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.

Job Category  Other British Government Departments (Partners across Government, including UK Visas)
Job Subcategory  Department for Business and Trade (DBT)

Job Description (Roles and Responsibilities)  Main purpose of job:

This is an exciting time to join the UK Department for Business and Trade (DBT). The UK is a major global exporter and a major investor around the world, with superb and broad capabilities in the mining sector, and a track record of success in investing in and trading with Zambia and wider Africa.

DBT promotes British exports and British business investment around the world, which is vital for the prosperity of the UK. The UK is the leading business investor in Africa, and UK mining companies are important to Zambia and Africa. DBT brings together policy, promotion and financial expertise to break down barriers to trade and investment and helps UK businesses to win contracts and make investments. We have 3,000 staff across the globe in over 100 countries. This is a great opportunity to be part of an international team that contributes to the success of the UK’s and Africa’s trade goals.

You will be based in the British High Commission in Lusaka. You will have considerable autonomy in the role, determining strategy for delivering results in the mining sector in Zambia, delivering implementation of an agreed plan of action in Zambia, resolving complex issues in the sector, based on an excellent understanding of the issues involved and sector interests as they arise. You will cover Zambia, and also the broader SADC region, flexing to drive progress in other markets as agreed with colleagues. You will report to the British High Commissioner in Lusaka on UK mining interests in Zambia, and to the DBT pan-Africa Sector Director for mining in SADC. We expect the DRC to be a key early market of focus in the role. You will need to develop strong relationships with the host Governments so that you can help to resolve complex market access barriers to trade, create, pick up and drive new initiatives to increase UK export success, and to maintain and increase UK investment in mining across the region.

Creating and enhancing relationships with key buyers, especially in the relevant Governments, is a vitally important part of the job, as is developing those relationships to progress UK interests. The job holder will originate new business by identifying new opportunities for UK firms through excellent relationships with host Governments, drawing on a high level of knowledge about the sector, and then work with UK firms to engage them in the successful projects that they have found. You will help UK companies throughout the complex project development process until they reach export contract award or make an investment, and help them then with further business development and expansion in the region. You will help them to reach success, and help them manage the complexities and risks in the region.

Roles and responsibilities:

Whilst the job holder’s primary responsibility is in the mining sector, as sole DBT officer at Post, you will be expected to review and identify any major new trade projects of interest to UK business, including in the energy and agriculture sectors. Work in mining will be at least 85% of the role, with work in Zambia accounting for about 70% of the mining work, with the remaining 30% of time spent on SADC, including especially the DRC. This arrangement, and the balance between Zambia and regional work may change as circumstances, opportunities and the needs of UK businesses dictates.

You will work closely with the pan-Africa mining Sector Director, and colleagues in Zambia to drive the implementation of a sector plan focussed on outcomes and with clear priorities, goals, milestones and deliverables.

As a member of the Economic Development and Green Growth team at the British High Commission Zambia, you will promote the UK government’s vision to accelerate job creation and support inclusive growth in Zambia, including work with UK financial institutions such as British International Investment, UK Export Finance and PIDG.

You will ensure we have a crystal clear understanding of the prospects for new mining projects in Zambia, the problems and policy positions UK firms may face there and in the wider region, and you will identify a pipeline of export and investment business opportunities for UK companies, reach out to new UK businesses and help them create success in the market.

You will support our strong programme of relationship management with major UK mining companies in the sector and you will provide analysis of their key interests in the market as well as any market access barriers (regulatory and practical) they may face.  Updating DBT’s relationship management system with all interactions is essential.

You will prepare local market briefs, mining sector reports, and competitor analysis in mining to encourage and support UK business interests in Zambia

You will work together with UK, Zambian and SADC stakeholders across government, the private sector and sector bodies and associations to advance UK interests and assist in addressing market access barriers.

You will organise mining sector focussed events in Zambia and the region, follow up with key buyers and with UK companies, and drive closer teamwork with our country teams, helping them to understand and access expertise on UK capability.

Essential qualifications, skills and experience

• Undergraduate degree and other relevant professional qualification or experience relevant to the mining sector
• Knowledge of, and a keen interest in the mining sector, at least five years’ experience working on mining projects, or in sectors such as financial services where you have worked directly on developing mining business
• Experience of working within business at a senior level on business development, or with government departments on development of mining projects
• A proven track record of cross-team collaboration
• A positive, resilient, flexible and adaptable “can-do” attitude that mean you can see your way through challenges and complex issues
• Knowledge of, and a keen interest of the mining field and the UK offer
• An understanding of ESG regulations, sustainability and the role of critical minerals

Desirable qualifications, skills and experience

• Knowledge of the mining sector across the wider region

Required behaviours

Making Effective Decisions, Managing a Quality Service, Leadership, Communicating and Influencing, Working Together, Developing Self and Others

Application deadline  15 September 2023