Main purpose of job:

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) is the Trade and Investment Promotion and Negotiation organisation for the UK. We promote British trade and investment across the world, we support UK businesses overseas and attract foreign investment to our shores. We have 3,000 staff across the globe in over 100 countries.  
 
DBT divides the world into 9 regions, each led by Her Majesty’s Trade Commissioner. The Latin American and the Caribbean Region (LATAC) is led from Sao Paulo by Jonathan Knott. The Network is represented in 20 Posts with a team of over 140.

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) in San Jose is looking for a Director for Trade and Investment to head the team in country. The candidate will engage in strategic account management, business planning, trade promotion and trade policy activities. The main role would be to facilitate trade and business opportunities for British companies in Costa Rica and Nicaragua and provide leadership to the Trade team. This is an exciting opportunity for professionals in International Trade, Business and/or Government Affairs.

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

As head of the team, the jobholder will be responsible for developing and delivering on a pipeline of opportunities in key sectors, engaging with relevant business contacts and promoting British exports.

This is a great opportunity to engage closely with the private sector, government and other stakeholders to achieve the trade team objectives. You will help deliver the export wins targets by working closely with UK companies to understand the opportunities in the market and providing support in trade related projects.

The selected candidate will also deliver a number of high profile events, visits and sector campaigns in Costa Rica and Nicaragua. This position will see you exposed to high profile contacts in both the private sector and public sector. Therefore, a high level of resilience and professionalism are essential.

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

• Develop, maintain and deliver on a pipeline of commercial opportunities in key sectors such as life sciences/healthcare, security, education, infrastructure and low carbon growth.
• Deliver upon all elements set out in the Costa Rica Country Trade Plan.
• Seek to address any relevant market access barriers in order to further open up the market to UK business.
• Budget holder for DBT Costa Rica, including overseeing, forecasting and managing budget, monitoring and accounting for spend.
• Work closely with DBT’s Regional Coordinator, delivering de Department’s objectives in CA and the Spanish Speaking Caribbean.
• To support DBT’s network in CA by leading and engaging in regional trade promotion/trade policy activities.
• Strategic planning and forward look on team goals, objectives and targets.
• Identify tenders/business opportunities in Costa Rica that are aligned with DBT and the Embassy’s business plan and promote them efficiently within the relevant industry in the UK.
• Conduct market research and reports on different sectors in Costa Rica.
• Organise and run events in collaboration with internal and external stakeholders.
• Attend networking events as required and play an active part in purposefully networking into the British and Costa Rican business communities.
• Promote and organise Trade Missions.
• Contribute and collaborate with the Trade and Prosperity teams to deliver sectoral strategies in trade policy.
• Lobby government for better market access and improved business environment.
• Work as a flexible member of the Embassy to support wider Embassy work as needed, including but not limited to, Crisis Work and other 1HMG work and activities.
• Be an active member of the regional DBT LATAC team.

Essential on arrival:

• University educated in International Trade, Economics, Business, Law or related field.
• Significant previous commercial or related professional experience.
• Experience in business development and client relationship/account management.
• Customer service delivery oriented.
• Good administration and organisation skills.
• Innovative, flexible and proven team player.
• IT proficiency – Using MS Office, Outlook and ability to learn FCO systems.
• Fluent in both English and Spanish