Intern - Department for International Trade at the British High Commission (BHC)

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 position below:

Job Title: Intern - Department for International Trade

Location: Lagos
Employment Type: Internship
Job ID: 08/22 LOS
Start Date: 1 April 2022

Job Description 

• The Intern who will be based in the UK Government’s trade team in Lagos is to support the trade and investment team, with a primary focus on maximising the export of British goods and services across the priority sectors comprising everything from Infrastructure, Healthcare, ICT, Creatives, Agriculture, Mining, Education, Energy sectors in Nigeria.  
• This will include relationship building with major local players in the relevant sectors in Nigeria to help identify potential opportunities for UK supply chain energy companies.
• The intern will also support UK energy supply chain companies by facilitating commercial partnerships that result in UK businesses landing deals that generate exports from the UK into Nigeria.  
• The internship position will also involve working closely with the UK’s Department for International Trade’s sector trade advisers based in Nigeria, along with UK government teams across the UK, UK Export Finance  as well as FCDO colleagues in Nigeria.

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 identified priority sectors but also increasingly in areas such as renewable energy, infrastructure and agriculture. Current trade figures are good but it is pertinent we achieve more.
• As the UK aims to mobilise up to £8bn of UK-backed financing a year by 2025, the UK’s trade team in Nigeria, with offices in both Lagos and Abuja, are developing a trade strategy to identify and better tap into this vast potential and increase trade between the UK and Nigeria.  With DIT Africa’s restructuring from a regional based approach to a sector focused structure approach, this entails sector teams working across pan Africa to achieve a more common goal in increasing exports from the UK into all DIT Africa’s markets.
• We are seeking a highly organised person with strong research skills, attention to detail, a strong work ethic and the ability to take initiative.  The intern will need to work accurately within deadlines and be a committed and collaborative team member.
• We are looking for a candidate with a keen interest in the DIT priority sectors in Nigeria, who is looking to learn and develop capacity in these sectors. Experience in research and analytical skills is crucial.  

Key elements of the role include:

• Data research and analysis of topical issues/leads across identified sectors for effective follow up by sector leads
• Building a strong pipeline of potential stakeholders for DIT Nigeria events
• Support the DIT Africa events team in delivering high value campaign across sectors to support UK companies in bidding for and winning multi-million pound commercial deals.
• Under the supervision of the Deputy Country Director; identifying and delivering a pipeline of commercial opportunities in Nigeria for UK companies in consultation with the relevant teams and specialists in the UK’s Department for International Trade

Essential Qualifications, Skills and Experience  

• Interpersonal / Communication Skills, Research and Analytical Skills
• 1 - 2 years of relevant experience in an Administrative, Business or Support role

Desirable qualifications, skills and experience:

• Business/Sales 

Required competencies:

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

Remuneration
N135,419 Monthly.

Application Closing Date
25th February, 2022.