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The British Embassy in Doha is part of a worldwide network that represents the UK’s political, economic, security, and consular interests overseas. We are looking for a Senior Commercial Attaché, Vision 2023 under the Department for Business and Trade (DBT), job grade Higher Executive Officer (HEO).
The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) has responsibility for the promotion of international trade overseas and works with UK-based companies to ensure their success in international markets. DBT brings together policy, promotion, and financial expertise to break down barriers to trade and investment in markets across the world to help businesses succeed.
The Senior Commercial Attaché will play a catalytic role in unlocking opportunities for British companies in Qatar in the emergent sectors connected to Qatar’s ‘Vision 2030’ national strategy, with a particular focus in the pillars of Environmental Development and Human Development. In sector terms, this covers areas such as education, healthcare, and clean growth.
Looking beyond the immediate and the reactive, the jobholder will develop and implement a strategy that will help open up the UK-Qatar trade opportunities of the future in these strategic areas for both the UK and Qatar, as we progress to a comprehensive and modern Free Trade Agreement with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
In order to achieve this, the jobholder will utilise the unique levers and convening power available to the UK Government, including Ministerial visits, government-to-government fora, events, trade missions and others. You will need to build a fantastic network in Qatar of businesses and senior government leaders, as well as with the UK supply chain. You will work closely with the British Ambassador and the Director for Business and Trade.
You will work as part of a friendly, collegiate, and dynamic team with great ambitions, which themselves are part of a cross-departmental Embassy with a range of goals across the political, economic, and security spectrum. Critically, you will need to connect the dots across these teams. You will be required to be generous and flexible with your time, working with others to support other initiatives where required.
Duties and responsibilities:
- Develop and implement a strategy and programme of work to build a deeper economic relationship between the UK and Qatar in the Environmental Development and Human Development elements of Vision 2030. Demonstrate success by catalysing UK commercial wins against targets, particularly around exports growth, as well as achieving enablers for future growth (e.g. government or industry partnerships).
- Build the network required to implement this, including British and Qatari businesses and Ministry officials, across Embassy teams as well as DBT’s regional network, and with UK Government offices in the UK.
- Advise British companies seeking commercial success in these areas.
- Maintain key management information connected to your work, including recording of key interactions, ‘wins,’ and an opportunities pipeline.
- Manage one (1) Trade & Investment Officer.
- Make a positive corporate contribution to the Embassy, including to crisis preparedness.
Additional DBT team duties include:
- Providing support to wider team events, including Senior/ Ministerial visits.
- Updating the DBT key contact database to be used for invites to events.
- Providing support to the wider Trade and Investment team as required.
- Any additional role-based duties as required by the Country Director/ Deputy Director.
The above list is not exhaustive and the jobholder will be required to be flexible and take on other ad hoc tasks as required. The job description may be reviewed to meet changes in business needs.
Candidates will need to demonstrate the following Behaviours and Diversity & Inclusion during the interview.
Key behaviours:
- Communicating and Influencing - Communicate purpose and direction with clarity, integrity and enthusiasm. Respect the needs, responses and opinions of others.
- Working Together - Form effective partnerships and relationships with people both internally and externally, from a range of diverse backgrounds, sharing information, resources and support.
- Making Effective Decisions - Use evidence and knowledge to support accurate, expert decisions and advice. Carefully consider alternative options, implications and risks of decisions.
- Seeing the Big Picture - Understand how your role fits with and supports organisational objectives. Recognise the wider Civil Service priorities and ensure work is in the national interest.
Diversity and Inclusion:
The British Embassy Doha has a zero-tolerance approach to any form of bullying, harassment or discrimination and is fully committed to ensuring a safe and inclusive work environment for all.
We are committed to valuing diversity and to equality of opportunity. Our aim is to create and promote an environment in which all staff are treated fairly and with respect, and feel able to contribute to the best of their abilities.
- Relevant business development/ commercial/ trade and investment experience, ideally for at least three (3) years.
- Self-starter who can hit the ground running and quickly adapt to the role, demonstrating initiative and resilience.
- Proven record of cross-team collaboration. Team player who is capable of working on their own initiative as well as with others, including in a fast-paced and changing environment.
