Department for International Trade roles (DIT)
DIT
Main purpose of job:
Following the announcement of a new UK Digital Trade Network, we are recruiting for the first cohort of UK Digital Trade Network Officers, based in markets across Asia Pacific. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to help create and develop this new international network across the region, supporting the Regional Director (also based in Singapore) and delivering on the potential for increased digital collaboration between the UK and Singapore.
The aim of the Digital Trade Network (DTN) is to enhance the UK’s digital tech capability overseas, bringing together digital trade policy; digital tech trade and investment promotion; and a new in-market tech entrepreneur network to support scaling UK tech companies internationalise.
As a Digital Trade Network Officer, you will ensure the UK is well placed as the global economy evolves following COVID-19 and demand for digital tech increases – from improving supply chain resilience to managing expanded e-commerce – creating new trade and investment opportunities for the UK and its international partners.
Digital Trade Network Objectives
The Digital Trade Network is a joint DIT and DCMS pilot project, with the aim of increasing productivity and growth through:
- Trade: increasing trade through strengthened commercial networks in-market, driven by UK scale up appetite and supported by a new expert network;
- Investment: promoting the strength of the UK digital tech sector overseas, and the UK as a leading destination for digital tech businesses, investment and talent;
- Increasing UK Productivity: bringing the best digital tech innovation to the UK to improve productivity and drive our future growth, and enabling UK companies to form innovation partnerships in high growth markets through which to grow global demand for digital services and boost innovation diffusion
- Evolving global norms and standards: increasing the UK’s engagement with fast developing digital tech markets, and contributing to the ongoing development of the norms and standards which will govern the global digital ecosystem; and
- Digital Trade and Digital Partnerships: informing development of digital partnerships and working with partner countries to grow digital market access, opening and expanding new markets for digital tech innovation and trade.
These objectives will be delivered by Digital Trade Network Officers based across the region, supported by two Digital Trade Network Managers in the UK and overseen by the Regional Director of the APAC Digital Trade Network in Singapore.
Job Description
This recruitment is for a C5L Digital Trade Network Officer based in Singapore.
DTN Officers in the region share some common objectives (specific areas of focus for this C5L role in Singapore are covered further down).
Digital Trade Network Officers will be expected to work closely together with existing DIT and FCDO resource at post; the wider regional DTN team; the Tech Nation International team (and/or other future 3rd party partners); and with the UK-based DTN Managers, to provide a seamless service that will underpin the success of this Network.
Digital Trade Network Officers will complement existing DIT and FCDO resource at post (e.g. tech sector teams and trade policy teams) by providing digital tech policy expertise and join-up with policy departments (eg DCMS, DIT, BEIS). DTN Officers will cover all key areas – digital trade policy and tech trade and investment – under a single role.
Common Objectives:
Digital tech trade and investment
- Raising the profile of UK tech in the region
- Improving our understanding of digital issues in Asia Pacific to inform policy making in the UK
- Identifying and addressing the main digital market access issues in the region/market
- Securing overseas investment into the UK tech sector and supporting wider HMG objectives
- Helping the next wave of UK scale-ups land and navigate the Asia Pacific market, supported by Tech Nation (and/or other 3rd party partners)
- Facilitating a network of UK tech expats that can support this process by providing help on investment advice; finding local partners; and navigating local markets
- Developing ‘innovation partnerships’ between UK and overseas innovation agencies and between tech business and APAC corporates
- Promoting the UK as a destination for highly skilled tech talent through the Global Talent, Tech Nation, Startup and Innovator visa routes.
- Supporting partnerships with relevant OGDs (eg BEIS) and government bodies (e.g. Catapults), and working with the Science and Innovation Network (SIN) where appropriate to increase R&D investment in the UK
- Supporting trade missions, working closely with the DIT Tech Sector Team
- Developing DTN programmes with the DIT Global Entrepreneurship Programme and Venture Capital Teams
Digital trade policy
- Supporting increased UK engagement with key overseas markets on digital market access issues
- Supporting and/or shaping (dependent on existing post resource) emerging digital trade policies and initiatives
- Supporting the development of new UK ‘digital economy partnerships/agreements’ in the region
- Identifying UK priorities for digital trade, and developing increased understanding of the impact of improving market access and increasing trade efficiency through digitalisation.
