View Vacancy – Temporary Trade and Investment Officer

Main purpose of job:

An opportunity to join a dynamic team focused on fostering transatlantic business relations between the US and its top economic partner in Europe.

The UK’s Department for International Trade (DIT) has overall responsibility for promoting UK trade across the world and attracting foreign investment to our economy. We are a specialised government body with responsibility for negotiating international trade policy, supporting business, as well as delivering an outward-looking trade diplomacy strategy.

DIT USA works closely with DIT headquarters in London, with related agencies in the UK and with representatives of the English Regions and the UK’s Devolved Administrations in the US, to assist US companies looking to invest in the UK and help UK companies identify opportunities to trade with the US (see www.gov.uk/DIT).

The British Consulate in Chicago is seeking a qualified Trade and Investment Officer (TIO) for the Technology & Creative sectors on a temporary basis for six months. The TIO will be based at the British Consulate in Chicago and will work across the Technology & Creative sectors throughout the fourteen state Chicago consular region, with a focus on, but not exclusively limited to, Illinois, Colorado and Minneapolis.

Reporting to the Regional Director in Chicago, the position presents a unique opportunity to proactively work with US companies seeking to launch into, or expand in, the UK market, and to identify export opportunities for market ready UK companies in the Technology & Creative sectors to achieve export wins for UK companies. The TIO will work as part of a North America and UK-wide virtual team and is responsible for line managing one Trade & Investment Associate.

The successful candidate will have sound knowledge of enterprise software, fast growth start-ups, cyber security, artificial intelligence, data management and analytics, cloud computing, and electronic systems as well as marketing and advertising. Some familiarisation with telecommunications, mobile apps, and entertainment technologies is desirable but not a necessity.

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

• Forge strong relationships with U.S. and UK business leaders, trade associations and other key partners within the Technology & Creative sectors.
• Identify and support U.S prospects looking to invest in the UK, and relationship manage U.S. companies already active in the UK, helping them to maintain or grow their footprint. Build a pipeline of ambitious projects.
• Develop, position and implement marketing strategies, conceive activities, and produce events with the goals of generating leads of potential UK investors from the Midwest, building relationships, and highlighting the strengths of the UK’s market offer to such potential investors.
• Facilitate UK export growth by delivering business development activities to support innovative UK companies, including virtual trade missions and campaigns at online industry conferences.
• Work to support UK prosperity and economic growth, as well as UK trade policy objectives, in collaboration with other UK government agencies. Identify opportunities to showcase the benefits of the UK/US economic relationship to external audiences.
• Manage and/or support virtual visits by senior UK government officials by securing high-level meetings, organizing activities, and preparing briefing materials.
• Maintain current knowledge of market trends, incentives, and centres of excellence in both the U.S. and the UK. Promote UK strengths effectively to a U.S. audience

Essential on arrival:

• Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in a relevant field.
• 3+ years of relevant professional experience, either in international business and/or the technology and/or creative industries.
• Ability to work effectively with companies and organizations at a senior level, with a record of fostering business relationships and a demonstrated ability to think strategically.
• Familiarity with both the US and the UK business environments.
• A demonstrable record of meeting challenging targets. Proactive, self-starting approach to work; ability to deliver effectively under limited day-to-day supervision in a deadline sensitive, fast-paced environment.
• Strong client management and project management experience.
• Excellent research and writing skills, with an ability to provide clear, concise summaries and to respond to ad hoc requests at short notice.
• Strong networking skills.
• Proficiency in standard Microsoft applications and client relationship management software.
  

Important: Under US State Department requirements, the British Embassy Group may only employ, as non-diplomatic staff, persons who are US citizens, US Green Card holders or A or NATO visa holders with EAD cards. If you hold a visa other than an A or NATO visa you are not currently eligible to work at the Embassy. Please refer to our website for information on exceptions to this policy at www.ukinusa.fco.gov.uk. All candidates will be subject to background checks and security clearance.