Main purpose of job:

Taiwan is rising up the agenda across the UK government. Bilateral trade with Taiwan is worth £8.6 billion and growing, and Taiwan is our 5th largest partner in Asia-Pacific. UK government support to help British companies navigate new opportunities and existing relationships can be invaluable.

We are seeking a Market Advisor for Export Support to join our team and lead the delivery of our economic growth agenda, with a focus on SME focused sectors including food and drink, consumer retail, healthcare, and education.  The post holder will also facilitate introductions between SMEs and DBT Taipei colleagues who lead on energy, security, tech and financial services.

You will be part of the Asia Pacific Export Support Service, International Markets (IM) team as the Market Advisor for Taiwan, joining a dynamic regional team of 23 focused on helping attract more of the UK’s 5.5 million SME businesses into Taiwan. In addition to these primary responsibilities, you’ll be a core member of Department of Business and Trade (DBT) Taipei.

In this role you will lead proactive campaigns to build UK business interest in Taiwan and assist companies with a broad range of market entry enquiries.

This job offers the successful candidate an opportunity to work in the high-performing Department of Business & Trade (DBT) team at the British Office Taipei, working with UK and Taiwan government in a high-profile bilingual environment.

DBT’s role is to promote UK’s business interests worldwide, and the job holder will contribute to the UK’s prosperity by assisting UK businesses wishing to export to and/or establish a presence in Taiwan. This is an exciting time to join the Department for Business and Trade (DBT). Our mission is to help businesses export, drive inward and outward investment, negotiate market access, and to champion free trade.

We promote UK businesses overseas and attract foreign investment to our shores. We have 3,000 staff across the globe in over 100 countries.

DBT APAC is one of the nine DBT global networks and is led by Martin Kent, His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner (HMTC) for Asia Pacific.

DBT in Taiwan is based at the British Office Taipei. The British Office is an exciting and rewarding place to work, where your work can make a real impact. The working environment is supportive and friendly and there are lots of opportunities for learning and development.

Roles and Responsibilities:

Account Management and Market Enquiries (80%)

• Increase the value of UK exports by providing an exceptional service to small and medium sized enterprises/businesses (SMEs) looking to export to Taiwan, providing guidance on entering the Taiwan market. This requires an in-depth review of the market, research and knowledge of the UK businesses looking to export.
• Identify and lead on commercial opportunities flowing from policy work, including integration of the DBT Taipei Market Plan into sector campaigns (e.g. British food & beverage products such as pork and organic products.)
• Give presentations and speeches focused on specific sectors/markets, both in Taiwan and the UK – on business opportunities and the business climate in Taiwan in person and online.
• Work proactively to build demand within the local market, seeking out export opportunities and tenders, and identifying and building relationships with major local businesses and importers.
• Maintain relationships with key stakeholders in the trade ecosystem, such as local senior business contacts, buyers, agents, distributors, public sector organisations, trade associations, the British Chamber of Commerce Taipei, UK businesses, Invest Taiwan and Chambers networks in the UK and Taiwan to identify and promote export opportunities
• Work with the APAC International Markets Hub to identify UK SMEs entering other APAC markets that could potentially succeed in Taiwan and then highlight opportunities to these UK exporters
• You will have ownership for the team’s commercial pipeline and export opportunities relating to SMEs. You will work closely with colleagues in Taipei and across the ESS IM APAC team to explore operational improvements, agree and implement strategies for driving this pipeline forward.

Market Collateral (15%)

• Produce, research and keep up to date various ‘off the shelf’ market information products. These may include overviews of key sectors of interest and ‘how to’ guides relating to core aspects of setting up operations in Taiwan, in areas such as; Legal, Accountancy, Market Research, Event Management, Marketing & PR, Visa Information and setting up a Bank Account.

Overseas Referral Network (5%)

• Maintain and develop a network of commercial providers who offer specialist or more intensive support for UK SMEs in Taiwan.

• At least 2 years’ experience in a customer facing job
• Postgraduate degree and/or undergraduate degree and other relevant professional qualification.
• Relevant work experience in the private sector, or within a private-sector orientated part of Government or International Organisation.
• A people-oriented person with great customer service skills and excellent networking skills.
• Proven track record of cross-team collaboration.
• A positive, resilient, flexible and adaptable “can-do” attitude to overcome challenges.
• Strong interpersonal and leadership skills, ability to work successfully in multicultural teams and across boundaries, to build networks across the region.
• Understanding of Taiwanese market, consumer trends and the overall market environment.
• Ability to work under pressure and to tight deadlines
• Ability to work with regional and virtual teams.
• Excellent communication skills, both oral and written.
• Strong skills in Word, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, MS Teams.