Trade Adviser on Future Opportunities, Department for International Trade (DIT) at the British High Commission

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.

We are recruiting to fill the vacant position below:

Job Title: Trade Adviser on Future Opportunities, Department for International Trade (DIT), British Deputy High Commission Lagos, Nigeria

Location: Lagos
Grade: C4 (L)
Type of Position: Fixed Term, Full-time
Job Category: Other British Government Departments (Partners across Government, including UK Visas)
Job Subcategory: Department for International Trade (DIT)

Main Purpose of Job
As part of the UK Government’s trade team, to lead on horizon scanning to identify future West Africa commercial opportunities for UK companies outside of the oil and gas sector in Nigeria and the mining sector in Ghana and Guinea; to work across the West Africa team to build the evidence-base and generate a pipeline of business activity, with the ultimate aim of demonstrating high value potential in different areas of the economy.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Nigeria is the largest economy in Africa, the continent’s largest oil producer and population coupled with long-established cultural and commercial links with the UK. It has huge long-term economic potential with vast natural resources and a young and growing population.
• As a result Nigeria offers a wide array of business opportunities , especially in the oil and gas sector but increasingly in the areas of renewable energy, infrastructure and agriculture. Current trade figures are good but we want to   do better.
• As part of the British Government’s commitment to increasing UK exports worldwide to £1 trillion by 2020, the UK Government’s trade team in Nigeria, with offices in   both Lagos and Abuja, is developing a trade strategy to identify and better   tap into this vast potential and increase trade between Nigeria and the UK.  
• The Nigeria team is also shifting to a regional approach, working with trade   colleagues in Ghana, Guinea, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire and Senegal to maximise   the trading relationship with the UK across West Africa.
• We are looking for a highly organised person with a strong attention to detail, ability to take the initiative, work accurately within deadlines and with limited supervision, and be a strong team member who works collaboratively.
• Through research and networks, understand the shape and direction of business in West Africa, to determine those sectors and markets which hold the most potential for UK companies to land sizeable deals;
• Keep up-to-date with economic developments and innovations in Nigeria, Ghana and   other economies in West Africa to be able to identify the boom sectors of the future;
• Work with colleagues across the West Africa trade team to build a robust and evidenced case for turning potential opportunities into actual business success for UK companies, including by working closely with businesses to help them land deals to prove the value of different sectors and markets and contribute to the trade team’s overall targets on exports;
• Build links to trade teams across the rest of Africa to ensure a coherent, pan-African, approach to future opportunities where possible.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the West Africa trade team’s effort to spot the developing and growing sectors of the economy in Nigeria and across the region; identify those opportunities where British business could be successful; develop a coherent and compelling evidence base to demonstrate the multi-million pound scale of these opportunities; and work with UK companies to help position them for business success, to demonstrate the value and potential in new sectors; Work with colleagues in East and Southern Africa to identify synergies and linkages between current and future business opportunities across Sub-Saharan Africa.

Essential Qualifications and Experience  

• Strong oral and written English communication skills;
• 2+ years of relevant experience especially in large, complex environments, in particular a sales background;
• Excellent IT skills with ability in MS Office suite applications e.g. Outlook, Excel, Word and PowerPoint;
• Experience in research ;
• Ability to effectively work under tight deadlines;
• Resourcefulness in solving problems;
• Good interpersonal skills and comfortable dealing with high level officials;
• Flexible, etc (see other job descriptions);
• Strong organizational skills and keen attention to detail;
• Superior professionalism and judgment;
• Strong work ethic

Required Competencies:

• Leading and Communicating, Collaborating and Partnering, Achieving Commercial Outcomes, Managing a Quality Service

Remuneration
Starting monthly salary: N704,848

Application Closing Date  
20th November, 2016.

Start Date  
1st January, 2017

End Date  
31st December, 2018

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

Note

• Please complete the application form in full.
• Failure to do so may result in a determination that you do not meet the requirements for the position.
• Employees recruited locally by the British High Commission in Lagos are subject to the Terms and Conditions of Service according to local employment law in Nigeria.
• All applicants must be legally able to work in the country of application with the correct visa/status or work permit.
• Employees who are not eligible to pay local income tax: e.g. certain third-country nationals and spouses/partners of UK diplomats will have their salaries abated by an equivalent amount.
• Reference and security clearances checks will be conducted.
• Any questions you may have about this position will be answered during the interview, should you be invited.
• Information about the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Competency Framework can be found on this link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/civil-service-competency-framework
• Check your application and attachments before you submit your application, as you will not be able to make any changes once submitted.
• The British High Commission will never ask you to pay a fee or money to apply for a position.