Trade Adviser - Agriculture & Mining at British High Commission

Job ref.: 09/20 LOS
Location: Lagos
Grade: C4 (L)
Start Date: 4 May 2020
Working hours per week: 35
Type of Post: British Deputy High Commission
Type of Position: Full-time, Fixed term, with possibility of renewal
Job Category: Department for International Trade roles (DIT)
Job Subcategory: Department for International Trade (DIT)

Main Purpose of Job

• Developing new export and business investment markets for UK companies is a top priority for the UK Government. This role is based in the UK Government’s Department for International Trade (DIT) team in the British Deputy High Commission in Lagos to lead work on the agriculture & mining sectors in Nigeria.
• The aim is to increase the export of UK goods and services to Nigeria, and to expand UK business investment in Nigeria in these sectors.  This includes building relationships with key buyers and the Government in these sectors in Nigeria. The job holder will identify opportunities for UK firms; and help British companies to win contracts and make successful investments.

Roles and Responsibilities

• The Department for International Trade secures UK prosperity by promoting and financing international trade and investment, and championing free trade.We promote UK businesses overseas and attract foreign investment to our shores. We have 3,000 staff across the globe in over 100 countries. Our aspiration is to address some of the challenges facing the UK, by helping British businesses to internationalise and grow overseas.

What will the jobholder be expected to achieve?:

• We are looking for someone with credible private sector experience, an organised person with an ability to take the initiative, work with enterprise and with limited supervision, as a self-starter able to drive work forward creatively, drawing on UK strengths in business and local opportunities. The individual should be a team member who works collaboratively.

Key Responsibilities

• Identifying and delivering a pipeline of export business opportunities in Nigeria for UK companies in the agriculture and mining sectors, in consultation with business and based on an understanding of UK business interests.
• Marketing the UK’s capability in agriculture and mining to key stakeholders in the Nigerian public and private sectors, to help land multi-million pound deals.
• Working towards and meeting set targets for the year.
• Identifying investment opportunities in the Nigerian market and addressing and seeking to resolve any market access barriers faced by UK companies.
• You will lead Nigeria’s trade activity in the agriculture and mining sectors, working closely with colleagues in Nigeria, building a healthy pipeline of potential deals; and working with British businesses to best position them for success;

Essential Qualifications, Skills and Experience

• Have worked within Nigeria’s private sector in business development for major local or international companies, for a minimum of 4 years;
• Strong oral and written English communication skills;
• Ability to work well under pressure and to tight deadlines;
• Resourcefulness in solving problems;
• Good interpersonal skills and comfortable dealing with senior officials and business people;
• Flexible, adaptable and resilient;
• Strong organizational skills and keen attention to detail;
• Superior professionalism and judgment;
• Strong work ethic

Desirable qualifications, skills and experience:

• 2+ years of relevant experience in agriculture or mining sectors;
• Experience of working on multi-year campaigns on business development

Required competencies:

• Leading and Communicating, Collaborating and Partnering, Achieving Commercial Outcomes, Managing a Quality Service

Starting Monthly Salary ()  
NGN 827, 892

Other benefits and conditions of employment  
Learning and development opportunities (and any specific training courses to be completed):

• The successful applicant will have access to a range of Learning and Development opportunities with in-house and e-learning, with the potential for overseas training. From time to time there will be requirements to assist other teams within the Department, building overall resilience and broader experience