View Vacancy – BK – Trade Manager (Defence and Decarbonisation), HEO

Main purpose of job:

The British Embassy Bangkok is a large diplomatic mission of around 150 staff delivering a dynamic and rapidly expanding programme of activity in support of the UK’s objectives including on economic and sustainable development, trade, security, open societies, consular services and law enforcement. This is an exciting opportunity to join our diverse team.  

Reporting to the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) Deputy Country Director, you will lead a team responsible for increasing bilateral trade between UK and Thailand. You will do this by successfully supporting UK companies to understand, explore and export goods and services to Thailand in the defence and decarbonisation (energy, transport, and infrastructure) sectors.
You will use your stakeholder management, communication, and business development skills to curate pipelines of UK business opportunities, will run events as required to increase pipeline activity, and coordinate UK Government support to specific deals and campaigns as required. Working across teams in the British Embassy and in the UK, you will also be responsible for informing, creating and leading work to better understand and shape these markets in Thailand to be more conducive to UK companies.  
The Secretary of State considers this to be a top priority for Thailand and it is listed accordingly as our top objective in the single country plan. Your primary measure of success will be demonstrable export success across SMEs and multinationals alongside reduction in non-tariff and process barriers in your sectors of responsibility.

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

You will lead a team delivering the day-to-day work on exports and trade promotion in defence and decarbonisation sectors for the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) in Thailand. Working closely with teams across the Embassy, wider APAC region and London you will engage with British companies, Thai companies and Thai Government in leading a team to understand the defence and decarbonisation market; identifying tangible business opportunities in Thailand and matching these to UK companies through the delivery of trade promotion activities such as (but not exclusively) webinars, trade shows, trade missions, projects and bespoke campaigns and deal-making. You will also utilise your market understanding in identifying and proposing innovative solutions to trade barriers and restrictions.  
We engender a one team approach across the embassy, so at times we will ask you to undertake representational duties, such as attending receptions on behalf of Her Majesty’s Government or support other departments in their work. On occasion these activities may be outside of Embassy standard working hours. 
The jobholder will have access to a range of excellent learning resources via the International Academy and DBT internal training schemes. The jobholder will be encouraged to join the trade cadre and will also be a member of the DBT APAC exports and sector teams, all of which will provide a substantial support package to help the successful candidate grow and develop.

The job holder will be responsible for: 

• Business development, export promotion & pipeline development:  working with colleagues across the Embassy and wider DBT you will lead your team to understand the defence, security and decarbonisation market in Thailand and communicate this to UK businesses and UK Government. Using this understanding you will devise and execute a strategy to support UK businesses to develop their export and business partnerships with Thailand. In executing this strategy, you will design, plan, secure resources, and lead on pipeline generation activities (e.g.) specific events, webinars, trade shows and missions. You will perform deal-making and brokering to support UK companies as required to deliver substantive campaigns and projects and will utilise high-level engagement opportunities (such as visits by Senior Officials and Ministers) to progress export and business opportunities.
• Lead defence trade promotion   – working alongside colleagues from across the Embassy and the DBT Commercial Councillor you will lead on defence trade promotion as a primary sector. You will use your expertise and networks across the Thai military, government and industrial defence establishment to seek out opportunities for UK businesses and deliver partnerships.
• Advise on the UK approach to Thailand market access – working closely with trade policy colleagues, and senior management across the APAC region and Embassy, you will lead the creation of a strategy to tackle market access barriers in the defence and decarbonisation markets in Thailand. You will support the successful delivery of the annual UK-Thailand Joint Economic Trade Committee (JETCO) by leading the design and oversee the implementation of activities relating to defence and decarbonization in associated workplans deliver positive outcomes for the UK.
• Business, academic, and external engagement – in order to deliver our trade promotion and export campaigns and objectives you will develop and represent DBT Thailand in engagements with private, government and 3rd sectors in the decarbonisation and defence markets both in Thailand and the UK. Through these trusted relationships you will gain a greater understanding of the market (demand side) and UK capability (supply side) thereby providing an ability to spot opportunities for UK businesses and the networks to execute delivery.
• Network & HQ Relationships – coordinate closely with DBT in London and the APAC sector leads in defence and decarbonisation, to establish and deliver substantive export campaigns, and provide intelligence on wider market trends in Thailand and Asia.
  Depending on budgets, there may also be an opportunity to manage or advise on programming funds, to enable additional research, engagement, or other activities to support DBT Thailand’s export objectives.

Other:

You may be required at times to travel overseas to trade and other events alongside Thai stakeholders and businesses. 

The post-holder will also be  expected to take on a cross-cutting corporate contribution, either within British Embassy Thailand or across DBT APAC.   

In times of peak operation demand, work flexibly within the Section and within the Embassy.
 
All staff will be expected to make a corporate contribution to the smooth running of the British Embassy, either through a committee membership or another voluntary role.

Resources managed (staff and expenditure):

• 2 staffs
• Depending on available budgets, there may be some opportunity to manage or oversee limited programme funding to support market opening activity in Thailand. 

   

•    Experience of business development or trade promotion as relevant to the role, or other relevant sales experience
•    Proven ability to work with business (either in the private sector or public sector)
•    Proven stakeholder relationship management skills
•    Proven ability to lead and manage a team
•    Excellent communication skills

Language requirements: 

• Language: English and Thai
• Level of language required:  A minimum English proficiency equivalent to IELTS level 6.5 (no official test result needed)