The British Embassy in Prague is part of a worldwide network, representing British political, economic and consular interests overseas and is now looking for a Country Director for its Department for Business and Trade (DBT) team.
DBT promotes British trade and investment around the world; helps to build an appetite for British goods and services globally; and works to encourage foreign investment into the UK. DBT also brings together policy, promotion and financial expertise to break down barriers to trade & investment and to help businesses to succeed.
This is an exciting time to be joining the British Embassy in Prague. The DBT Country Director will play a key senior and strategic role within the management board of the Embassy.
The role will involve some travel within the Czech Republic and occasionally to the UK and elsewhere in Europe.
This is a locally engaged ‘Country Based Staff’ position within the British Embassy Prague. In a matrix management set-up, the role is line-managed by His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Czech Republic with DBT oversight by its Regional Director. The role is part of the broader DBT Europe country director cadre and actively contributing to DBT Europe’s Europe Central sub-regional grouping.
Main Tasks
Leadership
- Lead, motivate and develop the DBT team (7 people) in the Czech Republic, with general responsibility for matters pertaining to trade relations between the UK and the Czech Republic.
- Foster a culture of open and constructive feedback across team members, regardless of role and seniority.
- Reflect our high priority on individual and team learning and development, empower the DBT team to grow in capability and expertise, demonstrate DBT priorities to build an expert, engaged and inclusive team.
Delivery
- Lead UK’s efforts in supporting UK exporters to succeed in Czech Republic, through the removal and navigation of market access barriers as well as exports promotion activities.
- Continue to build and track a pipeline of commercial opportunities vis-a vis- the available resource.
- Oversee the local efforts in maximising high value Foreign Direct Investment from the Czech Republic to the United Kingdom
External Stakeholders
- Personally and through the entire team cultivate and maintain relevant professional relationships with the highest significance for the UK's business and trade interests, including Strategic Relationship Management of Key Accounts
- Represent DBT Prague externally and internally, including with the Central Europe Network and the wider Europe Network
Corporate and UK Government
- Provide advice on UK-CZ business and trade relations as required, to colleagues at the Embassy, including the ambassador and his deputy, the Regional Director in Warsaw, and His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for Europe.
- Engage pro-actively with other relevant teams within the Embassy and DBT to identify joint objectives and activities, and contribute as the senior-in-country-representative of DBT to Europe Region and wider Embassy matters, shaping and contributing to the broader efforts and plans of DBT
- Ensure that all relevant processes are followed in a timely manner and rules complied with by the entire team
The job description is subject to changes and may evolve over time and in response to changing circumstances. The role exists as part of the team and all staff are expected to be flexible in supporting colleagues, particularly at busy times.
- Excellent interpersonal, team working and people management skills. The successful candidate will be credible team leader capable of setting the direction for the 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 (‘C-level’ executives)
- 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
- Highly organised, flexible, able to work at pace; and a proven record in ability to juggle multiple priorities
- Tried and tested project management skills. The successful candidate will be highly organised, flexible, able to work at pace; and to take de-prioritisation decisions to retain focus on highest value-add activities
- A positive attitude and problem-solving skills
- University degree in a relevant subject
- Minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in a senior commercial or policy role
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Full professional proficiency in English and Czech, including excellent writing skills* (C1 Level);
- Commercial Knowledge, particularly of the Czech and UK markets
- Experience having worked with one or multiple governments and/or agencies or other public bodies and the intersection of public and private sector
- Investment and export promotion agency experience
- Trade policy or market access experience
This is a full-time fixed-term position for 24 months with possibility to make permanent contract thereafter, 5 working days (37.5 hours net) per week. Working hours are Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 17:00 with a flexible working hours arrangement. Staff are entitled to time-off-in-lieu for extra hours worked. The annual leave entitlement is 25 days per year pro rata and the Embassy enjoys an average of 14 Czech/UK public holidays per year.
The monthly salary is 126,052 CZK (gross). In addition, staff receive meal contribution.
The successful candidate will be subject to professional background check, security clearance and 3 months probationary period.
The successful candidate must have pre-existing work authorisation for the Czech Republic in order to apply.
Staff recruited locally by the British Embassy in Czech Republic are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local Czech Republic employment law.
Visa/work permit requirements: candidates must currently hold the independent right to live and work in Czech Republic 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.
The British Embassy does not sponsor for work permits.
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 Embassy will not be able to meet the travel costs incurred when travelling to the interview, nor the costs connected with relocation if offered a position.
- Please note for more information on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, Teaching, Assessment levels please click on the following link CEFR. Please bear in mind in case you are invited for an interview your language skill is going to be assessed.
