Future Telecoms Trade and Investment Manager

Contents

• Location
• About the job
• Benefits
• Things you need to know
• Apply and further information

Belfast, London

About the job

Job summary

The Government has a bold ambition to establish the UK as a Science and Technology Superpower by 2030. As part of this strategy, the National Science and Technology Framework identified future telecommunications as one of the five most critical technologies to the UK. 

The Future Telecommunications Trade and Investment Manger sits within the Department for Business and Trade’s Technology sector team and plays a key role in realising the economic potential of these technologies, securing global trade and investment wins for the UK telecoms sector.

The successful candidate will work with international telecoms companies looking to invest in or expand their footprint in the UK, particularly as we look to diversify our 5G supplier base and support innovation in science and technology. They will also support innovative UK companies access new international markets by working with DBT’s network of embassies and consulates in over 100 countries around the world.

The role holder will also work with colleagues across Whitehall, specifically with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, to help inform the Government’s policies on 5G and telecommunications by promoting the commercial opportunities whilst also being cognisant of wider policy issues.

The role will require knowledge on a wide range of telecommunications technologies including 5G and 6G, broadband and data infrastructure, including data centres and telecoms hardware more broadly. The successful candidate will have good knowledge of enabling technologies such IoT and sensors which rely on telecoms to deliver their services and also an understanding of other technology sub-sectors such as photonics and compound semiconductors where they overlap with telecommunications.

The wider team

The Technology sector team delivers UK business growth by supporting businesses’ international expansion and develops the ecosystems and economy across the UK by making it the best place for international technology companies to invest. The team sits as part of the wider Science and Technology directorate which incorporates healthcare, life sciences and chemicals. The work of the team is core to the Department’s investment and exports objectives.

We increasingly focus on supporting IP rich, R&D intensive businesses, specifically those who are venture capital backed. The team is also responsible for managing the Department’s relationship with major global technology companies including multinational telecommunications companies.

Job description

• Assist international companies to invest in the UK or expand their existing footprint. The telecoms manager will help promote the UK as a location for investment, position potential investors in the appropriate part of the UK Eco-system and help them build business cases for their UK investment decisions.
• Support UK companies achieve their export ambitions by advising them on suitable markets on which to focus.
• Organise trade missions in partnership with colleagues in post and lead delegations to international trade shows.
• Facilitate trade and investment wins across the English regions and Devolved Administrations to ensure the Government’s Levelling-Up ambitions benefit from our future telecommunications strategy.
• Work closely with the DBT Technology Policy Team to help inform cross-Government decision making concerning 5G diversification, future telecoms and national security policies.
• Promote the UK telecoms research and development (R&D) eco-system. The role holder will need to be able to speak to investors about HMG’s R&D support and understand investors’ research foci.
• Manage and coordinate a broad range of Government stakeholders in order to secure as many high value investment wins as possible.
• Support with briefings, parliamentary questions and ministerial correspondence where required.
• Some UK and international travel will be necessary for market visits, trade missions and trade-shows.

Hybrid Working

The role will be based in either Belfast or London. You will be asked to express a location preference during the application process.

Please be aware that this role can only be worked from within the UK and not overseas.

Informal hybrid working arrangements will be available as agreed with the vacancy manager and in line with the requirements of the role.

Most DBT employees will be working a hybrid pattern, spending 2-3 days a week (pro rata) in an office, on average. If your office location is London, you will be eligible to receive London weighting.

Appointments will be made to candidates in merit order based on location preferences.

Support in applying for our vacancies is available by joining a virtual Candidate Support Session. These sessions include helpful tips and advice on the recruitment process, from application to interview.

Person specification

Essential Criteria

• In-depth knowledge of the future telecoms industry, its trends and stakeholder.
• Ability to manage conflicting demands, work at pace and make effective decisions, ensuring deadlines are met.
• Self-motivated and confident with the ability to communicate effectively in writing and verbally regarding complex, technical issues.
• Ability to influence senior decision makers including at ministerial level.

Desirable Criteria

• Experience of working in the telecommunications sector, such as in a technical role, business development or academia.
• Understanding of international trade and investment opportunities for future telecommunications technologies.
• Contacts across the international telecommunications industry.
• A knowledge of how Government works and ability to collaborate with other Government departments.

Personal Attributes & Skills

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Stakeholder management and influencing skills.
• The ability to compile, assimilate, distil, interpret and present evidence and options.
• Comfortable managing multiple priorities.
• Resilience and adaptability, particularly when working with ambiguity.
• Political understanding and good judgement.

Behaviours

We’ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £52,000, Department for Business and Trade contributes £14,040 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%

The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Rollo Hope
• Email : rollo.hope@businessandtrade.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : dbtrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Further information

Our recruitment process is underpinned by the principle of appointment on the basis of fair and open competition and appointment on merit, as outlined in the Civil Service Commissioners’ Recruitment Principles.

If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with these principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should in the first instance contact DBT by email: Resourcing@trade.gov.uk.

If you are not satisfied with the response you receive, you can contact the Civil Service Commission, which regulates all Civil Service recruitment.

For further information on bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission please visit their web pages: Click here to visit Civil Service Commission/Complaints.

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