Department for International Trade roles (DIT)
DIT
Main purpose of role:
The Enhanced International Support Services (EISS) programme is the UK’s Trade Support services programme, ensuring the delivery of a quality service to up 5,000 small and medium sized businesses looking to export overseas each year. In APAC, there will be an EISS APAC Hub managing and triaging enquires who will work with EISS Market Advisors across the region to guide local delivery of the service.
EISS Market Officers and Advisors will ensure local delivery of service to UK companies with export enquiries. You will conduct free market research services for companies, working with them to understand their requirements, undertaking desk research and supplying relevant market information. You will be asked to cover a cross-section of sectors and types of enquiry and will need to be adaptable to this – providing credible advice to a range of companies, whilst not being able to be expert on every sector. As such, you will lead on engagement with UK businesses, analysing their options in the market. You will utilize a wide range of external sources of information and where relevant suggest companies suitable for B2B meetings.
You will, with support from the Hub, manage the local Overseas Referral Network (ORN). The ORN is composed of potential suppliers of follow up advice and support for UK businesses, who can work with companies to get them set up in country. Your role is to source potential suppliers, meet with them, and have an oversight of the services delivered. Though ORN services are delivered outside of DIT, you will monitor customer satisfaction and will be able to add or remove companies from the ORN.
Roles and responsibilities / what will the jobholder be expected to achieve?:
As this is a new role to deliver a new service, roles and responsibilities may evolve and the jobholder will need to be flexible and adaptive. Below is an indication of the likely core aspects of the role:
Account Management and Market Enquiry Services
- Increase the value of UK exports by being the main point of contact for small and medium sized businesses looking to export to the Vietnamese market, providing advice on the complexities of gaining entry to the market. This requires an in-depth understanding of the market, research and knowledge of the UK businesses looking to export.
- Providing guidance to customers/senior business stakeholders, supporting them to identify a route to market, assessing their market entry needs, flagging potential challenges and advising on options for making progress.
- Produce, research and keep up to date various ‘off the shelf’ market information products. These may include overviews of key sectors of interest, as well as ‘how to’ guides relating to core aspects of setting up operations in country.
- Ensure export account management processes are followed and businesses are linked in to the International Trade Advisor Network.
- Maintain a thorough and in-depth knowledge of the market in Vietnam, working closely with the broader Consulate and Embassy trade teams, and passing on opportunities to those teams where appropriate.
- Join EISS, Regional, and Devolved Administration teams’ UK facing promotional opportunities when they occur, and support visibility of market opportunities to SMEs.
- Work proactively to build demand within the local market, seeking out export opportunities and tenders, and identifying and building relationships with major local businesses and importers.
- Help UK businesses establish effective export strategies and if needed, recommend additional options from the local Overseas Referral Network, ensuring regular follow up to remain a key player in their client’s export journey, tracking the service delivery to ensure it is fit for purpose and identify if further help is needed
Overseas Referral Network
- Manage the Overseas Referral Network (ORN) for Vietnam, with support from the EISS APAC hub. Source potential suppliers, meet with them, and have an oversight of the services delivered. Monitor customer satisfaction with services provided by ORN suppliers, add or remove companies from the ORN as necessary whilst managing relationships.
- Work with the APAC EISS Hub to maintain and increase market intelligence, to promote dialogue with clients, and to build relationships with business, including with a view to updating and expanding the Overseas Referral Network.
Resources managed (staff and expenditure):
No direct line management or budget management
Essential on arrival:
- At least 4 years’ experience in a customer facing and/or trade related job
- Strong stakeholder management skills, comfortable dealing with senior officials and business people
- Ability to produce clear and accurate work with attention to detail
- Ability to work independently and use initiative to solve problems
- Ability to work under pressure and to tight deadlines
- Experience working with regional and virtual teams
- Ability to adapt and work in a start-up environment
- Strong skills in Word, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint
Language requirements:
Language: English and Vietnamese
Level of language required: Proficient
- Familiarity with UK business and/or UK culture.
Making Effective Decisions, Leading and Communicating, Managing a Quality Service, Delivering at Pace
8 November 2021
C4 (L)
Fixed Term, Full-time
39.5 hours gross
12 months
Asia Pacific
Vietnam
Ho Chi Minh City
British Consulate General
1
VND
VND 53,809,569 per month
15 January 2022
31 March 2023
This position is being advertised as a 14 months fixed term position in Ho Chi Minh (until 31 March 2023), and will be extended subject to performance and availability of funding.
Learning and development opportunities (and any specific training courses to be completed):
The British Consulate is committed to being a learning and development organisation and encourages all staff to pursue continued learning and development in the workplace. We offer a supportive and friendly working environment where staff work to the values of: integrity, honesty, objectivity and impartiality. Everyone is encouraged to take responsibility, be innovative and work together.
Employment offers are subject to successful clearance of pre-employment and security checks. Staff who are locally recruited by the British Embassy are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local employment law.
No accommodation or relocation expenses are payable in connection with this position. Visa sponsorship may be possible for non-Vietnamese nationals if meet local requirements.
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.
Disabled and ethnic minority applicants will be invited to interviews if meeting the minimum requirement of the job.
Working patterns:
Some flexibility in terms of working location and hours may be possible, under discussion with line manager.
All applications must be received before 23:55 (Local Vietnam Time) on the day of the deadline indicated above.
Please be aware that the deadline for submitting applications is considered to be the time zone for the country where the vacancy has arisen.
Incomplete application forms will not be taken into consideration, so please ensure you provide the information requested. Only shortlisted candidates for interview will be contacted. Interviewees will be assessed on the core competencies listed above. Unsuccessful candidates will be notified via the system in due time.
Indicated start date is provisional and subject to successful completion of reference and security checks.
To those applicants not short-listed, we extend our appreciation for considering the British Government as a potential employer.
Please check the application centre regularly for any update on your application.
To help us track our recruitment effort, please indicate on the application form /in your cover letter where (ngotenders.net) you saw this job posting.