Trade and Investment Officer – Management and Creative, Media & Sport - British Consulate General Houston

Main purpose of job:

Be part of the Department for Business and Trade’s (DBT) mission to drive more trade and investment between North America and the UK. With a mature, high spending consumer market and an open, liberal economy, world-class talent and a business-friendly regulatory environment, the UK is the leading destination for foreign investment in Europe, and the second highest investment destination in the world. The UK is also the world’s sixth largest exporter and the second largest services exporter.

We employ over 150 people across North America, all united by our vision of a future where we champion open and fair global trading that drives growth, creates better jobs and higher wages, and improves living standards in the UK and around the world. We seek talented team members with the passion and drive to help us in our mission to build a global appetite for British goods and services; drive investment; negotiate trade deals and open up markets; improve international trading standards and fight unfair trading practices.

Based at the British Consulate-General, Houston, you will report to the Regional Director providing support (50%) on budgets, VIP visits, marketing support, arranging travel schedules and other ad hoc projects. In addition, you will support the Sector Director – Creative, Media & Sport (50%) with research and building the sales pipeline. You will be part of the North America Creative, Media & Sport team, as well as a valued contributor to the regional team based in Houston and work closely with colleagues based around the UK. This is a fast-moving role that requires a flexible individual with a good sense of humour and ability to move at pace.

Roles and responsibilities:

• Deliver impactful, targeted marketing programs and events in conjunction with partners and stakeholders to build DBT awareness, promote key messages, and showcase UK competitiveness. Track and report outcomes.
• Provide project management support for initiatives to advance UK trade policy and economic development objectives, including networking receptions, seminars, trade missions and participation at trade shows, and long-term partnerships with industry associations and local/regional governments.
• Provide operational and administrative support, including maintaining client and project databases, overseeing marketing initiatives and materials, and assisting with budget management and procurement for the Houston team,
• Support high-profile visits, including UK Ministerial and VIP delegations, including by scheduling high-level meetings, organising activities, and preparing briefing materials.
• Identify and reach out to innovative technology companies interested in establishing or expanding operations and Research and Development opportunities in the UK to build pipeline of ambitious foreign direct investment projects.
• Support the development of US market opportunities for a broad range of UK exporters.
• Keep pace with market trends, incentives and centres of excellence in North America and the UK to identify commercial opportunities and provide informed advice to clients and stakeholders.
• Attend evening networking events and overnight travel as required.
• Work across the British Consulate Houston and US Network to deliver on the UK’s wider Prosperity Agenda.
• Other duties as assigned.

• Professional experience/skills in an international business, business development or project management role ideally in a related sector such as creative industries, international trade etc.
• Excellent time management skills with a proven ability to meet deadlines.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with a professional and helpful manner.
• Ability to undertake research and follow market trends to identify new opportunities.
• Excellent organisational skills and meticulous attention to detail.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• An interest in or understanding of Technology industries.
• Computer literacy in standard Microsoft applications and the ability to use a variety of online and social media tools.
• Must be able to attend events outside of office hours and undertake travel within the US and UK up to 5-10% of your time.
• Fluent in English.
• Right to live and work in the US, in your own right, from time of application.

Please note: Under US State Department requirements, the UK Government in the US may only employ, as non-diplomatic staff, persons who are US citizens, US Permanent Residents or A visa holders with EAD cards*. If you hold a visa other than an A visa you are not currently eligible to work at our office. Please refer to our website for information on exceptions to this policy at www.gov.uk/government/world/usa. All selected candidates are subject to background checks and will require a security clearance prior to starting work. • A visas are acceptable at the Embassy and Consulates. The UK Mission to the UN (UKMIS) accepts G visas, and British Defence Staff (BDS) outposts accept A or NATO visas.

Learning and development opportunities:

As a valued member of our team, we will help you to achieve your goals through continuous professional development. The British Embassy and its US Network is committed to all employee’s ongoing learning and development needs. We actively encourage learning & development and will develop a specific plan in collaboration with the successful candidate. We offer a comprehensive platform for personalised learning for everything from soft skill development (communicating with impact, handling difficult conversations, time management) to more technical or professional skills necessary to complete your job (software training, formal qualifications etc.).

We offer:

• Generous leave package plus public holidays.
• Generous 401k matching, up to 7%.
• Excellent healthcare options.
• Paid sick leave.
• A generous parental leave policy.
• A great work-life balance including flexible start and finish times and a hybrid working model with staff splitting their time between working from home and the office.
• Short-term disability, long-term disability and life insurance coverage.
• High quality L&D services with global sessions and events every day to help you develop and meet organisational needs, including up to 5 days paid leave each year to pursue your professional development.

Inclusivity is one of our core values and we strive to treat everyone openly, fairly and equally. All new team members learn about how they can contribute to an inclusive environment and the importance of diversity and inclusion.

Working patterns: This role is 40 hours a week. The British Embassy and its US Network embraces hybrid working, allowing its staff to typically work from home 2 or 3 times a week. We are an organization that also recognises the critical value of teamwork, and we embrace and endorse collaboration by ensuring that all staff attend the office flexibly yet regularly.

Appointable candidates who were unsuccessful may be placed on a ‘reserve list’. If during the reserve period of 6-12 months the same or a largely similar role becomes available, that role may be offered to the second or subsequent candidate.

Employees who are not liable to pay local income tax on their Mission salary, e.g. some non-local national staff and some spouses or partners of UK diplomatic staff, will have their salaries abated by an equivalent amount.

Internal candidates must inform their supervisor before they apply to a different position.

Only successful candidates will be contacted. Please no phone calls. Due to the high volume of resumes we receive, we cannot guarantee consideration of your application if the submission instructions are not properly followed.

The British Embassy is committed to a policy of equal opportunities and to creating a diverse working environment, free from discrimination, where everyone is included and treated fairly, based on merit alone. We are an equal opportunity employer, making all employment decisions without regard to race, gender, gender identity, religion, national origin, citizenship, disability, age, sexual orientation, political affiliation or any other criterion protected by law.