View Vacancy – AUS (Perth) – Trade and Investment Manager, EO

Our network and team:

This is an exciting time to join the UK Government’s network in Australia. AUKUS and our Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with Australia & New Zealand present a unique opportunity to build broader and deeper economic ties.

The successful candidate will join a team of over 40 trade and investment experts, working across five diplomatic missions in Australia as part of the UK’s network in the wider Asia Pacific region of over 200 people in 22 locations.

UK in Australia is an inclusive and equal-opportunity employer.  We encourage applicants from the widest possible diversity of backgrounds, cultures, and experiences.  Our culture of inclusion is underpinned by our excellent staff networks which cover disability, faith and belief, gender equality, social mobility, age, race, LGBTQ+, and how to be an ally.  We have a zero-tolerance policy towards bulling, harassment and discrimination.

We recruit people with a wide variety of experience and skills.  Government experience is not essential.  If you have strong motivation and core competences, we can help you develop the network and expertise needed to thrive.  Our team members have the chance to develop a wide range of marketable skills and networks for professional advancement – useful for their jobs, and for when they choose to progress their careers externally.

We work flexibly, with all team members at different times required to work in other areas.  This is typically both interesting and rewarding.

Main purpose of job:

On behalf of the UK government, to develop relationships with potential UK exporters, to deliver additional business.  This will primarily be in the Energy sector, with Infrastructure and Defence also significant focus areas.

Reporting to the Sector Lead for Energy in Australia, you will help to develop market opportunities for UK companies, develop our strategy, and help to establish and support relationships across Government, industry, trade bodies and the broader eco-system.

You will build a pipeline of opportunities, and work with partners such as International Trade Advisors, HQ and trade bodies to support and advise UK companies, at the same time identifying and working to remove trade access barriers.

You will plan account engagement, report on activity, and track, measure and record progress to inform future engagement and internal stakeholders.  You will also organise business and governmental delegations, events and briefings.

Working with the Defence and Security Industry team, you will engage with UK defence industry to support industrial opportunities around AUKUS Pillar 1 (with a focus on infrastructure development) and work to identify possible bilateral opportunities linked to AUKUS Pillar 2, encouraging UK industry and academia to partner with or through WA counterparts. 

The role is part of a flexible UK team covering a wide range of trade and investment sectors across Australia and is similar in content and seniority to others in the UK government operation in Australia.  The successful candidate will work with, and for, colleagues to promote trade and investment in Western Australia and across Australia.  Applicants for this position will be considered for other vacancies in the Network.  If shortlisted, you can expect to be interviewed in May.

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

Please note that the role holders’ job specification may be subject to change in line with evolving business priorities.

• Understand the quickly evolving energy transition market and long-term trends.  Identify and help to close commercial opportunities for UK companies.
• Understand and engage with the emerging national security and defence environments, and with wider infrastructure stakeholders, to identify and help to close opportunities.
• Demonstrate high quality stakeholder management. Identify and build impactful relationships that support UK business.  Stakeholders include Federal and State Government, trade bodies, industry and key market influencers.
• Provide high quality advice to UK companies that supports them to grow their business in Australia.
• Shape the market to enable UK companies to succeed.  Identify and work to remove market access barriers.
• Work across UK Government teams in Australia, Asia-Pacific and the UK to build effective problem-solving teams.
• Support the delivery of events, trade missions and senior visits.

Resources managed (staff and expenditure): 

No line management responsibility. The job holder will have a small budget for business activity and travel and will work with marketing colleagues on managing relevant activities.

• Resilient self-starter – able to work at high intensity using own initiative, judgement and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills – able to work closely with team leaders and senior management.  When required, deal with difficult situations with tact, diplomacy and a high degree of confidentiality.
• A confident communicator, with good oral and written communication skills – able to build trusted relationships with multiple stakeholders across government and industry.
• Good judgement and discretion with commercial confidential data, and able to work under pressure to meet deadlines.
• Strong commercial acumen, able to quickly understand which opportunities offer value to the UK.
• Strong research and analytical skills, confident using data to quickly and effectively prioritise work.
• IT literate with well organised record-keeping ability and data management skills

Language requirements:

Language: English

Level of language required: Fluent