Deputy Director for Trade & Investment, SEO

Department for International Trade
Singapore
Full Time
Posted
1 year ago

This is an exciting opportunity to join the Department for International Trade (DIT) team in the British High Commission Singapore as the Deputy Director, Trade & Investment for DIT Singapore.  The DIT supports UK based businesses to export globally, and encourages overseas companies to look to the UK as their global partner of choice and as a land alive with investment opportunities. 

DIT Singapore delivers trade and investment activity focused on meeting Singapore’s demand for cutting edge technology, financial and professional services, green maritime, emerging energy solutions and sustainable infrastructure, and supporting high quality investment into the UK. We also support UK companies seeking to export goods and services in other, smaller sectors.

In addition to supporting the Country Director in their role leading DIT Singapore, you will be responsible for the day to day operations of the DIT team, comprising 17 people (4 of whom you will directly manage).  Your primary measure of success will be the value of contracts you and your teams assist British companies to secure, the removal of barriers which prevent UK companies to trade effectively and the value of investment projects that you attract into the UK. 

This is a leadership position within the DIT team, with responsibilities spanning management, market access work, supporting business planning and the opportunity to lead on priority sectors and issues.   

You will be part of a supportive and collaborative network in the British High Commission (BHC), working closely with regional DIT colleagues, the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) colleagues, Invest Northern Ireland and Scottish Development International. 

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

1. Deputy Director

DIT is a department continually developing in approach and scope, and this role is key to support DIT Singapore to adapt to the changing processes and landscape. The core deputy functions will include:  

  • Working with the Country Director to develop and lead the team, improve processes, and ensure that DIT Singapore is able to respond to changing ways of working and priorities from DIT HQ
  • Helping develop the UK Government’s Regional Trade Plan for Asia Pacific, the British High Commission’s Country Plan and other relevant UK government strategies, and use these support the Country Director to develop strategies that will help deliver UK Government objectives;
  • Deputising for the Country Director as needed, and to act as their confidential source of advice, support and constructive challenge
  • Leading on specific areas of work as they emerge, from urgent inputs into HMG strategy to helping to coordinate VIP visits to managing major events
  • Building relationships with counterparts across the DIT APAC network to share updates, knowledge and insights and collaborate on shared objectives.

2. Trade and Investment

  • Directly manage teams, and take personal responsibility for certain priority sectors, to deliver trade and investment support, achieving agreed targets. Current sectors include: technology; emerging energy solutions; pharmaceuticals; financial and professional services; and maritime.
  • Manage teams of trade and investment managers and advisers, ensuring clear strategies, campaign plans and project pipelines are in place to achieve targets. Ensure the teams provide necessary input to plan and deliver activities, including inward and outward missions, seminars, exhibition groups and workshops, including high-level Ministerial and senior official visits.
  • Manage the team operating the Exporting Support Service which provides support to UK exporters in non-priority sectors.
  • Ensure that our campaigns identify new opportunities for investment in the UK, from both state owned and private businesses.
  • Identify new areas of business that align with the clean growth agenda and, with the Country Director, manage a strategic shift of our resources towards them.
  • Work closely with colleagues in the High Commission, and where appropriate in the UK, across Trade Policy, HMT, FCO prosperity fund, HMRC etc to ensure that all Trade and Investment activity in the sector is aligned with HMG policy.
  • Identify and lead on commercial opportunities flowing from policy work.
  • Relationship manage key UK companies across relevant sectors, and ensure that the service we provide to them is well received.
  • Manage the Marketing and Visits manager ensuring that they support the successful delivery of trade and investment campaigns and visits.

3. Market Access

  • Lead DIT Singapore’s approach to addressing market access barriers, including managing the Post Market Access Board, empowering teams and individuals to develop plans to resolve non-tariff barriers.
  • Work with colleagues, especially in trade policy, to develop plans to resolve barriers.
  • Ensure that our trade promotion campaigns are identifying, prioritising and capturing market access issues and that plans are in place to address them.
  • Operate as lead liaison point with Singapore Food Agency to support UK companies achieve and maintain approvals to export food and beverage to Singapore.

Resources managed (staff and expenditure)

  • 3 x HEO
  • 1 x EO


Language Requirement

  • English - fluent

Essential on arrival

  • A successful track record with significant experience in international trade and investment or business development (including market research, analysing market data and business support)
  • Experience of managing teams, as well as strong team work and collaboration skills, including confidence in suggesting new ideas and challenging senior stakeholders
  • Project or programme management experience, particularly in a policy or organisational change environment#
  • Excellent communication and influencing skills and the ability to work collaboratively with business contacts and colleagues in Singapore and the UK
  • A strong eye for detail and confidence in working with numbers and policy documents
  • A proactive, can-do approach, combined with high standards for delivery and meeting deadlines
  • Ability to work at pace and independently; and prioritise, managing an often heavy workload
  • Good judgement and political awareness
  • Excellent organisational, IT and administrative skills

Desirable

  • Experience working with the UK Government
  • Familiarity with Singapore or Asia Pacific region and the specifics of doing business in such markets

Seeing the Big Picture, Managing a Quality Service, Delivering at Pace, Leadership

14 September 2022

Senior Executive Officer (SEO)

Permanent

37.5

Asia Pacific

Singapore

Singapore

17 October 2022

We offer a competitive package, which includes basic salary of SGD 8,265 per month and a generous annual wage supplement (as part of total guaranteed remuneration) of an additional 2 months’ salary paid out in December each year, Central Provident Fund (CPF) payment in lieu for non-Permanent Resident foreign nationals, 23-days annual leave entitlement and a health insurance plan. The basic salary is non-negotiable.

We have a generous leave offer including: 23 days annual leave, increasing to 25 after 5 years' service, with the option to carry over up to 10 days into the subsequent leave year; 13 public holidays; generous maternity and paternity leave; and childcare leave. We encourage volunteerism and offer up to 3 days paid volunteer leave.

We offer medical insurance to support staff with the high costs of healthcare in Singapore and periodic reimbursement for the cost of eye tests and replacement eye wear.

Learning and development opportunities

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.

Working Patterns

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, and is committed to staff maintaining a healthy work-life balance.

Other information

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.

Please note that all successful candidates will be expected to serve a minimum of 6 months in their new role before being eligible to apply for further positions within the British High Commission.

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. Our values of Collaboration, Opportunity, Respect and Excellence (CORE) are our guiding principles. We aspire to live our values consistently in order to make the British High Commission a great place to work where staff feel valued, supported and inspired to be their best. 

The BHC will consider applications from candidates in countries from which travel to Singapore is feasible under prevailing Covid related borders restrictions. Singapore will allow entry for fully vaccinated with vaccine approved under WHO EUL. 

Please note that the deadline for applications is 23:55 on the day mentioned in the above field “Application deadline."

Please be aware that the deadline for submitting applications is considered to be the time zone for the country where the vacancy has arisen.

We advise you to allow enough time to complete and submit your full application since only applications completed and submitted before the deadline will be considered.

All applicants are required to mandatorily fill the online application form completely including the employment and educational details, experience, professional skills and behaviour based questions. We will be thoroughly reviewing the applications and incomplete form in any respect may not be considered while shortlisting for the next stage.

For inclusivity and diversity, please remove the following personal information when uploading your CV: name, address, email address, age, date of birth, gender, and nationality.

The start date mentioned in the job advert is a tentative start date and the successful candidate will be required to undergo security vetting procedures. Any offer of employment will be subject to the candidate achieving suitable clearances.

Location
British High Commission, 100 Tanglin Road, 247919