This is a hugely exciting time to join the Department for Business and Trade in Asia Pacific (APAC). The UK Government is building stronger ties with the APAC region, and particularly with South East Asia, as part of its strategic Indo-Pacific Tilt. Trade and investment sits at the heart of this deepening relationship – the dynamic growth of South East Asian economies is presenting immensely exciting opportunities for UK companies, across sectors ranging from technology to healthcare, education to renewable energy. New Free Trade Agreements with Singapore and Vietnam have strengthened the UK’s bilateral trade ties in the region, and the UK has formally agreed accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) trade bloc.

This is a broad and varied role, offering an exciting opportunity to drive key elements of DBT’s extensive portfolio in South East Asia (SEA). You will have extensive exposure to teams across SEA, supporting DBT Country Directors and working closely with the Deputy Trade Commissioner for SEA to enable effective delivery across the region. You will strengthen relationships between DBT teams through effective L&D strategies which focus on upskilling staff on priority subjects. You will chair monthly SEA Country Director calls, driving key strategic initiatives in the region and supporting teams with delivery.  You will take ownership of priority policy areas for the region, ensuring SEA is fully in step with central Secretary of State and Ministerial steers. This could include leading key work streams relating to DBT’s FTA Utilisation project, or promoting the HMG ‘net zero agenda. You will manage vital relationships between HMG and delivery partners, including the UK-ASEAN Business Council, ensuring UK companies are properly accessing new opportunities in SEA markets. You will hold partners accountable, ensuring robust management of contract funding. You will monitor and intervene to raise SEA performance against KPIs including exports, investment and market access priorities. You will have regular responsibility for delivering ad-hoc priority projects, including Ministerial visits to the region, ASEAN event delivery, and co-ordinating regional input into central HQ commissioning. Additionally, you will work closely with APAC’s Director of Exports based in Vietnam and provide support on regional operational co-ordination projects relating to performance, profession and engagement.

The successful candidate will have excellent leadership and communication skills, and proven ability in managing high-profile, complex work. You will be a strong relationship builder, with proven ability in engaging effectively with new and diverse stakeholders. You will be able to manage multiple workstreams, and to cope effectively with fast-paced activity. You will have demonstrable experience in communicating confidently with colleagues and external partners. You will need to show awareness of UK Government priorities in the APAC region, and motivation to champion the UK trade and clean growth offers. You will be based in Vietnam, so will be expected to make a positive contribution to the DBT and wider HMG team across the Vietnam network.  Travel around South East Asia may be required, depending on COVID19 protocols.

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

• Your primary role will be to support the Deputy Trade Commissioner in South East Asia, and Country Directors across the region, with the delivery of regional DBT priorities. You will work closely with DTC’s team in Singapore, and with the APAC Director for Exports, based in Vietnam, on priority policy and project delivery across the region. This work will be fast-paced and varied, depending on central HMG steers.
• You will be accountable for relationship management with key DBT partners, including regional business chambers, the UK-ASEAN Business Council, and other regional trade bodies. You will ensure that delegated contracts are managed robustly and hold partners accountable through comprehensive financial and performance reporting.
• You will support the delivery of DBT teams across the region, building close relationships with Country Directors and regional sector leads. You will communicate clearly on behalf of DBT HQ in London, to ensure regional teams are looped into evolving policy and project priorities. You will support the operational delivery of SEA region, devising and driving creative change management programmes to enable more effective delivery.
• You will manage the monthly regional DBT calls, setting the agenda and chairing the meetings. You will use this forum to strengthen regional team culture and enable effective sharing of good practice.
• You will lead on priority policy work streams in the region, ensuring SEA DBT are fully aligned to the Regional Trade Plan. You will hold teams accountable for effective delivery and reporting against central HQ commissioning. You will lead on ad hoc project delivery, offering resilience and expertise to regional teams.
• You will be a collaborative and collegiate member of the Ho Chi Minh City Consulate team, and the wider HMG Vietnam network, leading corporate initiatives to strengthen network culture and delivery.

• Proactive self-starting approach to work with the ability to deliver effectively with limited day-to-day supervision in a fast-paced environment;
• Regional awareness of South East Asia, and awareness of UK Government priorities in the region;
• Demonstrable ability to build a strong network and collaborate effectively with diverse stakeholders;
• Ability to work under pressure and to tight deadlines;
• IT proficiency, including Office and the ability to learn FCDO applications/systems.

Language requirements: 

Language: English

Level of language required:  Excellent written and oral communication skills in English is essential for this role. Fluency in Vietnamese would be an additional advantage given the location of the role.

Desirable qualifications, skills and experience  

• Proactive self-starting approach to work with the ability to deliver effectively with limited day-to-day supervision in a fast-paced environment;
• Regional awareness of South East Asia, and awareness of UK Government priorities in the region;
• Demonstrable ability to build a strong network and collaborate effectively with diverse stakeholders;
• Ability to work under pressure and to tight deadlines;
• IT proficiency, including Office and the ability to learn FCDO applications/systems.

Required behaviours  
Changing and Improving, Managing a Quality Service, Communicating and Influencing, Working Together

Application deadline: 1 June 2023

Grade: Higher Executive Officer (HEO)

Type of Position: Full-time, Fixed term, with possibility of renewal

Working hours per week: 39

Region: Asia Pacific

Country/Territory: Vietnam

Location (City): Ho Chi Minh City

Type of Post: British Consulate General

Number of vacancies: 1

Salary Currency: VND

Salary: VND 57,137,529

Start Date: 17 July 2023

Other benefits and conditions of employment 

This position is being advertised as a full-time, fixed-term role with possibility of renewal at Ho Chi Minh City.

Learning and development opportunities (and any specific training courses to be completed):

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office is committed to developing its staff. There will be opportunities for formal training alongside collaborating with a wide range of colleagues delivering on-the-job learning.

• Working in a diplomatic mission
• International policy skills course
• UK Diplomatic Academy foundation learning
• Regional and London-based formal learning opportunities

Employment offers are subject to successful clearance of pre-employment and security checks. Staff who are locally recruited by the British Embassy are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local employment law.

No accommodation or relocation expenses are payable in connection with this position. Visa sponsorship may be possible for non-Vietnamese nationals if meet local requirements.  

Employees who are not liable to pay local income tax on their Mission salary may have their salaries reduced by the equivalent local income tax amount.

Disabled and ethnic minority applicants will be invited to interviews if meeting the minimum requirement of the job.

Working patterns:

This is a full-time post with 39.5 of working hours per week.

Additional information  

Candidates selected for interview will also be assessed through a policy exercise. Candidates will be presented with a scenario commonly faced in the role, and will then be given 5 minutes preparation time followed by 5 minutes to present the steps they would take to overcome the challenge.

All applications must be received before 23:55 (Local Vietnam Time) on the day of the deadline indicated above.

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

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.

Only shortlisted candidates for interview will be contacted. Interviewees will be assessed on the core behaviours/qualifications listed above. Unsuccessful candidates will be notified via the system in due time. Appointable candidates who were unsuccessful may be placed on a ‘reserve list’.  If during the reserve period of 6 months the same or a largely similar role becomes available, that role may be offered to the second or subsequent candidate”.

Please check the application centre regularly for any update on your application.

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