Trade and Investment Officer – Department for International Trade

  • Full Time
  • Lusaka, Zambia
  • - / Month
  • Applications have closed

HM Government

The British Government is an inclusive and diversity-friendly employer.  We value difference, promote equality and challenge discrimination, enhancing our organisational capability. We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We do not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, colour, ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual orientation, age, veteran status or other category protected by law. We promote family-friendly flexible working opportunities, where operational and security needs allow.

Job Category: Department for International Trade roles (DIT)
Job Subcategory: Department for International Trade (DIT)

Job Description (Roles and Responsibilities)

About the Department:

The Department for International Trade (DIT) is the Trade Promotion and Negotiation organisation for the UK. We promote UK businesses overseas and attract foreign investment to our shores. We have 3,000 staff across the globe in over 100 countries. Our aspiration is to address some of the challenges facing the UK, by helping British businesses to internationalise and grow overseas.

DITAfrica is one of the nine DIT global networks and is led by Emma Wade-Smith, HM Trade Commissioner (HMTC) for Africa.The Africa Region is exciting and energising and UK firms have a strong presence here, making the UK the the second largest investor on the continent. With some of the strongest growing economies in the world and booming population growth there are numerous more opportunities for UK firms; from tech start-ups in the West to infrastructure in the East. The Network’s role is to promote these opportunities and position the UK as the continent’s number one trading partner and investor.

You will join the Department for International Trade’s Africa network. This role will provide crucial expertise to enable the expansion.

Main Purpose of Role

Your role will have three elements:

  • You will help build interest, offer advice and give support to British businesses seeking to trade and invest in Zambia.
  • You will develop and manage a database of specialised sector knowledge, maintain relations with relevant public and private stakeholders and maintain channels to facilitate UK-Zambia trade and investment.
  • Assist the DIT Country Director in delivering market targets, recording transactions, reporting activities and communicating within the wider DIT Africa network.

Role

Reporting to the DIT Country Director, you will help identify and deliver on opportunities for both new and existing UK business. Your routine will entail maintaining a network of operational level contacts across government and private sector, processing and sharing information with internal and external stakehholders, monitoring procurement opportunities and proactively contacting British businesses, ensuring a good quality service is provided to them.

Key responsibilities will include:

  • Raise profile of Zambia as trade and investment destination for British businesses. Agriculture, energy and mining sectors will be priority sectors and subject to ongoing review
  • Engage directly with British companies who have expressed interest in exploring commercial opportunities in Zambia
  • Build a network of public and private sector stakeholders to understand key economic / business priorities and developments in order to build a pipeline of project opportunities; identify potential local partners for British companies; as well as inform the UK’s trade and investment policy for Zambia
  • Prepare local market briefs, economic sector reports and competitor analysis to encourage and support British company’s commercial interests in Zambia
  • As a member of the Economic Growth and Prosperity team at the British high Commission Zambia, promote the UK government’s vision to accelerate job creation and support inclusive growth in Zambia, including work with UK financial institutions such as CDC Group, UK Export Finance and PIDG
  • Update DIT’s relationship management system by uploading all stakeholder interactions
  • Contribute to development of country, sector and Africa-wide business plans
  • Contribute to achieving DIT in-country and regional annual performance targets
  • Co-ordinate planning and logistics of inward missions of British businesses to Zambia whilst highlighting government agencies and industries with potential to yield high value information and contacts
  • Support revenue generation target by delivering the UK government’s Overseas Market Information Service
  • Support planning and co-ordination of VIP visits to Zambia to highlight UK government engagement and offer for Zambia
  • Plan and co-ordinate networking events
  • Identify and record market access barriers that British companies encounter whilst conducting or exploring business in Zambia. Develop as well as deliver appropriate resolution strategies

Essential qualifications, skills and experience

  • You will need to be a self-starter with good sense of initiative and reporting culture
  • At least three years’ professional experience supporting private sector companies/organisations in doing business and investment promotion
  • Excellent drafting skills in English, and fluency of written and spoken English is a prerequisite
  • Relevant postgraduate degree and/or undergraduate degree and other professional qualification
  • Be a problem solver, show strong organizational skills and resourcefulness as a dependable team player
  • Demonstrate strong work ethic, ability to work amid tight deadlines and good professional judgment
  • Sound knowledge of Zambia’s key economic developments and business environment
  • A clear understanding of linkages between economic growth and private sector development
  • Excellent communication and presentation skills and ability to work in a virtual team

Desirable qualifications, skills and experience

  • Client facing experience, for example with a professional services business (managing businesses, understanding issues and pursuing strategies together)
  • Experience of working in the public sector with a blend of private sector knowledge will be an advantage
  • Specific sector experience (agriculture, energy, mining)
  • Experience of working with Zambia Government

Required competencies

Collaborating and Partnering, Achieving Commercial Outcomes, Managing a Quality Service, Delivering at Pace

Application deadline  7 September 2020
Grade  B3 (L)
Type of Position  Permanent
Region  Africa
Country/Territory  Zambia
Location (City)  Lusaka
Type of Post  British High Commission
Number of vacancies  1
Starting monthly salary ()  ZMW 16,053.12
Start Date  2 November 2020

Other benefits and conditions of employment  Working Hours Monday – Thursday 8:00 – 4:45, Friday 8:00 – 1:00

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

  • The successful applicant will have access to a range of Learning and Development opportunities both in-house and e-learning, with the potential for overseas training. From time to time there will be requirements to assist other teams within the Department, working with other members of the team to build overall experience through delivery of training and awareness sessions.

Additional information

  • The British High Commission Lusaka is an equal opportunities employer, dedicated to inclusivity, a diverse workforce and valuing difference.
  • Staff recruited locally by the British High Commission Lusaka are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to Zambian employment law.

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