View Vacancy – Trade Officer – Department for Business and Trade

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) is the Trade, Investment Promotion and Negotiation organisation for the UK. We promote British trade and investment across the world; we support UK businesses overseas and attract foreign investment to our shores. We have 3,000 staff across the globe in over 100 countries. 

DBT divides the world into 9 regions, each led by one of His Majesty’s Trade Commissioners. The Latin American and the Caribbean Region (LATAC) network is led from Sao Paulo and is represented in 19 posts with a team of over 140.

The UK’s Department for Business and Trade in Ecuador is recruiting for the position of Trade Officer at the British Embassy in Quito to contribute to our ambition of supporting British businesses to increase their exports to Ecuador.

The position will report directly to the Director of Trade & Investment in Ecuador. It will start in November 2024, subject to the successful receipt of the required security clearance. 

Roles and responsibilities:

• Opening Markets: The successful candidate will work with the Country Trade Director and the regional Trade Policy manager to help identify issues that inhibit access to the Ecuadorean market for British exporters and investors (“Market Access Barriers”) and accurately log these barriers on the Digital Market Access Service (“DMAS”).
• Trade Support:  You will log all interactions with British companies on the CRM system “DataHub” and support the Ecuador Country Trade Director to ensure management of the most important relationships on a systematic account management basis.  You will conduct market, sector and trade policy research, including but not limited to export/business opportunities, tenders, market pointers, potential agency opportunities and potential joint venture opportunities in the Ecuadorean economy using open source information (websites, spreadsheets, newspapers etc), reproducing results using a variety of channels to allow this information to be communicated effectively.  From this research you will assist in the development of sector briefs appropriate for the Ecuadorean market.  Where required you will provide assistance to visiting British businesses by delivering information on the general economic and political situation in Ecuador and providing introductions to suitable contacts.
• Promotion: You will research, monitor and distribute opportunities for UK companies as well as develop and maintain distribution lists across sectors to alert UK companies to opportunities in the Ecuadorean market. You will use the British Embassy’s (social) media reach in Ecuador to promote the UK offer, working with the local and regional communications teams and using material developed by DBT so as to further develop Ecuadorean perceptions of the creativity and innovation of British industry, showcasing the UK’s unique strengths as a destination for Ecuadorean overseas investment and champion global free trade and UK trade values. You will assist with planning and logistics for trade missions and trade promotion events and attend local trade exhibitions and events as required.  You will attend meetings of British business groups and trade associations as required.  You will maintain the local database of British companies and sources of supply so you are able to direct local queries accordingly.
• Delivery: You will manage the Ecuador DBT budget, ensuring all expenditure is recorded accurately to enable the Trade Director to deliver a monthly budget report. You will provide research and draft papers requested by UK companies. You are expected to maintain a working knowledge of the Ecuadorean economy and political developments.  You are expected to undertake other related activities as may be assigned from time to time.  You will play a wider role as a member of the wider DBT Ecuador and British Embassy Quito teams.

Resources managed (staff and expenditure): 
N/A

• Understanding of Ecuadorean business environment;
• Have the ability to read and interpret data accurately;
• Have the ability to conduct detailed market and sector research via various mediums and accurately reflect this data in internal mechanisms and external promotional material;
• Intermediate to advanced computer literacy across all MS platforms and other data platforms with the ability to learn new computer software quickly;
• Excellent planning and administrative skills;
• Have the ability to work effectively in a remote location occasionally (e.g. from home);
• Excellent written and oral communications and interpersonal skills;
• Have the ability to work as a part of a larger, virtual team.

Language requirements: 

Language:  Spanish and English 
Level of language required: fluent both orally and writing