with the other AEM and Tech sector leads, UK sector teams, policy and other UK Government colleagues.
- Lead on resource planning for the automotive sector team, reporting in to the Senior Leadership Advisory Group.
- Provide in-person support across North America, including other geographical regions in which they are not based, around major events, VIP visits, key account management or high value investment and export deals.
- Co-ordinate sector-related Learning & Development based on training needs of the Automotive sector team.
- Manage sector budgets to within 1% of overall allocation.
- Work closely with the DIT Regional Director in Chicago to provide regional leadership, including in support of Consul General and Deputy Consul General, to develop and deliver regional trade and investment strategies, and to provide corporate leadership for the wider DIT team at Post.
Delivery
- Accountable for delivering the North America Integrated Sector Plan and meeting DIT targets (e.g. Exports and Foreign Direct Investment). Maintains and regularly reviews progress against targets with team members including investment and export pipeline reviews.
- Demonstrate strategic leadership working with partners in the Network on matters relevant to the businesses ranging from the UK-US Free Trade Agreement (FTA), the UK’s climate ambitions including Presidency of COP26, and UK-US collaboration to ‘build back better’ following the Coronavirus pandemic. This includes working with business to gather intelligence, supporting policy colleagues to tackle market access barriers, influencing businesses on commitments to net-zero, and collaborating to identify and build long-term strategic economic initiatives to underpin innovative economies of the future.
- Proactively work with Strategic Communications and Marketing to initiate, develop and implement sector plans including digital campaigns, PR and collateral development to ensure DIT maximises impact from successful investment and export wins, and showcases UK leadership and innovation in key sectors.
- Lead the team in building and maintaining strong relationships with US and UK business leaders, trade associations and other key partners, to support UK prosperity and economic growth. Works in collaboration with DfT, BEIS and other UK Government Departments, to showcase the benefits of the UK/North America economic relationship to external audiences.
- Lead on key account management of existing and potential high value investors and trade partners, at CEO/Board level from North America for the automotive sector ensuring effective frameworks are in place and responsibilities agreed with other senior leaders across the network including Consuls-General, Deputy Trade Commissioners, Regional Directors etc., and that business intelligence is used to inform business planning and pipeline development.
Resources managed (staff and expenditure):
- Strategic leadership of North America Automotive sector Team (c. 7 staff)
- Financial responsibility for multiple programme activities from various sources including other Government Stakeholders and commercial sponsorships.
- Management of local team running cost budgets.
- Postgraduate degree and/or undergraduate degree.
- At least 10 years’ professional experience, gained within a business or economic development role.
- At least 5 years’ leadership experience.
- Proven competence in leading strategy development and business planning
- Proven advisory and influencing skills at senior levels –able to express ideas and messages clearly and concisely, both orally and in written communication.
- An understanding of international relations and UK Government policy. Ability to build, manage and foster a highly productive, team-oriented, agile culture.
- Ability to influence others and gain buy-in at the team, peer and executive level.
- An excellent network of industry contacts in the Automotive sector and the ability to develop new networks, including demonstrating the ability to develop strategic relationships with senior industry figures.
- Proven experience delivering creative and innovative solutions to business challenges.
- Excellent interpersonal, presentation and networking skills.
- Under US State Department requirements, the UK Government in the US may only employ, as non-diplomatic staff, persons who are US citizens, US Permanent Residents or A visa holders with EAD cards*. If you hold a visa other than an A visa you are not currently eligible to work at our office. Please refer to our website for information on exceptions to this policy at www.gov.uk/government/world/usa. All selected candidates are subject to background checks and will require a security clearance prior to starting work. *A visas are acceptable at the Embassy and Consulates. The UK Mission to the UN (UKMIS) accepts G visas, and British Defense Staff (BDS) outposts accept A or NATO visas.
- An in-depth knowledge of the US and the Canadian economies.
Seeing the Big Picture, Making Effective Decisions, Leading and Communicating, Collaborating and Partnering, Achieving Commercial Outcomes
5 April 2021
D6 (L)
Full-time, Permanent
40
North America, Caribbean and British Overseas Territories
United States
Chicago
British Consulate General
1
$108,499
1 June 2021
Learning and development opportunities:
We actively encourage learning & development and will develop a specific plan in collaboration with the successful candidate.
The successful candidate will already have strong leadership, interpersonal, communication and analytical skills and will be encouraged to develop these further. The candidate will have access to a range of in-house and e-learning Learning opportunities, with the potential for overseas training. From time to time there will be requirements to assist other teams within the Department, working with other members of the team to build overall experience through delivery of training and awareness session.
Courses and other opportunities to be completed in the first year include:
- FCDO and DIT induction
- Familiarisation visit to DIT HQ in London and a regional organisation
- Shadowing a DIT operation in a North American post
- Trade Policy training
Opportunities also exist for senior leader mentorship.
Working patterns:
Yes, flexible working can be considered for the right candidate.
The UK Government operating in the US offers a substantial benefits package including generous leave, a choice of medical insurance, 401(k) matching up to 7%, extensive learning opportunities and a great work/life balance.
Employees who are not liable to pay local income tax on their Mission salary, eg some non-local national staff and some spouses or partners of UK diplomatic staff, will have their salaries abated by an equivalent amount.
Internal candidates must inform their supervisor before they apply to a different position.
Only successful candidates will be contacted. Please no phone calls. Due to the high volume of resumes we receive, we cannot guarantee consideration of your application if the submission instructions are not properly followed.
The British Embassy is committed to a policy of equal opportunities and to creating a diverse working environment, free from discrimination, where everyone is included and treated fairly, based on merit alone. We are an equal opportunity employer, making all employment decisions without regard to race, gender, religion, national origin, citizenship, disability, age, sexual orientation, political affiliation or any other criterion protected by law.
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