View Vacancy – Head of Defence Exports – Brazil

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 identity, 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. The FCDO operates an agile workforce and to facilitate this, you may be required to undertake other duties from time to time, as we may reasonably require.

Job Category

Other British Government Departments (Partners across Government, including UK Visas)

Job Subcategory

MOD (Ministry of Defence)

Job Description (Roles and Responsibilities)

Main purpose of job

This is an exciting, dynamic and demanding position for an effective and talented candidate to work as Head of Defence Exports in Brazil, within the fast-paced environment of the UK Ministry of Defence. We are looking for an experienced candidate with the drive, leadership and strategic skills required to help increase bilateral trade between the UK and Brazil in the defence sector.

Based at the British Consulate in Rio de Janeiro, you will work with both public and private sectors in Brazil to build a strategic pipeline of exports in the defence space. You should have strong experience in the defence sector, coupled with the ability to build and implement strategies, create stakeholder networks, prioritise and leverage opportunities, and achieve results. Internally, close work with other Consulate and Embassy teams, regional colleagues, and senior officials will be fundamental.

With Brazilian partners, you will develop close working relationships and identify areas for cooperation with the UK. You will lead a team in presenting capabilities from across the UK defence sector and identify solutions and relevant companies that can meet local needs. You will account manage large UK businesses, ensuring they can navigate, and succeed in, the Brazilian market. Your familiarity of procurement processes in Brazil and advice on entering the market will therefore be indispensable.

You will lead the delivery of a pipeline of strategic, high-value opportunities in the defence space, driving progress and supporting UK companies to meet requirements.

You will work in the wider Ministry of Defence team, aligned with Department for Business and Trade (DBT) and Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) colleagues as well as working closely with counterparts in other LATAC markets.

Roles and responsibilities

The Head of Defence Exports will (subject to reasonable change) be responsible for:

1. Designing and leading implementation of the UK’s defence exports strategy in Brazil, resulting in the delivery of a highly ambitious export value target across the sector.
2. Mapping and developing close professional relationships with senior contacts across the three Brazilian armed forces, Brazilian government and private security sector, to help position the UK and ensure access to decision makers.
3. Advising strategic UK companies on the Brazilian market, helping them navigate market nuance, challenge and opportunity.
4. Acting as an advisor to senior leadership on bilateral trade in defence, including the Ambassador to Brazil, UK Defence Attaché to Brazil, Consul-General Rio de Janeiro, Trade Commissioner to Latin America and the Caribbean, Country Director DBT Brazil and Regional Coordinator for Defence Exports.
5. Working closely with colleagues based in London across different UK Government departments, representing the defence exports team, sharing information, identifying opportunities for strategic influencing and driving interest in supporting opportunities in the Brazilian market.
6. Line management of a Senior Defence Exports Adviser, with oversight of the wider team which includes an analyst and one intern. This includes setting direction for the team and driving performance management and personal development.
7. Building and maintaining strong internal professional relationships with colleagues from across the wider UK in Brazil team and other Consulate and Embassy sections, such as Political and Cyber Policy, identifying synergies and creating information sharing mechanisms to ensure a holistic strategy that will deliver UK economic growth.
8. Identifying and taking-up Learning & Development opportunities to improve existing skills and/or develop new ones, as part of a Personal Development Plan as per the performance appraisal process.

Resources managed (personnel and expenditure)

• Line management of EO personnel within a wider team.
• Team budget.

The FCDO operates an agile workforce. To facilitate this, you may be required to undertake other duties from time to time as we may reasonably require.

Essential qualifications, skills and experience

• Evidence of excellent written and oral communication (English and Portuguese).
• Strong track record of interpersonal and relationship building with senior business leaders and/or public officials.
• Strong track record of delivering results through evidence-based decisions.
• Robust understanding of the Brazilian armed forces and Ministry of Defence and the key decision-making drivers.
• Good judgement and ability to take initiative and prioritise effectively.
• Ten or more years relevant professional experience in the defence sector, either public or private sector.
• Leadership skills/experience leading a team.
• Experience leading on strategy formulation and execution.
• Legal status to live and work in Brazil in your own right, from time of application.

Language requirements:

Language: English and Portuguese

Level of language required: Written and spoken English (At least C1 level under CEFR) and Portuguese (fluent).

Desirable qualifications, skills and experience

• Experience working with foreign exporters selling to Brazil.
• Knowledge of the UK defence sector.
• Experience of the UK’s business environment and culture.
• Understanding of geopolitics in Latin America beyond Brazil.

Required behaviours

Communicating and Influencing, Delivering at Pace, Leadership, Seeing the Big Picture

Application deadline

21 June 2026

Grade

Higher Executive Officer (HEO)

Type of Position

Full-time, Fixed term, with possibility of renewal

Working hours per week

36

Region

Latin America and Spanish speaking Caribbean

Country/Territory

Brazil

Location (City)

Rio De Janeiro

Type of Post

British Consulate General

Number of vacancies

1

Salary Currency

BRL

Salary

BRL 14,708.04

Type of Salary

monthly

Start Date

3 August 2026

End Date

3 August 2028

Other benefits and conditions of employment

Applicants must have the legal status to live and work in Brazil.

Employees who are not liable to pay local income tax on their Mission salary, e.g. some non-local national staff and some spouses or partners of UK diplomatic staff, will have their salaries abated by an equivalent amount.

Appointable candidates who were unsuccessful may be placed on a ‘reserve list’. If during the reserve period of 6 months the same or a largely similar role becomes available, that role may be offered to the second or subsequent candidate.

As part of our team, you’ll enjoy a comprehensive benefits package that includes health and dental care, life insurance, bus transportation allowance, and meal vouchers, ensuring your well-being is prioritized inside and outside the workplace.
Beyond financial and health benefits, we offer a range of non-pay advantages designed to support your growth and work–life balance. These include flexible working arrangements, a generous leave package, and ongoing learning and development opportunities to help you build the career you aspire to. The British Consulate in Rio de Janeiro offers a wide range of learning and development opportunities throughout the year.

Internal candidates:

• Staff applying for roles in a different post, if successful, are required to resign from their current contract before being appointed to a new role.
• Staff currently on a permanent contract applying for a fixed-term position, if successful, must also resign from their permanent contract in order to be appointed to the fixed-term role.

Additional information

Working patterns

This role is full-time at 36 hours per week with standard working hours from Monday to Friday. Applicants should be aware that the role might require occasional evening or weekend work, including as part of emergency or crisis response. The Consulate has core hours during which staff are expected to work from the office, and a three-day working from the office rule (up to two days remote working contingent on business need).

This role will require occasional travel within Brazil, the LATAC region and the UK.

The deadline for applications is 23:55 (Rio de Janeiro time) on 21 June 2026.

All applicants must fully complete the online application form, including the sections for employment and educational details, experience, and behaviour-based questions. Only those applications that contain all required information will be considered. To ensure the sift process remains anonymous, please do not include any personally identifiable information in your application form.

Please be aware that you will only be able to apply to vacancies for Country Based Staff roles with the British Government through this official tal.net site (operated by Oleeo). Jobs may be advertised on third party websites, however our adverts will always link back to the official tal.net site. If you complete and send an application through any other site, we will not receive it.