JOB SUMMARY

This is an exciting time to join the Department for Business and Trade (DBT). We bring together policy, promotion and financial expertise to break down barriers to trade and investment in markets across the world to help businesses succeed. This is a great opportunity to be part of an international team that contributes to the success of the UK’s trade goals. This role requires the successful candidate to be willing to be cleared to SC (Security Check) level.
UK Defence and Security Exports (UKDSE) within DBT supports the defence, security and cyber sectors. These are strategically important sectors that contribute significantly to our exports, national prosperity and inward investment, and are fundamental to the UK’s national security and our wider diplomatic and economic interests around the world. Customers in the defence sector are exclusively other Governments, so HMG support is a fundamental component of successful export campaigns.
The successful candidate should expect to be working in their office base for between 40%-60% of their time and attend the London office at short notice when occasion arises. Travel both within the UK and overseas will also be required.

JOB DESCRIPTION

As a Desk Officer, your role is key to ensuring opportunities are seized and exploited to support HMG defence, security industry and export objectives; this offers the opportunity to work with a high degree of autonomy and influence to drive activity in market. It will let you demonstrate creativity to achieve your objective whilst working with a wide group of dedicated individuals from a range of organisations. Defence and security exports regularly occupy discussion time at the most senior bilateral meetings, including at PM level. As result, the role provides an unparalleled opportunity to gain hands-on experience in ‘trade diplomacy’ and statecraft.

This role will give you the chance to demonstrate and develop a wide range of skills and gain considerable experience.

• Build and maintain working relationships with counterparts across Whitehall, colleagues at Posts and within UK industry.
• Work with Posts, military advisers, and capability advisers to identify and communicate export opportunities to wider UKDSE and to UK industry.
• Lead campaign teams of a range of stakeholders to position the UK as partner of choice and support industry export campaigns.
• Plan and support inward visits from both markets to ensure a complementary balance of HMG and industry engagement, including at exhibitions in the UK.
• Work with wider UKDSE and Post’s to plan the UK presence at exhibitions, including support to UK Ministers and senior officials in attendance.
• Identify and advise on opportunities at all levels to enhance the UK relationships with relevant overseas markets, concentrating on key organisations and stakeholders in relation to defence and security procurement.
• Develop and maintain a broader understanding of the wider world region and inter-dependencies to support core work, as well as that of the wider team.

NATIONALITY REQUIREMENTS

Open to UK nationals only.

This role will give you the chance to demonstrate and develop a wide range of skills and gain considerable experience.

• Build and maintain working relationships with counterparts across Whitehall, colleagues at Posts and within UK industry.
• Work with Posts, military advisers, and capability advisers to identify and communicate export opportunities to wider UKDSE and to UK industry.
• Lead campaign teams of a range of stakeholders to position the UK as partner of choice and support industry export campaigns.
• Plan and support inward visits from both markets to ensure a complementary balance of HMG and industry engagement, including at exhibitions in the UK.
• Work with wider UKDSE and Post’s to plan the UK presence at exhibitions, including support to UK Ministers and senior officials in attendance.
• Identify and advise on opportunities at all levels to enhance the UK relationships with relevant overseas markets, concentrating on key organisations and stakeholders in relation to defence and security procurement.
• Develop and maintain a broader understanding of the wider world region and inter-dependencies to support core work, as well as that of the wider team