The British Embassy Riyadh has a vacancy for a Investor Relations Manager under the Department for Business and Trade (DBT), job grade Higher Executive Officer (HEO), on a fixed-term contract for two (2) years.

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) is the British Government’s trade and investment development organisation. Its aim is to enhance the competitiveness of companies in the UK through overseas trade and investments and attract high-level of quality foreign direct investment into the UK. We work with UK based businesses to ensure their success in overseas markets and international investors to help them bring high-quality investment to the UK. DBT has a network of trade teams across Saudi Arabia that work closely together to deliver services to UK and Saudi businesses.

This is an exciting and historic time to be in Saudi Arabia. In recent years, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) has accelerated its Vision 2030 programme of social and economic liberalisation to diversify its economy. This programme has driven an almost unprecedented domestic and international investment.

The successful candidate will play an important role in the Embassy, building relationships with Saudi investors and connecting them with UK businesses, funds, or other opportunities to invest in the UK.  To do this, the successful candidate will work collaboratively with colleagues responsible for sectors (e.g., healthcare, technology, infrastructure) to identify investment opportunities in their industry. They will also lead on investment-focused events and delegations visiting the UK and Saudi. Additionally, the successful candidate will work with the senior leadership team to develop our strategy for attracting Saudi investment to the UK, while also being responsible for tracking our delivery against investment targets.

The jobholder’s core role will be to identify, understand, and build relationships with Saudi investors, directing such investors to UK partners and projects which drive forward core policy priorities such as clean energy and technology.

The jobholder must be creative, strategic, customer-focused, and have an ability to mobilise a wide network – within both UK and Saudi governments and private sectors – to build a pipeline of potential investors and projects. The jobholder will have exceptional relationship and account management skills to achieve sustained, sophisticated, and tailored engagement, with the ability to work credibly at senior levels. 

Duties and responsibilities:

• Build and manage a network of high value Saudi investors, working at the highest levels with clients and with colleagues across the UK Government (DBT, the Office for Investment, HM Treasury, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, etc.).
• Work with colleagues in the UK to identify the investment opportunities most attractive to Saudi investors and develop the pitch to present it to them.
• Develop a countrywide strategy for investment and pipeline of opportunities to pursue.
• Lead on investor events and provide in-market guidance.
• Draft and provide in-depth briefing to UK ministers and other leadership on Saudi investment.
• Contribute to VIP visits, both to Saudi Arabia and to the UK.
• Where necessary, provide the wider DBT team in Saudi Arabia with in-country support, including (but not limited to) official programmes, trade missions, events, and trade shows.
• Manage all investment-centred Public Relations within the KSA market, hence working closely with DBT’s in-house Marketing and Communications team.

The above list is not exhaustive, and the jobholder will be required to be flexible as specific responsibilities could change in the future and this would be at the discretion of the line manager or head of section. The job description may be reviewed to meet changes in business needs. The jobholder may also take on other ad hoc tasks as required, including participating in the Embassy’s emergency planning and any other response to a crisis.

Key behaviours required:

• Managing a Quality Service – Deliver service objectives with professional excellence, expertise, and efficiency, taking account of diverse customer needs.
• Communicating and Influencing – Communicate purpose and direction with clarity, integrity, and enthusiasm. Respect the needs, responses, and opinions of others.
• Delivering at Pace – Taking responsibility for delivering timely and quality results with focus and drive.
• Working Together – Form effective partnerships and relationships with people both internally and externally, from a range of diverse backgrounds, sharing information, resources, and support.

Eligibility:

• The successful candidate must be able to secure a local residence and work permit in Saudi (iqama) OR already have the right to work and reside in Saudi.
• The British Embassy provides visa sponsorship. The successful candidate will be required to transfer their visa under the Embassy’s sponsorship.

• Knowledge of investment concepts and relevant commercial experience.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and able to influence and network confidently with industry leaders, government officials, and senior businesspeople.
• Team player who is capable of working on their own initiative and manage others. Ability to effectively work and collaborate across teams and stakeholders based across multiple locations.
• Excellent communication skills in English, both verbal and spoken. Able to express ideas and messages clearly and concisely.
• Excellent organisational skills, including ability to organise and prioritise workload, organise records, and meet deadlines and changing priorities whilst maintaining close attention to detail and without compromising the quality of the work.
• Strong customer focus and ability to deliver quality service
• Ability to develop high-quality management reports, suitable for prioritising investment opportunities, managing client relationships and tracking performance.
• Strong IT skills and literacy in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams).