Main purpose of job
This is an exciting and demanding role for an exceptional individual to be Head of Market Access Strategy for DIT China. Working closely with colleagues as part of the Trade Policy team, you will play a key role in supporting the DIT China region (China & Hong Kong) achieve its objectives as articulated in the Regional Trade Plan, of which the over-arching ambitions are:
Objective 1 – Driving and inspiring UK exports to China, significantly increasing the UK market share of China’s goods imports, and more than double the value of UK services exports.
Objective 2 – Strengthened trade policy engagement with China to achieve incremental market access, mitigate business risk and prepare for future trade deals
Objective 3 – Broadening and deepening the UK-China investment partnership, positioning the UK as the top European destination for Chinese investment and providing strong support for UK investors.
Context
The Department for International Trade (DIT) operates in 108 countries. Establishing new relationships around the globe, DIT promotes British trade to ensure the UK takes advantage of the huge opportunities open to us, securing and improving economic well-being, stability, and helping to create tens of thousands of jobs.
DIT has one of the largest representations of the 18 government departments working in China, which are coordinated and led by Her Majesty’s Ambassador who is responsible for the UK’s relationship with China. Her Majesty’s Trade Commissioner (HMTC) is responsible for Trade and Investment work in China, one of nine global regions and the largest DIT overseas network in the world. With c.190 staff across six posts – Beijing, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chongqing and Wuhan – DIT, as part of the UK government network in China offers a fast-paced place to work at the heart of UK-China Government relations.
Roles and responsibilities
This is a key role at the heart of our trade policy work in China, with the opportunity to play a central role in UK-China dialogues and ministerial visits. The jobholder will be seen as the ‘go to’ person on market access issues across the full range of sector priorities for the UK government in China. Key roles and responsibilities will include:
- Identifying market access opportunities for UK companies in China, including through liaison with the British business community (30%);
- Prioritisation of market access objectives for government-to-government dialogues (Economic and Financial Dialogue, Joint Economic and Trade Commission and ministerial visits (DIT, HM Treasury, FCO) (15%);
- Advising stakeholders in the China Network (Beijing and the five Consulates-general) and London on market access (15%);
- Leading market access learning and development across the China Network (10%).
- Leading on specific areas of policy, for example influencing China’s licencing systems (the specific focus of these policy areas may change over time, depending on requirements) (30%).
Essential on arrival
- Degree educated;
- Relevant experience in trade policy, regulatory policy or economic analysis;
- Excellent communications skills and fluent in English, both written and spoken;
- Working knowledge of MS Office applications (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
- Experience of working in government;
- Experience of monitoring Chinese regulatory issues;
- Previous experience of communicating clearly and concisely in English is essential, including the ability to explain technical terms and processes to a non-technical audience;
- Near native fluency in English and ability to write reports to tight deadlines;
- Project management skills.
- Seeing the Big Picture, Leading and Communicating, Collaborating and Partnering, Delivering at Pace
- 9 February 2020
- C4 (L)
- Full-time, Permanent
- 35
- Asia Pacific
- China
- Beijing
- British Embassy
- 1
- Chinese Nationals: 27,596 RMB/ British Nationals: 35,959 RMB
- 1 April 2020
Learning and development opportunities (and any specific training courses to be completed)
There is plenty of opportunity to develop on the job, and to establish expertise on trade policy. Specific areas and activities include:
- Courses and materials offered by the Learning and Development team
- Attending external events and conferences hosted by academic institutions, business chambers, etc
- Taking part in learning sets with Embassy colleagues
We offer a competitive package, which includes basic salary, good leave entitlement, and insurance plan, etc. The gross salary (before all deductions) is CNY 27,596/ month for Chinese Nationals and an abated monthly salary of CNY 35,959/month for British Nationals and spouses/ partners (all nationalities) of diplomats who are ‘W’ (diplomatic) visa holders and meet passport criteria.
We also offer excellent development opportunities and a 22-day annual leave entitlement in pro rata.
Conditioned working hours is 35 hours/ week from Monday to Friday and flexible working can be arranged upon personal needs.
For more details on our Total Rewards Package, please visit our website http://www.gov.uk/government/world/china.
Staff recruited locally by the British Embassy Beijing is subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local Chinese employment law.
Click here to apply
Please note that your application must be submitted before 23:55 on the day mentioned in the above field “Application deadline”.
Incomplete application forms will not be taken into consideration, so please ensure you provide the information requested. We regret to advise that we will only be contacting short-listed candidates. Applicants called for an interview will be assessed on the core competencies listed above.
Indicated start date is provisional and subject to successful completion of reference and security checks.
To those applicants not shortlisted, we extend our appreciation for considering the British Government as a potential employer.
