The British Government is an inclusive and diversity-friendly employer.  We value difference, promote equality and challenge discrimination, enhancing our organisational capability. We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We do not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, colour, ethnicity, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, age, veteran status or other category protected by law. We promote family-friendly flexible working opportunities, where operational and security needs allow.

Job Category 
Department for Business and Trade roles (DBT)

Job Subcategory
Department for Business and Trade (DBT)

Grade
Higher Executive Officer (HEO)

Type of Position
Full-time, Fixed term, with possibility of renewal

Number of vacancies
1

Start Date
15 July 2024

Job Description (Roles and Responsibilities) 

Bi-lateral trade sits at the heart of the UK-Korea relationship, driving our mutual prosperity and growth. This role offers an exceptional opportunity to help shape and deliver our future commercial partnership, working to influence some of the largest companies in Korea and support their global growth into the UK.
Working directly to the Head of Investment, you will lead a team of three Investment Advisors to attract high-value investment into the UK, taking shared responsibility for setting strategic priorities, leveraging and directing resources, improving team capability and driving performance.
As Deputy Head, you will engage and influence a wide range of senior stakeholders, utilising strong interpersonal skills to build deep and trusting relationships with senior executives across a wide range of sectors. You will balance a number of competing priorities; collaborate with teams across the Embassy and in the UK; utilise data and analysis to develop strategy; and deliver a high quality, reliable and efficient service.
The role is suited to a commercially-minded self-starter who will relish the opportunity to engage with senior business people across a wide range of innovative sectors – and, in doing so, grow the UK-Korea commercial partnership.
 

Working to, and with the support of, the Head of Investment – you will share responsibility for the strategic decision making of the team, including:

1. Identification of priority sectors and accounts; establishment of team KPIs; commissioning of business planning, data analysis and UK policy/strategy alignment; and improving systems and tools 
2. Effective management of the performance of the wider investment team against KPIs, and reporting these to the Head of Investment, Country Director and London Investment team 
3. Developing wider investment team capability, including through sharing best practice 
4. Leveraging visits and events to support investment priorities and managing visit programmes and events 
5. Representing UK strengths and investment opportunities in Korea across all sectors.  Lead/Chair events/meetings or may be accompanied by a senior member of the Mission.
6. Management of an agreed list of key stakeholders, including Korean corporate and institutional investors, industry advisers and multipliers, government of Korea officials, UK industry organisations, and UK Government colleagues.   
7. Representation at investment-related meetings and events 
8. Deputising for the Head of Investment where necessary

You will design and promote campaigns across critical sectors (e.g. Technology, Automotive/Battery supply chains, Energy and Financial Services) to attract Korean businesses, private sector R&D, capital and talent to the UK, in order to deliver against the team’s targets. This will be through planning and leading a programme of investment activities, such as seminars, inward missions, and company meetings and engagements, through account management of existing accounts and target companies, and through supporting projects, including high value projects that are outside of campaigns.
 

You will directly manage the team’s most important company accounts, and oversee the team’s wider accounts, with the goal of influencing senior business leaders to invest in the UK; understanding corporate strategies and barriers to investment; and influencing UK policy design to improve the investment environment. Working with the Investment Head you will use research, data, and analysis to ensure we are focussed on the highest value accounts – and consider new and innovate ways of maintaining close and productive client relationships. You will also be responsible for ensuring that the team are accurately reporting activity on our bespoke CRM system.
 

Leveraging strong UK networks, you will work with the Head of Investment to develop big picture knowledge and expertise of key sectors, and stay up to date on developments, including UK strategies and funding, investments, opportunities and barriers, and relevant trade policy changes. You will ensure that these developments are understood at the appropriate level across the Korean network.
 

You will line manage three Investment Advisors taking responsibility for agreeing objectives, performance management and employee development. You will also monitor your own and your team’s performance against agreed targets and act to keep work on track.
 

10% of your time will involve contributing to the broader goals of British Embassy Seoul, including crisis preparedness exercises, and acting as  a champion of the British-Korean relationship, and wider UK Government values (e.g. gender equality)

Other benefits and conditions of employment
The position is being advertised on a 1-year contract with possible extension.

Learning and development opportunities:
The British Embassy in Seoul takes learning and development seriously. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to develop many core and transferable skills through both formal and informal learning and development opportunities. Members of staff are encouraged to make use of the learning and development opportunities that the office has to offer. 

Working patterns:
The British Government is an inclusive and diversity-friendly employer.  We value difference, promote equality and challenge discrimination, enhancing our organisational capability. We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We do not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, colour, ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual orientation, age, veteran status or other category protected by law. 
Normal working hours are Monday to Friday, 09:00 – 17:15 (17:00 on Fridays). However, occasional evening and weekend working may be required, for which time off in lieu is given. The British Embassy Seoul encourages flexible working and various flexible working arrangements are possible with line manager agreement, including working from home.
Specific flexible working options can be discussed, but successful candidates should typically be able to work from the office at least 4 days per week. 

Other information:
Employment offers are subject to successful clearance of pre-employment checks.
All candidates must be legally able to work and reside in the country of the vacancy with the correct visa/work permit status or demonstrate eligibility to obtain the relevant permit.
Any costs related to obtaining or renewing permits and visas are the responsibility of the successful applicant.
Staff who are recruited by the British Embassy Seoul are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local employment law. 

Additional information
Please note that your application must be submitted before 23:55 on the day mentioned in the above field "Application deadline."
Please be aware that the deadline for submitting applications is considered to be the time zone for the country where the vacancy has arisen.
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. Applicants called for an interview will be assessed on the core behaviours listed above.
All applicants are required to mandatorily fill the online application form completely including the employment and educational details, experience, professional skills and behaviour-based questions. We will be thoroughly reviewing the applications and incomplete form in any respect may not be considered while shortlisting for the next stage.
Only shortlisted candidates for interview will be contacted. Interviewees will be assessed on the core behaviours/qualifications listed above. Unsuccessful candidates will be notified via the system in due time. Appointable candidates who were unsuccessful may be placed on a ‘reserve list’.  If during the reserve period of 6 months the same or a largely similar role becomes available, that role may be offered to the second or subsequent candidate.
For inclusivity and diversity, please remove the following personal information when uploading your CV: name, address, email address, age, date of birth, gender, and nationality.
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.

Essential qualifications, skills and experience

1. Strong communication skills, including fluency in both Korean and English
2. Proven ability to lead and manage a small team
3. At least eight years professional experience
4. Commercial skills, well versed in how companies contract and structure projects
5. Prior experience of business origination or business development
6. Network of contacts in business and/or financial world in Korea
7. Proven ability to take the initiative pursuing the objectives in the job description
8. Proven competence in leading strategy development and business planning
9. Proven advisory and negotiation skills at senior levels –able to express ideas and messages clearly and concisely, both orally and in written communication
10. Competent in Microsoft Office applications
11. Confident public speaking and networking skills
12. Recognition of the importance of developing a strong business network
13. Able to fulfil the travel requirements of the role and work outside normal office hours as required

Desirable qualifications, skills and experience

1. Experience of inward investment promotion
2. Experience of using data and analysis to set strategic direction and manage performance 
3. Experience working in a cross-cultural environment  

Required behaviours
Communicating and Influencing, Managing a Quality Service, Seeing the Big Picture, Working Together