Main purpose of job:

This is an exciting opportunity in the UK Government’s Department for Business and Trade (DBT) in Asia Pacific (APAC). The jobholder serves as International Market Advisor for Australia and New Zealand as part of DBT APAC’s Export Support Service.

The Export Support Service is the UK’s global export support programme, delivering advice and market entry support to thousands of SMEs each year.  The Asia Pacific ESS operates a hub-and-spoke model, with a central hub coordinating enquiries from Ho Chi Minh City, and onward referrals across 14 markets, supported by a regional network of market advisers.

As an International Market Advisor, you will deliver a high-quality, bespoke advisory service to UK businesses exploring export opportunities in Australia and New Zealand. Drawing on your expertise in market intelligence, stakeholder engagement and account management, you will help UK SMEs make informed decisions, navigate new markets with confidence, and unlock commercial opportunities they could not easily access alone.

After understanding the company’s requirements, you will provide market research and bespoke advice to businesses interested in exporting to Australia and New Zealand. The role will be critical in developing and maintaining high quality market overviews and sector reports and ensuring accurate and up-to-date reporting and data management.

Your role will also source, build, and sustain in-country contacts across Australia and New Zealand, including distributors, buyers, or end customers, where connections can be made on behalf of UK businesses. While you will be asked to cover a cross-section of all sectors, there is a particular focus on the FMCG sector.

Additionally, in this role you will support the local Overseas Referral Network (ORN). The ORN is composed of potential suppliers that may provide advice and support for UK businesses, looking to export or set up in Australia and New Zealand. Though ORN services are delivered outside of DBT, you will gain an oversight of the services delivered, monitor customer satisfaction, and will be able to add or remove companies from the ORN.

You will need to be adaptable, commercially minded, and a genuine self-starter – comfortable operating autonomously while contributing fully to a collaborative cross-government team environment.

You will report to the Market Entry Manager, Australia and New Zealand (ANZ), but work closely alongside the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) Australia and New Zealand teams to assess, evaluate and triage company enquiries across a broad spectrum of sectors. You will also work closely with the wider APAC ESS network to ensure service improvements, deliver change projects, and maximise opportunities across the region.

Please note: this role does have the expectation of some outside of normal working hours meetings.

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 will work with colleagues from diverse backgrounds whose professional experience is the foundation of our shared capability. We deliver as one team. 

The role is part of a flexible UK team covering a wide range of trade and investment sectors across Australia, and New Zealand, and is similar in content and seniority to others in the UK government operation in Australia. Applicants for this position will be considered for other vacancies in the Network.

If shortlisted, you can expect to be interviewed late July 2026 or early August 2026.

Our network and team

This is an exciting time to join the UK Government’s network in Australia. AUKUS, our Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with Australia & New Zealand (ANZ), and the newly signed CPTPP, have presented a unique opportunity to build broader and deeper economic ties with ANZ.  

The successful candidate will join a team of over 40 trade and investment experts working across five diplomatic missions in Australia and New Zealand as part of the UK’s network in the wider Asia Pacific region of nearly 200 people in 22 locations.  

UK in Australia and New Zealand is an inclusive and equal-opportunity employer. We actively encourage applications from people from the widest possible diversity of backgrounds, cultures, and experiences. Our culture of inclusion is underpinned by our excellent staff networks which cover disability, faith and belief, gender equality, social mobility, age, race, LGBTQ+, and how to be an ally. 

We are committed to building a supportive workplace that offers continuous learning and development opportunities for all our team. We embrace flexible and remote working and have a zero-tolerance policy towards bullying, harassment and discrimination.   

We recruit people with a wide variety of experience and skills that are relevant and transferable. Government experience is not essential. If you have strong motivation and core competences, we can help you develop the network and expertise needed to thrive in our team.  

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

The International Market Advisor is a pivotal position within the Department for Business and Trade’s (DBT) Export Support Service (ESS) — the UK Government’s flagship trade support programme. Operating from within DBT’s global network, you will serve as a primary point of contact for UK small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) seeking to export to international markets, connecting them to the right expertise, networks and opportunities.

