Main purpose of job:

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) is responsible for promoting UK trade and investment with the rest of the world. We are the department for economic growth. We support businesses to invest, grow and export, creating jobs and opportunities across the UK.

The overseas network is a vital asset in delivering the UK’s trade and investment ambitions. Embedded within British embassies and high commissions, our trade teams—led by HM Trade Commissioners—work in close coordination with diplomatic staff to promote UK exports, attract investment, and improve market access. Through commercial diplomacy, they build strategic relationships, provide expert market insight, and support UK businesses to navigate local conditions and seize opportunities. This integrated approach ensures our efforts align with broader UK priorities, including sectoral growth, supply chain resilience, and clean energy transition.

The DBT team across Latin America and the Caribbean (LATAC) is led by the HM Trade Commissioner for Latin America and the Caribbean, and his team is responsible for:

• growing the overall trade and investment relationship between the UK and LATAC markets
• improving market access for British companies, including small and medium sized businesses (SMEs)
• developing trade policy.

Information About the Role

This Higher Executive Officer (HEO) role will be part of our regional exports and trade promotion team – which aims to connect UK businesses with international export opportunities—helping UK businesses, and the economy, to grow. 

This HEO role will be an Advisor within our Export Support Service (ESS) – International Market (IM) team and the role will be based in Brazil. The ESS is designed for eligible UK businesses (particularly Small & Medium sized Enterprises – SMEs- with high export potential) to access trade expertise and knowledge on exporting to specific countries from the Department for Business and Trade’s (DBT) global network of international market hubs. Businesses referred to a regional hub can expect to receive:

• access to a wide range of sector reports, market intelligence, and guides related to things to consider on exporting to those markets
• introductions to a network of private sector service providers to help businesses with issues on a commercial basis, including local accountants, legal experts, and sector specialists

Our ESS-IM team in Latin America and the Caribbean currently has 4 advisors spread out across the region, and we are now looking to recruit a fifth advisor. This role will be based in Brazil, and the incoming advisor can expect to support UK businesses looking to enter and grow into LATAC markets, with a focus in Brazil across a range of sectors

This role will connect teams in the UK, sector specialists and colleagues across LATAC with the core aim to help UK firms win and expand their business in the region, with a particular emphasis on Brazil. This individual will be experienced, high performing, delivery focused that can hit the ground running.

Roles and responsibilities:

• Actively contribute to the day-to-day operations of DBT LATAC’s ESS-IM, adopting an effective relationship management and a consultative approach to working with UK businesses.
• Support UK companies looking to enter or expand across the region: anticipating opportunities and challenges.
• Build and maintain pipelines of export opportunities, through developing relationships with key public and private sector stakeholders across markets in LATAC.
• Conduct market research and maintain up-to-date intelligence on LATAC markets, identifying trends, opportunities, and barriers to trade.
• Foster relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including trade associations, sector experts, and regional partners, to promote UK capabilities in the region.
• Collaborate with trade and economic policy colleagues in DBT and the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO) both in the UK and in our Missions to address market access barriers and unlock commercial benefits for UK exporters.
• Champion the UK’s Small & Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) and support their growth and export ambitions, as set out in the UK government’s plan for small and medium-sized businesses.

Essential on arrival:

• Fluent in English (both written and spoken)
• Excellent presentation and communication skills
• Proven ability to form professional relationships and build trust with a wide range of contacts from different backgrounds including at senior levels
• >5 years of experience of business and trade experience, particularly in business development: building client relationships, growing market share or developing accounts
• Experience of account and/or project management