In terms of specific areas of focus for this particular role, it is expected to include (but is not limited to) the following, working closely with existing Singapore staff:
- Supporting the negotiation and delivery of a UK-Singapore Digital Economy Agreement, working alongside the existing trade policy lead
- Scoping and delivering new digital innovation partnerships between UK and Singapore innovation centres/incubators
- Exploring the potential for a UK-Singapore TeXchange Programme, working with the UK-Israel Tech Hub, and delivering this if feasible
- Acting as a bridge between Tech Nation (and/or any other 3rd party provider to the DTN) and the DIT Singapore team
- Supporting and delivering London Tech Week events from a Singapore perspective, including – for example – a DIT Growth Capital event for Singapore investors
- Working with DIT HQ to promote Singapore business challenges/innovation programmes to suitable UK tech businesses
- Supporting delivery of the Singapore Country Plan as part of the wider British High Commission team, and contributing to corporate activity at post
In addition, with this role co-located with the Regional Director for the Asia Pacific Digital Trade Network (DTN) in Singapore, the successful candidate will also be expected to support the Regional Director in delivery of wider, regional initiatives across Asia Pacific, particularly those which encompass a number of markets (e.g. ASEAN) or where dedicated DTN Officers are not present.
As a new role, within a pilot programme, the balance of these responsibilities will need to be monitored, but the expectation initially is that it will be a roughly 50/50 split between Singapore focussed activities and APAC wide support.
- Knowledge/experience of the digital tech sector
- Strong communication, leadership and project management skills
- Fluent written and spoken English
- Ability to build effective relationships, work with a wide variety of stakeholders and to take initiative
- Attention to detail
- Flexibility, and able to balance competing work priorities
Seeing the Big Picture, Leading and Communicating, Collaborating and Partnering
23 April 2021
C5 (L)
Fixed Term, Full-time
37.5
24 months
Asia Pacific
Singapore
Singapore
British High Commission
1
8,265
7 June 2021
We offer a competitive package, which includes basic salary of SGD 8, 265 per month and annual wage supplement [an additional 2 months’ salary paid out in December each year], 23-day annual leave entitlement in pro rata and insurance plan.
Due to the Government of Singapore’s measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19, including safe distancing and travel restrictions, we are only able to accept applications from those currently resident in Singapore. The successful applicant will likely be required to work from home until safe distancing measures are relaxed.
This is a fixed-term role until March 2023.
We offer time and financial support for the successful candidate to take advantage of professional learning and development opportunities inside and outside of the organisation.
The BHC has an active Learning & Development Committee which works hard to provide a comprehensive L&D offer. There is a wide range of options available for personal development including training courses, coaching and mentoring, job-shadowing, presentations and learning sets. Staff have access to a wide variety of online resources through the International Academy and Civil Service Learning. Staff are strongly encouraged to take advantage of all available opportunities.
All new hires undertake a workplace induction and there are a number of mandatory e-learning courses that must be completed in order to pass probation.
Normal working hours are 37.5 per week: 8.30am to 5.00pm from Monday to Friday.
BHC Singapore supports and promotes flexible working as a crucial part of our inclusive offering.
In addition to the duties which this job normally entails, you may from time to time be required to undertake additional or other duties as necessary to meet the needs of the High Commission, including playing a part in the corporate life of the mission and supporting any crisis response.
No accommodation or relocation expenses are payable in connection with this position. You must have or be able to obtain a local work permit which we will sponsor.
Staff recruited locally by the British High Commission are subject to terms and conditions of service according to local Singapore employment law.
Employment offers are subject to successful clearance of pre-employment checks. Only short-listed applications will be called for personal interviews.
The British High Commission is an equal opportunities employer and does not discriminate on grounds of ethnic origin, race, religious beliefs, age, disability, gender or sexual orientation.
Employees who are not liable to pay local income tax on their Mission salary may have their salaries reduced by the equivalent local income tax amount.
Please note that your application must be submitted before 23:55 on the day mentioned in the above field “Application deadline”.
Incomplete application forms will not be taken into consideration, so please ensure you provide the information requested. We regret to advise that we will only be contacting short-listed candidates. Applicants called for an interview will be assessed on the core competencies listed above.
Indicated start date is provisional and subject to successful completion of reference and security checks.
To those applicants not shortlisted, we extend our appreciation for considering the British Government as a potential employer.
Employees who are not liable to pay local income tax on their Mission salary may have their salaries reduced by the equivalent local income tax amount.
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