Main purpose of job

This is a pivotal time to join ‘UK in Australia’, the UK government’s Australia network.  The UK-Australia economic partnership is broadening and deepening, worth £800 billion, and supporting 80,000 UK jobs.  The recent Memorandum of Understanding on Investment, plus AUKUS and our Free Trade Agreement, create a unique opportunity to transform economic ties.

Your job will be to secure significant investment in the UK, with a particular focus on Australia’s superannuation pensions sector, which is the world’s 4th largest.  Australian funds increasingly need to invest overseas, and the UK is a key investment destination.  You will develop relationships with Australian capital and FDI investors based in NSW and identify opportunities for investment into the UK.  You will manage relationships with potential investors such as Australian superfunds and asset managers, and feed into our investment strategy.  You will manage existing and new accounts, and work across the Australia and global networks to deliver investment for the UK.

You will also support the Export team on financial services related activity, including market enagement and opportunity identification.

We work flexibly, and all team members at different times find themselves working in other areas.  This is typically both interesting and rewarding.  The role is similar in content and seniority to others in ‘UK in Australia’.  People applying for this position will be considered for other vacancies in the network.

If shortlisted, you can expect to be interviewed between mid to end of August.

Our network and team

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) brings together policy, promotion and financial expertise to break down barriers to trade and investment and help businesses succeed across the world.  You will join a team of over 20 trade and investment experts, working across five diplomatic missions in Australia to deliver growth for the UK and like-minded countries in a contested world.  You will also be an integral part of DBT’s wider APAC region of over 200 people in 22 locations, and the UK Government’s Australia Network of over 130 people.  You will have the opportunity to collaborate across our networks on a range of trade and investment campaigns, soft power initiatives, trade missions and VIP visits.

You don’t have to be a government expert to join our team.  We recruit people with a wide variety of experience and skills.  If you have strong motivation and core competences, we can help you develop the network and expertise needed to thrive.  You will work with colleagues from diverse backgrounds whose professional experience is the foundation of our shared capability – we deliver as one team.  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.

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, and we have a zero-tolerance policy towards bulling, harassment and discrimination.

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

On behalf of the UK government, you will build relationships with Australian investors and help them to invest in the UK.  You will work closely with colleagues in London and across the APAC region to shape how we attract and work with major sources of capital.  You will also work closely with colleagues across the Australia and global network, to deliver a joined-up UK government proposition.

You will be a strong communicator with good interpersonal skills, able to develop trust and relationships across government and industry and provide high-quality verbal and written briefings to ministers and other senior stakeholders.  Good judgement and discretion will be needed, for example when dealing with confidential commercial data.  Commercial acumen and the ability to identify opportunities of value to the UK are essential.

You will have a strong sense of collaboration and will enjoy operating within a team, whilst maintaining a strong degree of ownership of your sector.  As a strong relationship manager, you will expertly communicate with external stakeholders to understand their drivers for investing in the UK, and shape how the UK government can attract high-value investment.

Working to the Director Investment, also based in Sydney, and with the wider investment team in Australia and the UK, you will own end-to-end account management for NSW investors such as superfunds and asset managers.  You will develop long-term engagement strategies and account plans for a pipeline of investment opportunities, sell on multiple levels to these large organisations, host key industry events, and track and report on progress.

You will have a strong focus on relationships in your geographic region but will feed into the wider UK government’s work in Australia.  You will stay abreast of industry trends and use your analytical skills to feed into the UK government’s capital investment and FDI strategies in Australia.  You will also be required to attend occasional industry events.

Meetings will typically be via MS Teams or in-person in the Sydney CBD.  When working with teams in the UK, occasional early evening calls will be required due to the time difference.  Flexible working arrangements are available.

Please note that the role holder’s job specification is subject to change in line with evolving business priorities.

Resources managed (staff and expenditure):  No current line management responsibility. The job holder will share access to a small budget for business activity and travel, and work with marketing colleagues on relevant activities.

• Resilient self-starter – able to work at high intensity using own initiative, judgement and problem-solving skills.
• Strong collaborator who enjoys operating within a team, whilst maintaining a strong degree of ownership of your sector.
• Strong communicator with good interpersonal skills, able to deal confidently and develop trust with business leaders, Ministers, VIPs and other senior figures, and their offices.
• Commercially astute, with the ability to identify opportunities of value to the UK.
• Excellent written and verbal briefing skills, and drafting ability.
• Ability to deal with difficult situations with tact, diplomacy and a high degree of confidentiality.