View Vacancy – JKT – Senior Trade Manager: UK Northern Powerhouse C4(L)

Main purpose of job:

To help UK businesses from the Northern Powerhouse region (the north of England) win business in Indonesia, and in other key ASEAN markets.

This is an exciting time to join the UK’s Department for International Trade (DIT). Our aim is to promote British trade and investment across the world which is vital for the prosperity of the UK. DIT brings together policy, promotion, and financial expertise to break down barriers to trade and investment in markets across the world 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 and investment goals. The role is for a new trade officer for the Northern Powerhouse region (NPH; the North West, North East and Yorkshire & Humber) with a remit covering multiple sectors including Technology, Life Sciences, healthcare, education and clean energy.

The role is part of the UK Government’s ‘Levelling Up’ agenda, which includes increasing trade and investment support for the NPH region and will attract high levels of interest and support from UK ministers and senior officials. The job-holder will work with the British Embassy’s Regional Outreach Team with officers based in Jakarta (city and province), Surabaya / East Java, Semarang / Central Java, Bandung / West Java, and Bali to identify opportunities for Indonesia’s regional centres to do business with the UK’s regional hubs. 

The role will be based in the Department for International Trade (DIT) Team of the British Embassy, Jakarta. You will work with an existing team of around 20 supportive and collegiate staff and as part of the wider British Embassy community. You will also work closely with the DIT NPH team, relevant DIT sector experts based in London and the British Chamber of Commerce in Indonesia to achieve your objective. You will also be part of DIT’s Asia Pacific (APAC) network. DIT APAC is one of the nine DIT global networks and is led by Natalie Black, HM Trade Commissioner (HMTC) based in Singapore. 

Roles and responsibilities / what will the jobholder be expected to achieve: 

Trade promotion

• Identify NPH companies looking to enter or expand in the Indonesian market;
• Provide structured account management for those companies, understanding their business interests, and matching them with appropriate commercial opportunities and partners in the Indonesian (and wider ASEAN) market
• Develop a pipeline of opportunities specifically of interest to those clients across all relevant sectors; work closely with the DIT Indonesia sector managers to identify relevant existing opportunities as well as scoping new opportunities in the market; support NPH companies to successfully win those opportunities
• Identify with NPH companies the market entry barriers they face and work with the Embassy’s trade policy and market access team to resolve those challenges through targeted lobbying and technical assistance. 
• Work with UK Export Finance country representative to ensure that appropriate financing solutions are offered to NPH companies.

NPH Expertise 

• Be the expert at post regarding NPH capability and expertise. 
• Set up a business network of companies from the northern part of England, and alumni of the NPH’s world-class universities, working locally who can help to champion the region’s strengths.
• Provide DIT colleagues and local partners with in-country support including (but not limited to): contributing to briefing and reporting as required, facilitating official programmes, trade missions, webinars and events and connecting visitors with senior stakeholders in market. 
• Ensure NPH opportunities and expertise are fed into existing campaigns in Indonesia

Marketing and communications

• Work with the British Chamber of Commerce and Embassy colleagues to plan and deliver activities, including inward and outward missions, seminars, exhibition groups and workshops, including high-level Ministerial and senior official visits.
• Work with the DIT /Embassy marketing teams to disseminate information of interest to Indonesian and UK stakeholders through a range of media.
• Provide an enhanced package of on the ground support for incoming trade missions by working with Post and in-market business support providers.
• Scope out potential for bespoke NPH missions, working with UK based teams to organise and deliver the programme. 
• Increase regional traction for inward ‘Meet the Buyer’ events in the NPH region and use knowledge of regional sector strengths to recruit relevant buyers to participate.

Working with others

• Maintain strong working relationships with DIT UK Regions, DIT Sector colleagues, regional stakeholders, local colleagues and in-market business support providers.
• Provide a monthly update on activity.

Learning and development opportunities (and any specific training courses to be completed):

There will be an opportunity for a one month induction in the UK when the Covid situation allows.

In general, we place a strong emphasis on learning and development.  You will be encouraged to undertake developmental training and get involved in corporate activities.  We have a dedicated programme which supports the overall DIT/FCDO learning and development offer. 

Working patterns:

●         Job share: No  

●         Working from home (1-2 days a week): Yes

●         Working from home (3-4 days a week): Where necessary

●         Fully remote working (with jobholder based in the UK): No

●         Fully remote working (with jobholder based overseas): No

●         Compressed hours / Flexi-time: Yes  

●         Reduced hours/days: No

●         Term time only: No  

The British Embassy in Jakarta is currently operating on a “Work From Home” basis, and it is likely that the successful candidate would start this role on the same basis.

• English and Bahasa Indonesia – fluent spoken and written
• Knowledge of international trade and/or trade promotion.
• A degree plus minimum 3 years’ experience working with/in business. 
• Cultural awareness and good knowledge of the Indonesia business environment.  
• Experience of developing relationships and building influence with multiple stakeholders at a senior level in the public and private sector. 
• High-quality day-to-day data management. 
• Events and project management skills and experience.
• Ability to draft succinct reports and provide briefing for generalist and specialist audiences, including for ministers, often to very tight deadlines.  
• Good interpersonal and communication skills.  
• Team player who can work on their own initiative and across virtual teams