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The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) is the Trade and Investment Promotion and Negotiation organisation for the UK. We promote British trade and investment across the world, we support UK businesses overseas and attract foreign investment to our shores. We have 3,000 staff across the globe in over 100 countries.
Trade is at the centre of government policy following the UK’s departure from the European Union. Strengthening existing trade relationships and increasing trade flows are a top priority for the government, as they have potential to create new markets for British products and services.
DBT divides the world into 9 regions, each led by Her Majesty’s Trade Commissioner. The Latin American and the Caribbean Region (LATAC) is led from Sao Paulo by Jonathan Knott. The Network is represented in 20 Posts with a team of over 150.
This is a brilliant opportunity to drive high profile infrastructure trade between Peru and the UK, and develop expertise that can help other Latin American markets. You will focus your efforts on priority sectors, such as mining and renewable energy, health and education, water and sanitation, airports, railways and infrastructure services – leading UK values throughout projects and supply chains.
The UK-Peru relationship is at a high following the extension in 2022 of an HMG-first “Government-to-Government” (G2G) agreement for a major reconstruction project, in which UK companies play a major project management role, and a further G2G agreement to design and deliver 75 schools as part of Peru’s Bicentennial. This builds on the strong legacy of our Lima2019 Pan Am Games G2G.
You will lead the team to effectively implement these G2G agreements, as well as seeking and supporting the negotiating new opportunities (public and private), considering how to maximise UK presence across projects (including the supply chain), and informing policy development on G2Gs in London. You will also use that experience to support sector and policy changes in Peru (through the Embassy Infrastructure Taskforce led by our Economist), and have provide practical experience to share with other posts as they develop this sector.
You will lead a team of 5 and deputise for the Country Director when required. As a senior leader in the Embassy you will also help drive collaboration across other teams.
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.
DBT Peru works with other UK Government departments to bring together programme, policy, promotion and financial expertise to break down barriers to trade and investment, and support UK companies to succeed in Peru.
This role will lead the Infrastructure Sector team in DBT Peru to deliver an increase in UK Exports to Peru. You will work together with colleagues in the Peru, and across the Latin America and the Caribbean (LATAC) region to develop and deliver a programme of activity to support UK infrastructure companies to do more, and higher value business in Peru, including trade missions, account management, and high-level visits.
You will work with colleagues and stakeholders in the sector (public and private) to help businesses overcome barriers to trade and investment. You will promote the opportunities in Peru to UK companies, and promote UK companies in Peru, drawing on the UK’s policy expertise, innovation and commercial experience in the sector; highlighting the UK as a key partner in delivering sustainable and inclusive growth in Peru, driven by infrastructure.
Roles and responsibilities:
Lead the DBT Infrastructure Sector in Peru (75%):
- Oversee the team monitoring and supporting existing G2Gs, providing guidance on operational issues, stakeholder relations and strategic communication – ensuring: delivery of HMG’s role to support successful project implementation; and the learning of lessons learned (driving a legacy of capacity building, knowledge transfer and value creation) to support the UKs reputation, future work, and improvement of how Peru manages the infrastructure sector. This work includes being point of contact for UK consortia and high profile figures in programmes, participation in relevant programmatic working groups, and linking with the Peruvian government. It also includes working with the Director DBT/Ambassador when necessary e.g. for high-level meetings with Executive Director/Ministerial engagement and senior figures in UK infrastructure companies managing LATAM/Global programmes.
- Plan and deliver a programme of activity (e.g. trade missions, events (including Taskforces on sectors such as Transport), visits) that supports UK companies to engage early, develop that Business Development strategies, and win projects in Peru. Source and strengthen a pipeline of opportunities in the Infrastructure sector, developing relationships with key stakeholders in both the public and private sector. Match key UK strengths with opportunities in both public and private sector projects in Peru.
- Work with UK companies to engage with each other, and build consortia to bid for local projects. Utilise the UK Export Finance, and Infrastructure Exports (IE:UK) offer to promote UK content and collaboration (thinking across the supply chain).
- Promote UK expertise in Infrastructure sectors amongst local decision makers. Demonstrate UK experience, innovation and policy expertise in the sector – and use lessons learned to drive thinking as part of our regional leading Infrastructure Taskforce.
- Work with innovative technologies for the infrastructure, evaluating when the technologies could be applied in Peru and sharing with other officers in Latin America.
- Deliver a structured plan to tackle barriers, leveraging relationships with government and private sector. Drawing on the UK Sustainable Infrastructure Program (UK SIP) programme (led by the Embassy Economist), seek opportunities to deliver secondary commercial benefits for the UK, inform and influence the focus of the programmes with commercial intelligence.
- Working with the Sector Team in London, promote business opportunities to UK industry. Develop and maintain excellent market intelligence in the Peru Infrastructure sector working with trade associations, sector experts, and London to inform Peru Network strategy and UK industry on latest developments.
Manage the team in line with British Embassy Lima values, contributing to overall UK Government objectives, and ensure good financial, project and procurement management (25%):
- Effective line management of 3 x Business Development Managers and 1-2 x intern, through SMART objectives, uptake of L&D opportunities and high quality performance management, regular feedback and evidence-based appraisals.
Ensure good financial, project and procurement management of work in the team. - As part of the leadership cadre in the British Embassy in Lima role model and embed the embassy values (Respect, Innovation, Communication and Enjoyment)
This post is based in the British Embassy Lima.
Essential on arrival:
- Fluent Spanish and English (both written and spoken);
- Previous work experience in an international business environment;
- Knowledge of the Peruvian public sector;
- Previous strong experience of managing staff and budgets;
- Proven ability to form professional relationships and build trust with a wide range of contacts from different backgrounds including at senior levels;
- Excellent IT skills, including MS Outlook, Word and Excel.
Language requirements:
Language: English, Spanish
Level of language required: Fluent English with excellent writing and speaking capabilities; fluent Spanish, with excellent writing and speaking capabilities.
Desirable qualifications, skills and experience:
- Previous work experience and knowledge of the infrastructure sector;
- Degree/Masters or equivalent business qualification in a relevant financial services or infrastructure / International Relations / Business subject;
- Existing network of stakeholder contacts within the Peruvian infrastructure sector.
Candidates must be eligible to live and work in Peru in their own right.
The successful candidate will be subject to a security clearance and professional reference checks.
Employees who are not liable to pay local income tax on their Mission salary, eg some non-local national staff and some spouses or partners of UK diplomatic staff, will have their salaries abated by an equivalent amount.
Appointable candidates who were unsuccessful may be placed on a ‘reserve list’. If during the reserve period of 6-12 months the same or a largely similar role becomes available, that role may be offered to the second or subsequent candidate.
The British Embassy Network offers a strong benefits package. This package includes generous vacation and leave time, flexible working patterns, and enriching learning and development opportunities.
Learning and development opportunities:
Learning and development is very important to the embassy and something we take very seriously. We will work with the successful candidate to develop and tailor a personal development plan that will focus on excelling in the role both in a professional and personal capacity.
Working patterns:
This is a full-time position. This consists of 37 hours per week, 8 hours/day Monday - Thursday and 5 hours/day Fridays.
