Main purpose of job:

The UK’s Department for International Trade (DIT) has overall responsibility for promoting UK trade across the world and attracting foreign investment to the UK’s economy. We’re a specialised government body with responsibility for negotiating international trade policy, supporting business, as well as delivering an outward-looking trade diplomacy strategy.

In the education sector, DIT Education and Skills is responsible for facilitating access to the whole-chain education resources, including early-years education, British style international/bilingual schools, English training, technical and vocational education and training, education technology and higher education across the UK for the Chinese government departments, institutions, investors and various types of business partners. DIT Education and Skills also helps UK-based education succeed globally through organising forums, road shows, trade fairs and etc. in China and the UK, which offers assistance to companies in Britain to create business links with Chinese partners.

It is an exciting opportunity at the forefront of the British Government’s growth agenda. Being part of the team, this role will be involved in developing and working with internal and external partners such as the DIT education HQ team, key internal and external partners and stakeholders including the British Council, Trade Policy Unit, Science and Innovation Networks, UK Research and Innovation, Prosperity team and the China Britain Business Council.

Reporting to the Head of Schools and New Markets, the candidate will independently manage some export and inward investment projects from inception to completion in conjunction with other team members generating targeted leads and wins, conduct business development and analysis, develop and manage client relationship and engage private and public sector stakeholders including high level officials, ensuring clients’ needs are effectively met, and work closely with DIT London and other HMG partners to achieve synergy in six strategic focuses of the team in South China, including early-years education, British style international/bilingual schools, English training, technical and vocational education and training, education technology and higher education as well as to coordinate the education trade policy on all subsectors.

A particular focus of the job holder would be to develop some new product lines with strong growth potential under the existing sub-sectors (e.g. STEAM and other enrichment courses, teacher training). The key to the role will be leading certain product lines independently, and mapping, developing and creating strong working relationships with both UK and China education organisations.

Roles and responsibilities / what will the jobholder be expected to achieve:

Delivering strategic trade and investment plans

• Support to design and deliver strategic trade and investment plans for the subsector of schools and new markets by working closely with the Head of Schools and New Markets, DIT education HQ team and key stakeholders.
• Build and maintain a pipeline of active projects for six strategic education focuses in China market by collaborating with DIT Education HQ team, establishing sustainable relationships with government and business decision makers in UK/China as well as frequently engaging with experts from education market.
• With unique understanding of the market trend, detail analysis of sector figures and consistent follow up on project, turn active export or FDI projects on the pipeline into real business results to contribute to team target.
• Work closely with sector colleagues and internal/external partners across government like British Council, China Britain Business Council (CBBC), Outreach team, UKRI, SIN and etc., drawing on their knowledge and network to identify new business opportunities in the market for Education and Skills and timely engage with Chinese business that have an interest in education sector.
• With guidance and advice from the sector lead, develop and lead on the business plan of new product lines with high potential such as enrichment course, teacher training or strands with good business opportunities under key subsectors and deploy in line the plan to better contribute to long-term Education and Skills strategy and target.
• Lead on the design of specific activities/campaigns to raise awareness of UK education and skills opportunities and manage the whole project process to make sure results to be delivered based on the objective set initially.
• Provide ongoing aftercare support to existing UK exporters and investors in China looking at opportunities to grow their business.

Effective Relationship Management

• Play a leading role in identifying and building relationships with senior leaders in key companies and organisations in China and the UK, including intermediaries and trade associations to understand their business intentions and needs.
• Proactively build and maintain key relationships with the Chinese Ministry of Education, local government, and other public organisations to support delivery of project opportunities and to address business environment and market access issues.
• Maintain a close working relationship with internal partners and support them to achieve their targets for service deliveries, revenue and business opportunity responses.
• As a key DIT Edu representative in South China, proactively keep the network here updated of the latest UK offer, market trend and policy changes.

Effective Resources Management

• Deploy the resources and provide support and guidance to guarantee delivery against agreed business plans, and work with key stakeholders to maintain a robust China pipeline of active projects and have a good overview of key industry trends
• Ensure the whole team understand and champion capability of UK education sector organisations, as well as investment and collaboration opportunities.

High Impact VIP Visit and Events

• Play a leading role in planning, managing, and following up on high level visits and event that contribute to sector targets and address business environment and market access issues.
• Act as a lead for the development of important visit programmes (by Chinese companies to the UK and UK companies to China) that contribute to your sector targets, working with partners and other networks where appropriate.

• Bachelor’s degree or above or equivalent;
• Three years plus full-time working experience. Must demonstrate experience of working in an international trade or investment environment and the knowledge of education and skills sector.
• Excellent organisational, project management, and networking skills;
• Excellent interpersonal skills, with strong customer engagement;
• Must be proactive and demonstrate strong willingness in taking initiative;
• Proven ability to work independently and as part of a team;
• Ability to pay strong attention to details and accuracy
• Excellent computer skills (Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint).

• Full-time working experience in China or UK education and skills sector.
• Good understanding of the Chinese or UK’s education and skills systems.
• Knowledge of the UK or China education market, particularly, on schools, technical and vocational education and training, education technology and higher education.
• Unique understanding of UK/China education market and capability to identify new business opportunities.
• Knowledge of the UK’s market access barriers and the Chinese business environment and related policies.

The jobholder will be required to travel regularly within and occasionally outside Mainland China. Some work (including travel) will be required during the evenings and occasionally weekends, for which time off in lieu or overtime (where applicable) will be given.

We offer a competitive package, which includes basic salary and insurance plan etc. The gross starting salary for this position before all deductions is RMB 17,870 /month for Chinese Nationals and an abated monthly salary of RMB 24,746/month for British Nationals and spouses/partners of all nationalities of diplomats who are ‘W’ (diplomatic) visa holders and meet passport criteria.

We also offer excellent development opportunities and a 22-day annual leave entitlement in pro rata.

Staff recruited locally by the British Consulate-General Guangzhou are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local Chinese employment law.

All applications must be received before 23:55 China Standard Time on the specified application deadline.

Incomplete application forms will not be taken into consideration, so please ensure you provide the information requested. We regret to advise that we will only be contacting short-listed candidates. Applicants called for an interview will be assessed on the core competencies listed above.

Successful candidate required to start as soon as possible subject to successful pre-employment and security clearances.