Senior Desk Officer

at  Department for Business and Trade

JOB SUMMARY

In recent years, state-level threats have become ever more prevalent in our national security community. How we partner with other nations through our defence and security exports is a critical a component of statecraft and the UK’s ability to build its industrial base to defeat adversaries (for example Russia in Ukraine which is increasingly a war of industrial production). UKDSE within DBT supports the defence, security and cyber sectors. How we cooperate internationally through defence and security exports is a critical component of statecraft in an era of state competition.
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. Defence, security, and cyber exports are also critical to developing capabilities that not only reinforce NATO but also help our allies bolster their own security.
Customers in the defence sector are exclusively other Governments, so HMG support is a fundamental component of successful export campaigns. Overseas Governments often view procurement of UK equipment as part of a wider bilateral relationship – and the topic regularly occupies 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.

JOB DESCRIPTION

These are unusual roles which combine operational delivery with the opportunity to gain an understanding of geopolitics, economics, and military capability. Your work will resonate and have consequences outside HMG (i.e. with industry and foreign Governments) to an extent which is rare for this grade. You would be responsible for leading HMG priority defence, security, and cyber export campaigns within a defined geographic portfolio (specific countries will vary from role to role). This is a high-profile, challenging, and international-facing role for an ambitious individual looking to progress their career in the defence, security, cyber, diplomatic or trade professional anchors. You would be working in a critical policy area that provides one of HMG’s key tools for supporting national security, bilateral relationships, and prosperity.
Specifically, you would spearhead key export campaigns of significant strategic value to HMG – planning, coordinating, and delivering activity to ensure UK success. This could include delivering campaigns worth £billions to the UK economy. You would work closely with senior stakeholders across Whitehall (particularly the MOD and FCDO), UK embassies across the world and industry – including ministers, ambassadors, defence attachés, senior military personnel, CEOs and many others. You would regularly represent HMG in engaging with representatives from foreign governments. You would travel internationally to attend key meetings, events, and conferences. You would deliver key events within the UK such as the Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI), Farnborough International Airshow, and Security & Policing.
You would develop a working knowledge of defence, security, and cyber equipment, supported by a team of capability advisors from the UK Armed Forces providing expert guidance. You would be required to travel where necessary, both internationally and domestically. You will also be required to travel to London at short notice for high-level meetings. You would be expected to line manage at least one HEO Desk Officer. You would have a high degree of autonomy and personal responsibility to drive export campaigns within your markets, but will also have full support from your management chain. You would have the opportunity to develop a broad network across Whitehall, the UK’s overseas network and industry.

You will be expected to:-

• Plan, coordinate, and deliver key UK defence, security, and cyber export campaigns.
• Build and maintain a network of stakeholders across Whitehall, the UK overseas network and industry to identify and develop emerging export opportunities.
• Identify and manage interdependencies with colleagues across HMG – including the MoD, FCDO, NSS and embassies across your geographic portfolio.
• Represent HMG in engagements with external stakeholders – including industry and representatives from foreign governments.
• Plan and deliver key events in the UK and overseas, ensuring that relevant UK capabilities are showcased to potential overseas customers.
• Brief ministers, senior officials, and senior military personnel on export opportunities, plus support them where relevant during overseas visits.

• Develop and maintain a broader understanding of your geographic portfolio and interdependencies with other work streams.Line manage at least one HEO Desk Officer.

PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES & SKILLS

• Organised and able to apply a robust approach to their work.
• Emotionally intelligent and able to work with a range of stakeholders.
• Resilient and able to deliver priority tasks under pressure.
• Proactive and able to take the initiative without constant supervision.
• Committed to taking a leadership role, both in their core work and in corporate culture.A team player who relishes in supporting their wider team.

NATIONALITY REQUIREMENTS

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

International Trade
Operational Delivery