Main purpose of job:

This is an exciting time to join the Department for Business & Trade (DBT) in the Australia & New Zealand network and the wider Asia Pacific (APAC) region. Our work drives significant impacts on jobs and economic growth across the United Kingdom, Australia & New Zealand, and the broader Asia Pacific. 

We are an international department with a global presence, dedicated to helping UK businesses export, supporting inward and outward investment, negotiating market access, and championing free trade. 

With the UK’s bilateral Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with Australia and New Zealand now in force, and CPTPP ratified, we have a unique opportunity to deepen our economic relationships across these markets. 

The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in organising and delivering high-quality, impactful trade and investment events, as well as drive the high-profile trade policy programme work, ensuring that it aligns with our broader growth objectives and engages key stakeholders across the Asia Pacific region.

A talented self-starter, you’ll be part of a small, supportive team in Auckland, collaborating closely with colleagues across the UK, New Zealand, Australia, and APAC networks. 

Our commitment as an employer to diversity is unwavering. We encourage applications from candidates of diverse backgrounds, cultures, and experiences and offer strong networks covering disability, faith, gender equality, social mobility, race, LGBT+, and allyship. 

The jobholder may be required to operate outside of their role should there be a crisis affecting the UK and NZ such as a natural disaster which requires the UKinNZ network to suspend some or all of usual business.

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

The focus of this role will be leading and delivering high-impact special events that advance trade, investment and growth objectives across the Australia and New Zealand and Asia Pacific networks, while also driving critical trade policy initiatives.

1. Event Delivery

• Plan, organise, and execute impactful regional trade and investment events such as roadshows, trade missions, and conferences across ANZ, Asia Pacific and the UK.
• Manage high-profile events, including regional trade roadshows, promotional events, and targeted market-shaping campaigns, ensuring high quality and effectiveness in achieving strategic objectives.
• Promote FTA benefits and broader trade policy work to UK companies, trade associations, and other stakeholders, working closely with DBT’s delivery and communications teams.
• Build and sustain relationships with Heads of Mission, senior leaders, and business representatives to coordinate and enhance event reach and impact.
• Lead and motivate colleagues to deliver exceptional results, using innovative approaches that contribute to an effective, well-received campaign.

2. Programme Management

• Oversee the management of special event projects and trade policy work, ensuring all activities align with strategic goals and are effectively reported and evaluated.
• Lead the design and delivery of events, coordinating with stakeholders to maximise their impact on trade, trade policy and investment goals across APAC.
• Ensure robust project management controls are in place to facilitate the delivery of successful campaigns, including monitoring progress, identifying risks, and resolving issues proactively.

3. Relationship Management

• Cultivate and strengthen partnerships with government, business, and trade stakeholders to achieve shared objectives and leverage opportunities presented by the FTAs and other trade policy initiatives.
• Foster strategic relationships across government and business communities to support event delivery and amplify the impact of trade, trade policy and investment activities.

4. Trade Policy Development and Implementation

• Actively contribute to the formulation and executive of trade policy strategies that align with DBT’s overarching goals, fostering economic growth and enhancing market access for UK businesses.
• Support the continuous monitoring and evaluation of trade policy initiatives, providing data driven insights and recommendations to optimise their effectiveness and impact
• Facilitate knowledge sharing and capacity building among stakeholders through workshops, seminars, and informational sessions focused on trade policy development and implementation.
• Ensure that all events and initiatives effectively communicate trade policy objectives, showcasing the benefits and opportunities they create for businesses in the ANZ and Asia Pacific regions.
• Contribute to the creation of informative materials, reports, and presentations that outline trade policy developments and their implications for stakeholders, supporting informed decision-making and strategic engagement.

This position offers an excellent opportunity to make a tangible impact in the field of international trade through creative event delivery, stakeholder engagement, and trade policy, driving growth and opportunity for UK businesses in the Asia Pacific region.

Resources managed (staff and expenditure):

• Management of personal expenditure and event resources.

• Evidence of success in a leadership role, providing strategic prioritisation and clear evidence of empowering others to achieve organisational goals
• The ability to work flexibly and at pace and to make sound decisions in a complex, fast-moving and multi-stakeholder environment (involving government departments, Ministers, senior officials, external stakeholders)
• Interpersonal effectiveness and strategic approach to managing delivery of complex programmes.
• Demonstrable track record of influencing and working across departmental boundaries to deliver strategic priorities
• Strong planning skills, able to identify and address risks early on and use innovative solutions to enable mitigation
• Able to work on your own initiative and under pressure across different time zones
• Minimum of three years working experience in a commercial, trade or government role
• Strong management skills; leading projects and inspiring colleagues to deliver to a high standard
• Influencing skills to inspire the wider DBT Team to think creatively and develop innovative approaches that support them to deliver a quality campaign
• Confident in communicating (both written and spoken) with senior leaders across the network, as well as business representatives.