Head of UK Trade and Investment - British High Commission

Section: UK Trade and Investment

Grade: C4 (Full Time)

Salary Ksh 317,293 Per Month

Main purpose of job

This is an exciting, challenging and high profile opportunity at the British High Commission in Nairobi. BHC Nairobi is a large Mission whose officers perform a wide variety of functions across the spectrum of UK objectives; ten government departments are represented, working within Kenya and Somalia. This role is at the heart of the Mission’s commercial objective. It will involve some international travel.

You will lead your team to develop trade between the UK and Kenya, supporting British companies exporting to Kenya and Kenyan companies looking to set up operations or expand in the UK. You will have a challenging set of targets for business wins (providing significant support to a UK company to secure a contract, for example) and service deliveries (producing a programme to introduce a UK firm to the Kenyan market) which you will be expected to exceed. This will require you to deliver at pace, using project management skills and developing a systematic and focused approach to hitting results.

With your line manager based in Dar es Salaam, being self-sufficient and proactive, and able to drive your team without direct oversight, is hugely important. And, as the head of a team of five, being able to set your team’s direction and to delegate effectively is a must.

Hitting your targets is important, but it won’t be enough to excel. An important aspect of the team’s work is to contribute to the British Government’s broader economic and development agenda, by working alongside Foreign Office and Department for International Development colleagues through the Joint Africa Framework. In emergent markets such as Kenya, UKTI’s commercial agenda stands closely alongside the Foreign Office’s and DFID’s priorities, and you will be working with these departments to improve the business climate, in particular through the Growth and Prosperity Group. So you will need to be able to see the bigger picture of how your team’s work fits into a broader whole, and to collaborate closely with colleagues in other government departments.

You will be able to communicate confidently and with impact to senior figures in Post and externally. And you will need to be able to manage priorities, ensuring the UKTI office contributes corporately to the rest of the Mission’s work.

You will have experience of international/regional/Kenya trade and investment issues and possess demonstrable commercial expertise, with a track record of fostering business relationships in order to deliver a high standard to your customers. These will be backed up by excellent communication and networking abilities, particularly in our priority markets.

The Kenya UKTI team forms part of a regional East Africa UKTI network. You will have a responsibility to support the regional head (based in Dar es Salaam) and champion efforts to greatly strengthen regionalisation, an important change management programme which is a priority for UKTI Headquarters

Roles and responsibilities

• Lead and manage the Nairobi UKTI team, while reporting to the head of UKTI East Africa (based in Dar es Salaam) and also to the British High Commissioner and Deputy Head of Mission. Responsibility for the UKTI budget.
• Support the UK Government’s broader growth and prosperity agenda through robust analysis of the business climate and reform agendas and by working with FCO and DFID colleagues on improving the business climate in Kenya, through active participation in the Growth and Prosperity Group.
• Lead on visits: trade missions, Ministerial and other VIP visits, as well as conferences and events.
• Build and maintain an extensive network of contacts, especially in priority sectors (energy, infrastructure, financial services, agriculture, ICT), across Kenyan government ministries, relevant organisations/associations and the private sector.
• Advise potential investors and businesses, highlighting commercial opportunities, developments and risks.
• Support the British Chamber of Commerce;
• Support the regional head of UKTI, and work to builder a stronger, more interconnected East African regional team. Be a corporate contributor to the High Commission.

Resources managed

4 staff: 2x Trade Development Managers B3, 2x Trade Officers A2

Key competences required

• Seeing the Big Picture: having an in-depth understanding and knowledge of how your role fits with and supports organisational objectives and the wider public needs. It is about scanning the political context and taking account of wider impacts to develop long term implementation strategies that maximise opportunities to add value to the citizen and support economic, sustainable growth.
• Making Effective Decisions: being objective; using sound judgement, evidence and knowledge to provide accurate, expert and professional advice. Leaders will be creating evidence based strategies, evaluating options, impacts, risks and solutions.
• Collaborating and Partnering: creating and maintaining positive, professional and trusting working relationships with a wide range of people within and outside the High Commission to help get business done. It requires working collaboratively, sharing information and building supportive, responsive relationships with colleagues and stakeholders, whilst having the confidence to challenge assumptions.
• Building Capacity for All: having a strong focus on continuous learning for oneself, others and the organisation. Being open to learning, about keeping one’s own knowledge and skill set current and evolving.
• Managing a Quality Service: being organised to deliver service objectives and striving to improve the quality of service, taking account of diverse customer needs and requirements. People, who are effective plan, organise and manage their time and activities to deliver a high quality and efficient service, applying programme and project management approaches to support service delivery.
• Delivering at Pace: focusing on delivering timely performance with energy and taking responsibility and accountability for quality outcomes. Working to agreed goals and activities and dealing with challenges in a responsive and constructive way. Building a performance culture to deliver outcomes with a firm focus on prioritisation and addressing performance issues resolutely, fairly and promptly.

Language requirements

Language: English, Swahili Level of language required: Fluency in both

Other skills / experience / qualifications: Essential on arrival: Strong understanding of Kenyan market

NOTE:

• All applicants must be legally able to work in Kenya with the correct visa/status or work permit.
• The British High Commission in Nairobi is an equal opportunities employer, dedicated to inclusivity, a diverse workforce and valuing difference.
• Staff members recruited locally by the British High Commission in Nairobi are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local Kenyan employment law.
• Spouses/registered partners of UK Based Staff, are able to work within the BHC/BCG but their salary will be abated at the appropriate tax rates.
• Reference checking and security clearances will be conducted.
• If you have not heard from us 3 weeks after the closing date, please consider your application unsuccessful. Note: Any questions you may have about this position will only be answered during interview, should you be invited.

To Apply

All applicants should submit a short (1 page maximum) covering letter stating why they are a suitable candidate for the position along with a copy of their CV in English, by email to: Recruitment.Africa@fco.gov.uk