Main purpose of job:

Be part of the Department for Business and Trade’s (DBT) mission to drive more trade and investment between North America and the UK. With a mature, high spending consumer market and an open economy, world-class talent and a business-friendly regulatory environment, the UK is the leading destination for foreign investment in Europe, and the second highest investment destination in the world. The UK is also the world’s seventh largest exporter and the second largest services exporter.    

We employ over 130 people across North America, all dedicated to increasing economic growth to ensure businesses thrive, markets are competitive, and consumers are protected. We seek talented team members with the passion and drive to help us in our mission to build a global appetite for British goods and services; drive investment; negotiate trade deals and open markets; and promote free trade, economic security and resilient supply chains (see www.gov.uk/DBT). 

Based at the British Consulate in San Francisco, the Deputy Director for Technology, will collaborate with the Sector Director, and wider colleagues, to implement the DBT technology sector plan. Key responsibilities include leading technological initiatives across the US, identifying new opportunities for UK companies, and supporting US firms expanding into the UK. The role involves account management of major tech sector companies, building relationships with business leaders, and managing a team of Senior Trade and Investment Officers and Trade & Investment Officer(s). Additional duties include providing sector leadership across the US, supporting policy and market access analysis, developing sub-sector priorities to maximise commercial managing strategic accounts, deputizing for the Sector Director, and occasional travel beyond the West Coast region. You will also work closely with partners across the Consulate and wider US network to deliver on growth objectives, including the Science and Technology Network, and on the commercial aspects of the Tech Prosperity Deal.

Roles and responsibilities:

• Together with the Sector Director, shape, promote, and deliver the US Integrated Sector Plan for Technology, in consultation with key stakeholders and wider UK government departments.
• Plan and lead cross-team projects in the execution thereof.
• Represent the region in cross-departmental and cross-UK government working groups.
• Serve as a representative for the technology sector team in San Francisco, building collaborative relationships with key stakeholders and ensuring that DBT interests are registered.
• Keep pace with market trends in technology and be able to communicate UK government strategy effectively.
• Proactively target investors aligned with UK government priorities to increase their operations, investment, and exposure to the UK.
• Successfully build and manage a pipeline of knowledge-driven investment opportunities and projects in key industry verticals.
• Provide a comprehensive account management service to a diversified portfolio of key investors, fostering positive relationships and coordinating closely with UK-based colleagues at DBT headquarters in London, the US Science and Technology Network, and Policy colleagues in the Consulate.
• Deliver high-impact programming, often at pace and operating in a flexible/agile approach, including developing and hosting roundtables, seminars and trade missions, preparing briefing materials and contributing to Ministerial and other VIP visit programmes.
• Use CRM tools to capture investor engagement and manage investment project progression.
• Support the Sector Director in team leadership, budget forecasting, compliance, and activity reporting.
• Serve as a senior member of the Consulate linking the national trade and investment technology strategy into the Consulate’s cross-sectoral regional trade policy work, including leveraging the Tech Prosperity Deal to drive commercial outcomes and addressing barriers to both trade and investment flows.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Resources managed:

• Manage events and travel budgets

• Experienced people leadership (both direct and indirect)
• Demonstrated professional experience/skills in a multinational business, sales, negotiation or project management role, ideally with a major technology company
• Thorough knowledge of the technology sector, major companies and trends in the US
• An excellent network of contacts in the technology sector in US or the ability to develop such a network, with the credibly to interact at a senior level
• Excellent stakeholder management abilities
• Excellent interpersonal, presentation and networking skills
• Excellent management and collaboration skills with the ability to deliver results
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English
• Excellent organizational skills and meticulous attention to detail
• Ability to multitask and complete work while traveling
• Must be able to attend events outside of office hours and undertake travel in the US and internationally up to 20% of your time