The ESS acts as a universal entry point for UK businesses looking to win and expand internationally. As a key in-market delivery mechanism within DBT’s network of over 100 countries and 150+ locations, your work will directly contribute to growing the value of UK exports and advancing the UK’s international trade ambitions.

Key Responsibilities

Client Engagement and Relationship Management

• Serve as a primary point of contact for UK SMEs seeking to export to Australia and New Zealand, delivering consistently high-quality, consultative advice in line with agreed KPIs.
• Assess, evaluate and triage company enquiries across a broad spectrum of sectors to appropriate team leads.
• Meet with UK companies (including via video call) to understand their businesses, evaluate their support needs and develop tailored market entry advice.
• Act as an advocate for the Export Support Service, maintaining exceptional standards of customer service for all internal and external stakeholders.

Market Intelligence and Research

• Produce sector reports, market overviews and business intelligence products that identify market trends, opportunities and practical advice for UK exporters.
• Develop compelling sector propositions that accurately reflect the scale and value of commercial opportunities for UK companies, with a particular focus on high-growth sectors such as FMCGs, Technology, Healthcare and Infrastructure.
• Ensure all sector reports and market intelligence products are maintained, kept up to date and easily accessible in a central repository.

In-Market Network Development

• Source, build and sustain a portfolio of in-country contacts – including distributors, buyers and end customers – to facilitate introductions and connexions on behalf of UK businesses.
• Provide event management and logistical support for UK company visits, trade missions, exhibitions and conferences, Ministerial visits, and other internal and external DBT events.

Collaboration across the ESS APAC and UK network

• Actively engage and collaborate with colleagues across APAC and the UK to:
  • Suggest team-wide initiatives to improve the service to UK companies within the Australia and New Zealand ESS-IM team.
  • Deliver digital capability / digital change programmes to enhance service quality
  • Participate in project working groups
  • Share best-practice ideas and intelligence

Overseas Referral Network (ORN) Management

• Build, develop and account manage the local Overseas Referral Network (ORN), a curated portfolio of in-market service providers offering follow-up advice and support to UK businesses looking to set up or trade in-country.
• Identify, meet with and assess potential ORN members; monitor customer satisfaction; and maintain an updated and effective network.

Pipeline and Export Account Management

• Support the development of a strong pipeline of UK companies keen to operate in our markets, contributing to DBT’s strategic export growth objectives.
• Ensure export account management processes are followed and that businesses are appropriately linked into the ESS global, regional and Devolved Administration promotional activities to raise awareness of market opportunities among UK SMEs.

Cross-Government Collaboration

• Work as an active member of the cross-government team in post, engaging with DBT, FCDO and other HMG colleagues to support UK companies entering or operating in-market.
• Promote the ESS offer internally across the DBT regional network and externally to drive uptake among UK SMEs.

Data Management and Administration

• Maintain accurate and up-to-date data management by regularly tracking, evaluating and reporting on the outcomes of activities.
• Monitor team in boxes and triage communications to appropriate colleagues.
• Undertake other ad hoc administrative tasks as required.

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

Resources managed (staff and expenditure):

The job holder will have a small budget for business activity and travel and will work with colleagues on managing relevant activities.

• Resilient self-starter — able to work at high intensity using own initiative, sound judgement and strong problem-solving skills.
• Proven ability to work collaboratively within a team while also producing high-quality work autonomously.
• An understanding of both Australian and New Zealand markets, and the requirement to support UK companies entering both markets.
• Demonstrated experience of high-level research, with the capacity to analyse and collate information from a wide variety of sources and present it clearly to diverse audiences.
• Strong oral and written communication skills, with the ability to build and maintain productive working relationships with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders.
• Confident engaging with businesses, senior figures, Ministers, VIPs and their offices.
• Excellent organisational skills with the ability to work at pace, meet deadlines and deliver under pressure.
• Strong relationship management and stakeholder engagement capabilities, including experience working across government departments and with private sector partners.
• An understanding of UK export strategy and DBT’s international trade objectives.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.

Language requirements:

Expertise in English language