Department for International Trade roles (DIT)
DIT, Trade and Export Finance
Context:
The Department for International Trade (DIT) is the UK Government department charged with securing UK and global prosperity by promoting and financing international trade and investment, and championing free trade. In the Philippines, DIT works with colleagues in the British Embassy Manila and other partners to deliver trade objectives as part of the Asia Pacific (APAC) network and against an ambitious Regional Trade Plan. In APAC, DIT has over 200 staff working across 13 countries stretching from New Zealand to Myanmar, led by Her Majesty’s Trade Commissioner (HMTC) Natalie Black.
Main purpose of job:
The post advertised is an exciting and demanding role for an exceptional individual to become the Head of Export Finance in the Philippines. UK Export Finance (UKEF) is the UK’s export credit agency (ECA) and a government department that reports to the Secretary of State for International Trade. It works as an integral part of DIT strategy and operations. UKEF’s mission is to ensure that no viable UK export fails for lack of finance or insurance, while operating at no net cost to the taxpayer.
The successful applicant will lead on UKEF activities in the Philippines and an additional selected regional market (tbc). Working closely with colleagues in the Philippines, and across the APAC region, this role will lead engagement with local buyers, project sponsors, and associated stakeholder networks to develop export growth through the provision of trade finance and credit insurance. This includes identifying opportunities to develop the procurement of high value goods and services from the UK whilst developing understanding and creating impact around UKEF’s financial products and services.
The role sits within the DIT Manila team and will fully contribute to wider DIT objectives in support of the Asia Pacific Regional Trade Plan.
Roles and responsibilities / what will the jobholder be expected to achieve?
As UKEF’s sole representative in the Philippines (and additional market) , the jobholder will be responsible for developing strategic relationships and partnerships with businesses, government, and other key stakeholders in order to promote export growth in the Philippines and providing specialist market advice to potential exporters. The jobholder will also use their knowledge of structured finance and trade finance products in order to articulate financial solutions, which can be offered to support exporters.
The jobholder will collaborate with the DIT Philippines team (as part of the wider British Embassy Manila) and UKEF management (London) to deliver the aims of the Origination and Client Coverage (OCC) team. The jobholder will act as the eyes and ears of UKEF supporting the objectives of the OCC team to grow UKEF supported export wins by focussing in five (5) key areas of activity:
1. Build awareness of UKEF support capabilities
- Lead local campaigns to raise the profile of UKEF internationally through engagement with the business community, government bodies, and other stakeholder organisations.
- Deliver UKEF marketing plans, ensuring that messages are appropriate to the audience. Remove complexity and build understanding. Develop a localised message where possible.
- Develop and implement PR activities that educate the business community on UKEF products.
- Develop the UKEF knowledge base within the local DIT team.
2. Build and share market knowledge
- Develop detailed knowledge and insight of public and private sector organisations, including their strategic business planning and development objectives. Implement findings into UKEF strategic plans.
- Understand and interpret host government trade policy, priority sectors, and projects.
- Ensure timely export intelligence and insight for OCC, enabling opportunities for UKEF.
- Act as the lead source of UKEF advice to local DIT teams, including integration of UKEF objectives into regional priorities.
- Take the lead in leveraging expertise, knowledge, and networks of local staff, business chambers, and other local channels in their capacity as multipliers.
- Identify the competitive framework (export credit agencies and supply chains) and articulate the difference of the UKEF offer. Seek collaboration where appropriate.
- Exploit local knowledge, experience, and networks to gather intelligence of local commercial banking sectorial focus and appetite for risk.
3. Establish and maintain stakeholder relationships – UKEF primary stakeholders are buyers, UK exporters, project sponsors, host government departments, etc. This role will be required to:
- Identify key buyers and sponsors in the target markets in partnership with DIT Philippines.
- Exploit knowledge and experience to build robust business networks and develop calling plans to enhance the profile of UKEF.
- Oversee the development of mechanisms to record and coordinate business outreach activities.
- Maintain and develop regular contacts with local senior sponsors, banks, public sector organisations, government bodies and UK businesses to identify export opportunities that could benefit from UKEF support.
4. Create and deliver strategic plans
- Support DIT Philippines colleagues in country strategic planning and supporting industrial sector campaigns where ‘leading with finance’ could be an important driver.
- Embed UKEF offer into DIT campaign plans.
5. Progress business development opportunities
- Lead the local coordination of UKEF campaign activities.
- Engage the UK Export Finance Manager (EFM) Network to ensure seamless coordination between the UK supply chain and local sponsors.
- Lead UKEF local relationships with providers of trade finance and risk mitigation products (e.g., banks, credit insurers, brokers and others) and to introduce customers/ sponsors who require their services.
