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Job Category  

Department for International Trade roles (DIT)

DIT Country Director (NLD21.018)

Job Subcategory  

DIT

Job Description (Roles and Responsibilities)  

Due to COVID-19, you may experience some delay in the progress of this recruitment campaign. We are working hard to minimise any disruption.

The British Embassy in The Hague, part of a worldwide network of 230 Diplomatic Posts, representing British Political, Economic and Consular interests overseas is now looking for a Country Director for the Department of International Trade (DIT).

Main purpose of job:

This is a great role working at the heart of Netherlands UK relations. The DIT Country Director for the Netherlands will lead the DIT team to deliver the country business plan as part of the British Embassy senior team.  The Country Director will drive UK Netherlands trade and investment relationships, working through the DIT Regional Trade Plan and campaigns to deliver for the UK. 

Roles and responsibilities:

Direct and manage the talented DIT trade and investment team and resources. Working closely with the deputy Country Director to provide client focussed business services that reflect Ministers priorities set out in the Regional Trade Plan.

Responsible for the alignment and focus the NL DIT team on the highest value-add priorities with the resources available, reflected in country and embassy strategy.

Lead the trade and Investment teams through campaigns in Defence and Security, Technology, Clean Growth, Food and Drink, Agritech, Financial & Professional Business Services and Capital Investment.

Cultivate relationships with key stakeholders to increase reach and impact of the Embassy. Leverage wider Embassy relationships and contribute to Embassy outreach. Champion our connections with business.

Integrate commercial intelligence and priorities into the bilateral UK/NL dialogue, analyse emerging market access barriers working with the Embassy team and the Europe network to maintain high quality data analysis and reporting.

Reflect our high priority on individual and team learning and development, empower the DIT team to grow in capability and expertise, demonstrate DIT priorities to build an expert, engaged and inclusive team.

Work with the communication and marketing Europe lead to support both DIT centre priorities and the needs of the local network.  Work with marketing team and the Embassy to develop appropriate content for different media channels

Work with the DIT Europe senior leadership to identify future opportunities and keep a strategic dialogue to maintain good alignment with UK priorities.

Implement a robust relationship management plan with existing key investors and exporters working with the Ambassador and sector specialists as well as counterparts in other European DIT teams.

Make a visible corporate impact both to DIT Europe regional initiatives and to support Embassy good governance and values.

The  job description is subject to changes and may evolve over time and in response to changing circumstances.  The role exists as part of a team and all staff are expected to be flexible in supporting colleagues, particularly at busy times.

Essential qualifications, skills and experience  

• University degree in a relevant subject;
• Minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in commercial or policy role;
• Full professional proficiency in English and Dutch, including excellent writing skills* (C1 Level);
• Policy skills and the ability to quickly develop a strong strategic level grip of market access work. The successful candidate will be proactive and capable of absorbing a wide range of information from different sources, and using that to inform and shape their thinking;
• Strong problem solving skills and experience in designing and implementing new organisational structures and processes;
• Highly organised, flexible, able to work at pace; and a proven record in ability to juggle multiple priorities. Project management capability;
• Excellent interpersonal, team working and people management skills. The successful candidate will be credible team leader capable of setting the direction for your team and of gaining their trust and respect;
• Strategic relationship management experience, building and implementing stakeholder engagement strategies to achieve objectives; Need to show a solid track record of dealing with senior level decision makers;
• Tried and tested project and budget/financial management skills. The successful candidate will be highly organised, flexible, able to work at pace; and a proven record in ability to juggle multiple priorities.

Desirable qualifications, skills and experience  

• Trade policy or market access experience;
• Commercial Knowledge, particualrly of the Dutch and UK Markets.

Required competencies  

Seeing the Big Picture, Leading and Communicating, Collaborating and Partnering, Building Capability for All

Application deadline  

12 February 2021

Grade  

C5 (L)

Type of Position  

Fixed term, with possibility of renewal

Working hours per week  

36

Region  

Europe, Eastern Europe & Central Asia

Country/Territory  

Netherlands

Location (City)  

The Hague

Type of Post  

British Embassy

Number of vacancies  

1

Starting monthly salary (EUR)  

6,723.05

Start Date  

28 March 2021

Other benefits and conditions of employment  

The successful candidate will initially be offered a one year employment contract at C5 level. The base salary for this position is € 6,723.05 gross per month, based on a working week of 36 hours. In addition, an 8% annual holiday bonus and a monthly travel allowance are payable. The Embassy currently applies a performance based bonus pay model for local staff.

Applicants must be legally entitled to work in The Netherlands.

The successful candidate will undergo a professional background check; Any job offer is also provisional to a successful security clearance check.

The Embassy encourages a culture of continuous learning. All employees have access to the Civil Service Learning platform which gives access to training to improve job specific skills. Employees are entitled to a minimum number of annual training days.

The British Embassy promotes and demonstrates the key values of Professionalism, Respect and Honesty.

Visa/work permit requirements: Candidates must currently hold the independent right to live and work in The Netherlands and be prepared to ensure that right remains throughout the scope of the contract.

Please note that it is your responsibility to ensure you meet the legal requirements to live and work in this country.

Additional information  

Additional Information (due to Covid 19):

• You may experience some delay in the progress of this recruitment campaign and we are working hard to minimise any disruption
• Interviews will be done remotely if the existing situation determines this to be the right course of action
• Starting date may be delayed depending on circumstances at the time and it will be agreed with the selected candidate.

*In regards to C1 level:

Please refer to the “Common European Framework of Reference for Languages”. We are looking for a C1 level or equivalent. CEFR indicates Level C1 as mastery or proficiency level which can understand a wide range of demanding, longer texts, and recognise implicit meaning. Can express him/herself fluently and spontaneously without much obvious searching for expressions. Can use language flexibly and effectively for social, academic and professional purposes. Can produce clear, well-structured, detailed text on complex subjects, showing controlled use of organisational patterns, connectors and cohesive devices. For more information please click on the following link CEFR. Please bear in mind in case you are invited for an interview your languages skills are going to be assessed.

Please note that the deadline for applications is 23:55 on the day mentioned in the above field “Application deadline”.

We advise you to allow enough time to complete and submit your full application, since only applications completed and submitted before the deadline will be considered.

Please be aware that the deadline for submitting applications is considered to be the time zone for the country where the vacancy has arisen.

Please be advised that the British Diplomatic Missions will not be able to meet the travel costs incurred when travelling to the interview, nor the costs connected with relocation if offered a job.

Under the terms of the UK/NL Double Taxation Convention (Article 18 1(b)(ii),  UK nationals who move to The Netherlands to take up their new role at the Embassy/Consulate and UKB spouse who start working at the Embassy with no previous record of working in the Netherlands since the arrival of the UKB partner they accompany,  will be placed on a tax abated salary if deemed to be eligible for Dutch income tax exemption on their salary. Qualifying staff will have no Dutch tax levied on their salary and will therefore be paid a lower salary abated by the amount of tax they would have had to pay if that local liability existed. A tax abated salary ensures a fair and comparable take home pay. Staff on tax abated salaries cannot claim tax benefits in The Netherlands but they are fully and comprehensively covered for social security and deemed to be resident local staff for all intents and  purposes.

Please be aware that you will only be able to apply to vacancies for Local Staff roles with the British Government through this official tal.net site (operated by Oleeo). Jobs may be advertised on third party websites, however our adverts will always link back to the official tal.net site. If you complete and send an application through any other site, we will not receive it.