Career and role as HMTC Africa
Key Responsibilities
- In close cooperation with DBT HQ and Ambassadors and High Commissioners in the region, you will provide strategic direction to your teams in order to achieve maximum benefit for the UK economy;
- Lead regional policy initiatives to improve the environment in which business operates, whether tackling market access, regulatory or legislative challenges, as well as identifying strategies to unlock trade barriers in specific sectors;
- Cultivate impactful and powerful strategic relationships with major stakeholders from the UK and across the region, including: business leaders; Africa ministers and government officials, investors; UK Ministers and senior officials across all government departments;
- Ensure all commercial teams across the region forecast and deliver targeted export and investment programmes where there are high value opportunities maximizing leverage from UK Government;
- Take a cross-sector view to pursue direct investment into the UK, particularly in line with current HMG strategies;
- Provide strategic insight, analysis and advice on pursuing an ambitious economic relationship with the Africa region;
- Provide inspiring leadership to a team of currently, up to 100 staff and build high performing, expert, engaged and inclusive teams;
- As a member of DBT’s leadership team, contribute to the strategic and operational direction of the department, as well as acting as a very senior representative of HMG in the region.
About the Role
The role of His Britannic Majesty’s Trade Commissioner (HMTC) for the African region is to lead and coordinate work to grow the UK's trade and investment relationship with countries of Africa. This role is at the heart of the UK’s growth mission, Industrial Strategy delivery and trade agenda. You will be accountable to the Secretary of State for Business and Trade and work with governments and business to shape the UK's trade relationships with the region, coordinating closely with Ambassadors and High Commissioners across the region and Departments in London. You will:
- Set priorities for and lead the work of your widespread regional team of currently, up to 100 people on export promotion and investment to the UK and support work to remove market access barriers and open markets for UK business across the region;
- Be accountable for a regional budget and lead a flexible team in markets in the region. You will have a high level of autonomy and will lead our efforts in Africa as head of the UK diplomatic mission.
- Be a senior representative of His Majesty’s Government and be responsible for building and maintaining relationships with a wide range of stakeholders at the highest level across private and public sectors. This opportunity offers breadth and profile and offers complexity, challenge, and the chance to shape the UK's future economic relationship with Africa
“It’s a big job, and one that will suit someone who wants to make a tangible difference in a fascinating context. If you are interested in increasing UK trade and investment with this vibrant part of the world, I would warmly welcome an application from you.”