- Lead UKEF collaboration with the local DIT team to develop innovative export solutions for UK companies.
- Coordinate and support visits from UKEF management.
This list is not exhaustive; the Head of Export Finance may be required to carry out additional duties according to business needs.
Key competencies required for this role include:
- 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.
- Changing and Improving – Being open to change, suggesting ideas for improvements to the way things are done, and working in ‘smarter’, more focused ways. Creating and contributing to a culture of innovation and allowing people to consider and take managed risks.
- Leading and Communicating – Leading from the front and communicating with clarity, conviction, and enthusiasm, and managing and engaging with people with honesty and integrity. Establishing a strong direction and a persuasive future vision; managing and engaging with people with honesty and integrity, and upholding the reputation of the organisation.
- Achieving Commercial Outcomes – Having a commercial, financial and sustainable mind-set to ensure all activities and services are delivering added value. 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.
- Collaborating and Partnering – Being a team player who creates and maintains positive, professional and trusting working relationships with a wide range of people internally and externally.
Additional responsibilities
- Positive involvement in the CORE (Collaboration, Opportunity, Respect and Excellence) values of the British Embassy.
- The successful candidate will sit within DIT Manila and will be expected to contribute to the team’s wider objectives and play a fully participative role in the Manila team and wider-British Embassy.
- Work collaboratively and effectively with colleagues across the British Embassy to support the One HMG approach.
- S/he will be required to attend official functions outside of office hours and undertake regular travel (domestically and internationally) to service the Philippines and another APAC market (tbc), dependent on the business need.
- Prior experience of working within a banking/financial services environment with proven experience of business development. Specifically, engaging with third parties, and leading structured finance or trade finance transactions.
- Evidence of a strong professional network in the Philippines, specifically with local government, banks, consultancies and international financiers.
- Knowledge of Export Credit Agency instruments.
- Understanding of local capital markets and experience of navigating emerging/ growth markets with the ability to support complex financial service projects.
- Proficient in writing reports in English and delivering presentations to senior stakeholders.
- Knowledge of the UK trade priorities, along with experience of engagement with Philippine stakeholders.
Seeing the Big Picture, Making Effective Decisions, Leading and Communicating, Collaborating and Partnering, Achieving Commercial Outcomes
15 November 2020
D6 (L)
Full-time, Fixed term, with possibility of renewal
36
Asia Pacific
Philippines
Manila
British Embassy
1
200,522 (negotiable)
4 January 2021
The initial contract will be on a one (1) year term, with an option to renew for a second year.
Learning and development opportunities:
- We place a strong emphasis on learning and development. You will be encouraged to undertake developmental training and take advantage of Departmental training within DIT and the Embassy.
- There is plenty of opportunity to develop on the job, and to establish expertise in export finance policy.
- DIT Induction and UKEF training will be available for successful candidate. The successful candidate will also be expected to spend time in the UK to engage with key contacts in UKEF and UK Government Departments.
- This role provides an excellent opportunity to build up experience and expertise of working across the UK government.
This is a full-time post. The post holder would be able to work flexibly through altered working hours (e.g. starting early or late, occasional remote work arrangements as agreed by line manager), provided the post holder is able to make calls with colleagues in the UK when necessary and is able to travel as required.
The British Embassy offers a competitive compensation package, 36-hour work week, guaranteed 13th and 14th month pay, 20 days paid annual leave (calculated on Pro-rata basis if joined after 1 January), extensive medical insurance, life insurance and access to a guaranteed 5 days of learning opportunities a year.
No accommodation or relocation expenses are payable in connection with this position. You must have work authorisation for the Philippines in order to apply.
Employment offers are subject to successful clearance of pre-employment checks. Staff recruited locally by the British Embassy Manila is subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local Philippine employment law.
Candidates are expected to have a valid NBI Clearance.
All applications must be received before 23:55 (Philippine Standard Time) on the day of the deadline indicated above.
Incomplete application forms will not be taken into consideration, thus please ensure you provide the information requested as part of the application form, especially to the motivation and competency-based questions.
We regret to advise that we will only be contacting short-listed candidates.
Employees who are not eligible to pay local income tax: e.g. certain third-country nationals and spouses/partners of UK diplomats will have their salaries abated by an equivalent amount.
Indicated start date is provisional, and is dependent on completion of necessary pre-employment and security checks.
The British Embassy Manila is a large diplomatic mission (around 250 staff) delivering a dynamic and rapidly expanding programme of activity in support of the UK’s objectives on prosperity, security and consular matters. The Embassy is a modern, diverse and inclusive employer where everyone contributes to the Embassy’s CORE Values of Collaboration, Opportunity, Respect and Excellence.
To help us with our recruitment effort, please indicate on the application form /cover letter where (ngotenders.net) you saw this job posting.