FCDO: Deputy Head of Trade (NLD25.250) – The Hague

Who We Are:

The British Embassy in The Netherlands is part of a world-wide network, representing British political, economic and consular interests overseas. It is also part of the UK’s Netherlands Network. The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) at the British Embassy in The Netherlands is currently looking for a Deputy Head of Trade.

The DBT Netherlands team comprises 16 staff. It is one of the largest teams in the DBT Europe Region (300 staff across 34 countries) and works closely with colleagues in London and across the UK to improve market access for business, shape trade policy and boost exports and investment. The team’s work is crucial to supporting the UK economy. The Netherlands is the UK’s third largest trading partner, with bilateral trade accounting for more than £108bn in 2024 – 6% of total UK trade. The UK and the Netherlands are long-standing partners with a like-minded approach.

Main purpose of job:

As Deputy Head of Trade, you will lead the UK Government’s efforts to significantly enhance the export of Life Sciences products and services from the UK to The Netherlands. Life Sciences is one of the eight key sectors under the UK Government’s recently launched Modern Industrial Strategy. You will help UK companies to grow their exports in the Netherlands and work with colleagues in the UK and across Europe to develop and deliver strategic export campaigns. Your daily work is a combination of proactive and reactive export promotion work in combination with market intelligence reporting. This role will drive commercially-focused initiatives, leveraging deep networks and industry-specific expertise to proactively identify, develop, and maximize commercial opportunities within the market. The role is critical to advancing the UK”s strategic economic and trade objectives, requiring an individual who is commercially astute, strategically proactive, and adept at navigating complex environments. You will also focus on market access issues that affect UK exporters.

In addition, the role will also have responsibility for managing the established International Markets team, which has a particular focus on supporting Small to Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) export from the UK across all sectors, with particular focus on the Creative, Consumer & Retail  and Food & Drink sectors. The International Markets team works very closely with the Trade Hub, with whom you will be responsible for the ongoing working relationship and strategic alignment.

Finally the role will also have responsibility for the execution of the Marketing and Communication strategy of the the entire Netherlands team.

Main Roles and Responsibilities: 

Commercial Leadership and Export Promotion (70%)

• Develop and implement targeted, strategic plans to increase UK Life Sciences exports to the Netherlands.
• Conduct detailed market analysis to identify growing Life Sciences sub-sectors, emerging market trends, and competitor positioning.
• Provide expert strategic advice to UK businesses, guiding and facilitating their entry and sustainable expansion within the Netherlands Life Sciences market.
• Foster and maintain robust Life Sciences buyer networks across the Netherlands, securing partnerships and strategic alliances to boost trade.
• Proactively identify Life Sciences export opportunities (demand scoping, tenders) and share them with your UK network.
• Organise meetings and Life Sciences trade events to connect suppliers with potential buyers.
• Inform colleagues in the UK through market briefings.
• Identify Life Sciences market access barriers, advocate proactively for policy changes, and develop strategies to navigate and mitigate these barriers.
• Support other sector teams to identify higher value services opportunities.
• Act as a primary representative of DBT and the UK Government at high-profile events across a range of sectors and official bilateral engagements.
• Reporting to the Head of Trade, you will deputise for them as needed and on occasion also for the Country Trade Director.
  

SME Export Team Leadership (30%)

• Lead, motivate, and manage a specialist team dedicated to delivering tailored export support to UK SMEs.
• Oversee the execution of innovative export programs, training initiatives, and advisory services designed specifically for SMEs.
• Establish clear and measurable performance objectives for the SME support team, monitoring outcomes and continuously driving improvements in service delivery and export results.
• Ensure seamless collaboration with wider DBT teams, other UK government departments, and local stakeholders to leverage collective resources and maximize effectiveness.

The role is a great opportunity for a talented and highly motivated individual to make a real impact in bilateral trade relations and gain working experience at an Embassy. The role is based at our office at the British Embassy in The Hague.

• Fluency at C1 level in Dutch and English, according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR*).
• Commercial experience in the Dutch Life Sciences sector, demonstrating a clear track record of driving successful commercial outcomes.
• Well-established network of influential industry contacts within the market.
• Strong understanding of Dutch market dynamics, regulatory frameworks, business culture, and bilateral and EU trade environment.
• Proven leadership capabilities, with experience managing, developing, and mentoring high-performing teams.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills, with strong capabilities in communication, relationship-building, and strategic influence.