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. Working within the British Embassy in Bogota and as part of a virtual team with British Embassies in Quito, Lima, La Paz and Santiago, as well as collaborating closely with DBT regional and UK colleagues, the successful applicant will contribute to UK economic growth and jobs across one or more sectors. This will be done by supporting UK exports to Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and Chile (Andean countries).

Roles and Responsibilities:

The Commercial Support Officer will be responsible for supporting the following sector(s) (subject to change): Defence, Security and Aerospace

DBT LATAC supports British exports across a number of sectors, including defence, security and aerospace, to both private and public buyers.  This role will involve responsibility within British Embassy Bogota for the sectors, understanding the needs of the Andean countries’ defence, security and aerospace sectors, transmitting this information to UK exporters, and building a strategic pipeline of opportunities to increase exports.

The candidate will have a proven track record of strong interpersonal and relationship building with senior defence, security and aerospace public and private high-level stakeholders, in both English and Spanish, in Colombia. You will join a vibrant and fun team across the Andean region, and have the opportunity to involve yourself regularly in wider Embassy and DBT activities.

The Commercial Support Officer (Andean Region) will (subject to reasonable change to meet business need) be responsible for:

1. Supporting the Defence and Security Andean Lead, to promote defence and security exports from the UK to Andean countries, through well-planned interventions (meetings, introductions, events, marketing, partnerships, government engagement, etc.), resulting in the delivery of a highly ambitious export value target across the sector. This will include engaging with the other sector leads/country directors in the Andean markets.

2. Supporting the Defence and Security Andean Lead, to strengthen a diverse pipeline of trade-related projects in Colombia and Andean sub-region, in line with DBT high value campaign guidance to support future UK exports, moving quickly from identification of major opportunities to commercial wins.

3. Supporting the Defence and Security Andean Lead, to strengthen the network of military, government, public and private sector contacts across the Andean region, to ensure the UK offer is properly understood. Support the development of a close professional relationships with key UK exporters to ensure they fully understand buyers’ needs and opportunities.

4. Working with colleagues to understand policy issues and market access barriers affecting the sector(s), working with policy colleagues within the team to assess them;

Supporting the wider work of the DBT Colombia team and other Embassy sections (when required), including internal coordination and planning, events, analysis and briefing, and contribute to the corporate objectives of BE Bogota and DBT LATAC.

• Proven track record of strong interpersonal and relationship building with senior high-level stakeholders, in both English and Spanish, in Colombia or other Andean markets.
• Experience working with foreign exporters selling to Colombia or other Andean markets.
• Evidence of excellent written and oral communication (English and Spanish).
• Must have the legal status to live and work in Colombia.