This is an exciting and demanding role for an exceptional individual to be our Market Access Manager ( Innovation and Industry). Working closely with colleagues as part of the Innovation and Industry Directorate, you will play a key role in supporting the DIT China region (China & Hong Kong) achieve its objectives as articulated in the Regional Trade Plan, of which the over-arching ambitions are:

Objective 1 - Driving and inspiring UK exports to China, significantly increasing the UK market share of China's goods imports, and more than double the value of UK services exports.

Objective 2 – Strengthened trade policy engagement with China to achieve incremental market access, mitigate business risk and prepare for future trade deals

Objective 3 - Broadening and deepening the UK-China investment partnership, positioning the UK as the top European destination for Chinese investment and providing strong support for UK investors.

Context:

The Department for International Trade (DIT), operating in 108 countries, is helping to secure a deal for the UK as it negotiates a successful exit from the EU. Establishing new relationships around the globe, DIT promotes British trade to ensure the UK takes advantage of the huge opportunities open to us, securing and improving economic well-being, stability, and helping to create tens of thousands of jobs.

DIT has one of the largest representations of the 18 government departments working in China, which are coordinated and led by Her Majesty’s Ambassador who is responsible for the UK’s relationship with China. Her Majesty’s Trade Commissioner (HMTC) is responsible for Trade and Investment work in China and the Hong Kong SAR, one of nine global regions and the largest DIT overseas network in the world. With c180 staff across six posts - Beijing, plus Hong Kong, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chongqing and Wuhan – DIT, as part of the UK government network in China led by the Ambassador offers a fast-paced place to work at the heart of UK: China and Hong Kong SAR Government relations.

Detail:

China is an important trading partner for the UK. The job holder will lead on the market access work, in support of efforts to drive more UK export to China and contribute to our future trading relationship with China. Their work will cover subsectors within the Innovation and Industry Directorate, including:

• Technology
• Advanced Engineering
• Automotive
• Chemicals

The job holder will need to build a comprehensive understanding of DIT’s trade and investment priorities and work together with the Head of Market Access and Stakeholder Engagement and all sector teams. They will need to identify and prioritise key market access barriers for the sectors as well as develop and coordinate individual strategies to create greater market access using clear milestones set in advance.

To do this effectively, the job holder will need to liaise closely with British businesses via the sector teams and with business organisations (e.g. China Britain Business Council and British Chambers of Commerce) to deepen our understanding of market access barriers and their impact on UK business, as well as the business and regulatory environment in China for the aforementioned sectors. They will need to feed into and draw on others’ knowledge, analysis and relationships while also developing their own networks.

The insights and information the job holder will provide will inform high level political dialogues, in particular the Economic and Financial Dialogue and Joint Economic and Trade Commission, as well as senior level engagement with Chinese policymakers. They will also help to shape and validate interventions through wider HMG related projects. With this unique insight into the various sectors that they will cover, the job holder will also be expected to provide important strategic inputs into future planning for the directorate.

The job holder will be based in the British Embassy in Beijing

Roles and responsibilities:

Regulatory analysis and reporting (50%)

• Individually, and working with and through others (notably sector teams), gather UK businesses’ views and asks for greater market access and a better business environment.
• Identify, prioritise and monitor key market access barriers for each sectors.
• Deepen their own, and sector teams, understanding of the prioritised market access barriers in a regulatory context, both political and legal, as well as appreciating the benefits of addressing these issues.
• Lead on cross cutting market access issues for sectors, organise seminars and deliver research projects, and create a continuous feedback loop.
• Update and maintain Market Access Digital Services on Data Hub
• Contribute to UK-China trade reviews and trade policy work

Strategy development (20%)

• Develop and coordinate individual strategies for various sectors, ensuring that clear plans are in place to formulate longer term strategies and resolve barriers using the full suite of diplomatic tools.
• Provide assistance to account managers from sector teams for market access related enquires as required

Stakeholder Engagement (15%)

• Actively engage and maintain a close working relationship with market access leads within DIT (Trade Policy Unit, Headquarters) and across the wider network (Economics and Prosperity teams) to maintain an overview of cross-cutting market access issues.
• Build an effective network of relationships with contacts in international and Chinese business organisations including Chambers, CBBC, CBI as well as leading law firms, consultancy companies, think tanks, industry alliances, etc.

Corporate Contribution (15%)

• Design and deliver market access related trainings for the directorate
• Contribute to the wider objectives of the DIT Regional Trade Plan

• At least 2 years of working experience in trade, legal, economics and/or international relations in China
• Evidence of ability to work with international stakeholders
• Degree level qualification or equivalent
• Excellent communications skills, especially in writing. Highly proficient in spoken and written English and Chinese

• Graduate degree in Law, Economics and / or international relations
• Experience of monitoring Chinese policy and legislation
• Experience of working for an international institution
• Experience delivering government bilateral and/or high level events

We offer a competitive package, which includes basic salary, good leave entitlement, and insurance plan, etc. The gross starting salary (before all deductions) is CNY 27,596 /month for Chinese Nationals and an abated monthly salary of CNY35,959 /month for British Nationals and spouses/ partners (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. Conditioned working hours is 35 hours/ week from Monday to Friday and flexible working can be arranged upon personal needs. For more details on our Total Rewards Package, please visit our website http://www.gov.uk/government/world/china.

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

Please note that your application must be submitted before 23:55 (China Standard Time) on the day mentioned in the above field “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.

Advertised start date is provisional and subject to successful completion of reference and security checks.

You may check your online FCO application centre/email for any updates.