- Analytical skillset, able to assess Qatar and the international market context and build insights into your strategy and approach. Ability to plan strategically, assimilate information from a range of sources, and to see the bigger picture to spot opportunities.
- A confident communicator with excellent interpersonal skills and good presentation and representational skills. Proven ability to initiate and maintain a wide range of working relationships internally and externally, including with senior leaders in government and/or business stakeholders.
- First-rate organisational and project management skills, for instance to deliver complex events, missions. Able to organise, prioritise workload, and meet deadlines and changing priorities without compromising the quality of the work.
- Ability to work quickly, reliably, and proactively with attention to detail and limited supervision.
- Excellent communication skills in English. Able to express ideas and messages clearly and concisely, both orally and in written communication.
- Strong IT skills and literacy in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, Outlook).
- Existing knowledge of and/ or experience working in the Qatar business and political landscape.
- With an existing relevant network in Qatar.
- Experience working in sectors relevant to Human and Environmental Development, for instance in clean growth, education, or healthcare.
- Arabic language skills.
Eligibility:
Applicants must already reside in Qatar and hold the right to live and work in the country, including those under spouse sponsorship or those who are able to transfer an existing sponsorship to the British Embassy.
If sponsorship transfer is required, then all sponsorship-incurred fees shall be borne by the successful applicant. The Embassy cannot guarantee how much cost or time it may take for the process to complete.
Working Hours and Remuneration:
The British Embassy offers a competitive remuneration package, including non-negotiable salary of QAR 23,808 per calendar month and transportation allowance of QAR 800 per calendar month, paid in arrears. No accommodation nor relocation expenses are payable in connection with this position.
This position is for a full-time employment, on a fixed-term contract basis for two (2) years, subject to six (6) months’ probationary period.
Conditioned working hours are 38 hours per week. Embassy working hours are from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. from Sundays to Wednesdays and from 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Thursdays. Due to the nature of the work, some out of hours work, including evenings and weekends, may be required from time to time to support events, conferences, and other business engagement.
Travel to the UK and within the Gulf region (and possibly further afield) may be required for business, events, training, and logistical purposes.
The Embassy supports flexible working including working from home for some part of the working week, and is committed to helping its staff maintain a healthy work life balance.
The Embassy has an active Continuous Professional Development Committee, and the whole of Post is committed to providing the time and resources for staff to develop professionally. The 70/20/10 learning and development model is applied flexibly, with both internal and formal opportunities readily available.
In addition, DBT provides opportunity for management and leadership training, and sector specific ‘developing skills & knowledge’ training to increase understanding of the UK market.
The successful candidate will need to commence security clearance procedures through the Embassy and will be required to have or obtain the appropriate security clearance before employment commences, and maintain this throughout the period of employment.
How to Apply:
Interested candidates must include 1) an updated Curriculum Vitae (CV); 2) motivation essay, in the relevant sections of the online application form, stating how you meet the requirements of the role; and 3) specific examples, in the relevant sections of the online application form, of how you meet the key behaviours and skills required.
Applications that do not include this information will not be considered.
Closing date of receiving applications is before 23:55 Qatar local time on 07 August 2023.
Applications received after the stated deadline will not be considered.
Process:
The recruitment process, including security clearance, is expected to take around 2-3 months. The security clearance process includes checks available in country and with UK, dependant on the security level required for the role and the candidates profile and UK footprint. You may experience some delay in the progress of this recruitment campaign, and we are working hard to minimise any disruption.
Appointable candidates who were unsuccessful at interview may be placed on a ‘reserve list’. If during the reserve period of six (6) months the same or a largely similar role becomes available, that role may be offered to the second or subsequent candidate.
The start date mentioned in the job advert is a tentative start date and the successful candidate will be required to undergo security-vetting procedures. Any offer of employment will be subject to the candidate achieving suitable clearances, medical clearance and reference checks.
The British Embassy Doha is an equal opportunities employer, dedicated to inclusivity, a diverse workforce and valuing difference. Staff recruited locally by the British Embassy are subject to terms and conditions of service according to local Qatari employment law.
