China’s rapid economic growth, development and emergence on the global stage has resulted in increased opportunities for the Creative Industries sector. The UK’s creative industries are amongst the most influential and successful in the world. British creative entrepreneurs continue to be world leaders in film & TV, music, architecture, fashion, publishing, experience economy, design, and branding. The UK creativity and innovation is highly marketable and sought after by global business. The Creative Industries is also a regulated industries in China. The annual UK-China Cultural and Creative Industries Policy Dialogue will be the main platform to discuss the market access issues with Chinese authorities with the aim to create more business opportunities for the UK’s Creative Industires. This B3 grade vacancy is in the Creative Industries team for DIT based in Beijing.

This is an exciting role for an enthusiastic, proactive and flexible Trade and Investment officer to join our Creative team within the Department for International Trade (DIT) where we aim to advance the trade and investment ambitions articulated in the DIT Regional Trade Plan for the China and Hong Kong region, which 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 – Consistent 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.

The Department for International Trade (DIT) was established by the Prime Minister in July 2016 to integrate and elevate the Trade agenda; help secure a better deal for the UK as it negotiates a successful exit from the EU; and, establish new relationships with other countries around the globe. DIT promotes British trade across the world and ensures the UK takes advantage of the huge opportunities open to us, securing and improving the economic well-being and stability of the UK, and helping to create tens of thousands of jobs every year.

Led by Her Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for China and Hong Kong we are one of nine global regions and part of an overseas network that operates in 108 countries. The largest DIT overseas network in the world, with 200 staff across six posts - the British Embassy in Beijing, plus Consulates in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chongqing and Wuhan – DIT, as part of the One HMG network in China and Hong Kong, offers a fast-paced place to work at the heart of UK: China Government relations.

Detail

Reporting to the Head of Creative in China, the post holder will lead the work of market access initiatves through the organization of the UK-China Cultural and Creative Indurstries Policy Dialogue. The post holder will be required to establish strong relationships with relevant British and Chinese authorities in charge of different sub-sectors within the Creative Indsutries and be a leading and co-ordinating point across the whole team to identify and provide updates on issues from industries. A key responsibility will be Liaison with Chinese and UK counterparts for the organization of annual Policy Dialogue ,and following up on measures agreed to solve the issues and update the industries and counterparts of the progress. In addition, the post holder will be required to work with the whole team in business events including supporting UK firms to increase their exports to China and securing inward investment to the UK from China, manage logistics and practicalities of specific events, visits and activities to support the China team in implementing the national strategy. When required, the Post holder will also provide research and analysis on different creative sectors, maintain accurate project documentation and budgets. Occassional travel around China and to the UK may be required.

Strong written and oral English and Chinese skills are essential.

Roles and responsibilities:

Lead the delivery of Creative Industries Market Access initiative in China(70 %):

• Lead the research and analysis of the team on market access and business environment within the Creative Industries in China and come up with concrete implementation and action plan
• Co-ordinate the whole team to identify, prioritise and consolidate market access and business environment issues from the industries, analyse and reflect in the Market access strategy timely
• Liaise with Chinese and British counterparts, including both governments and industries, for the organization of annual UK-China Cultural and Creative Industries Policy Dialogue, come up with detailed suggestion of actions with risk analysis and work with stakeholders to facilitate the agreement on actions from both governments
• Implement the market access strategy, and keep the industries and counterparts updated of the progress and risks.

Contribute to team targets by supporting sector activities (20 %):

• Support activities within business plan to contribute to team targets; organising commercial events and market access activities; working on visits and programmes for Ministers and senior officials.
• Work closely with team colleagues and supporting the sector lead, team leader, and Director to identify business opportunities, establish links for UK expertise and facilitate business co-operation, achieve team targets of Export Wins and FDI.

Manage key clent relationship(10 %):

• Develop detailed key client management plan for senior government clients
• Lead on the government accounts relationship management for the whole team

• Excellent in spoken and written English and Chinese
• Track record in building and maintaining strong working relationships especially with Chinese governments
• Very organizing, excellent communication, prioritisation and networking skills
• General business administative skills
• Ability to work alone or as part of a team

• Experiences in Creative Industries and delivering government projects
• Experiences in business environment and market access analysis
• Experiences of Industrial Research and Analysis
• Experiences in events and logistic

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 17, 870/month for Chinese Nationals and an abated monthly salary of CNY 24, 746/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.