Senior Business Development Officer

Job summary

This is a new and exciting opportunity to join a high performing team, focussed on delivering for both exporters and the business. The role holder will make a significant contribution to export growth through relevant BD activities outlined in our Business Development Strategy. The role holder will work closely with the EFM's across the three regional teams and wider network to support them in representing, promoting and delivering UKEF support, products, and services to exporting businesses, stakeholders and counterparties. Key requirements of the role Include:

• Work closely with the Head of UK Business Development to implement and deliver the Business Development Strategy.
• Work collaboratively across the business to support the delivery of UKEF's 2024-2029 Business Plan with alignment to the UK Government's Industrial Strategy, Trade Strategy and Small Business Strategy.
• Build relationships with key external stakeholders to enhance UKEF's profile.
• Support EFM's with the delivery of initiatives identified in the Business Development Strategy.
• Support the delivery of UKEF's involvement in external events and attend these events to represent UKEF when required.
• If applicable, work with EFM's in the regions to ensure that Business Development activities are relevant to and implemented in the Devolved Administration Governments such as The Northern Ireland Assembly, Welsh & Scottish Governments.
• Use data and AI to develop an effective approach to targeting new customers and sectors.
• Support the launch of new products and marketing initiatives when required.

Whilst this role is home based it will require periodic travel across the UK.

Job description

To support with the implementation & execution of the Business Development strategy for the SME & Trade Finance Business, driven by UKEF's Business Plan objective of supporting a 1000 customers per annum by 2029. Working collaboratively with the EFM team, and other UKEF departments (including Marketing) to deliver the actions identified in the plan.

To be an ambassador for UK Export Finance and to proactively seek to create opportunities to raise awareness of its range of products and services. This will be achieved through the delivery of strategic business development initiatives which support EFMs and which aim to promote the UKEF product range with exporters, trade finance intermediaries, insurance organisations and other related third parties. This may include the delivery of presentations to large public audiences, dealing with questions from an audience, participating in panel discussions, round tables and seminars to bank and exporter multi-disciplinary and function teams, or trade associations.

Specific responsibilities will Include:

• Take personal ownership for supporting the Head of UK Business Development with the implementation and execution of the Business Development Strategy.
• Raise awareness by building effective, ongoing engagement with key stakeholders to enhance UKEF’s profile and reach with initiatives such as joint seminars, workshops, or roundtables.
• Support the Head of UK Business Development to ensure our Business Development activity aligns with strategic priorities, government policy, and UKEF’s Business Plan.
• Work alongside EFMs to deliver sector focussed business development initiatives using established databases and AI tools and by working collaboratively with UKEF business areas and external stakeholders, to deliver a coordinated plan of activity.
• Support the Head of UK Business Development with establishing best practice to ensure that UKEF supports an increasing number of customers across the UK.
• Ensure consistent recording, reporting, and use of data across activity to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of initiatives and events, fostering a culture of continuous improvement.
• Strengthen organisational insight by undertaking targeted market intelligence research to support activity across our addressable market.
• Work with EFM’s, Corporate Affairs and the Lender Onboarding team to identify any regional variances in lender appetite which UKEF’s Senior Leadership Team could take action to address.
• Successfully drive trade finance, working capital, buyer finance and insurance solutions through positive actions with banks, exporters, and internal directorates to maximise fulfilment of UKEF products or alternative solutions.
• Raise awareness by identifying opportunities to develop new initiatives and also provide training/seminars in UK Export Finance products to banks and other external third parties.
• Proactively assist and contribute to product innovation and development within UKEF when required, to better support exporters needs by providing feedback from the market and our own innovative ideas.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues across the whole department to ensure UKEF remains a great place to work.
• Develop a sound understanding of government policy as it relates to exports to ensure the ability to explain, in simple language, the impact to business and stakeholders in seeking to access UKEF support.

This list is not exhaustive, and you may be required to carry out additional duties according to business needs and as the role evolves.

Person specification

Essential

Qualifications

• 5 GCSE passes (including Maths and English) at Grade 4 (C) or above; or relevant professional experience (A)
• Evidence of continuing professional development (A)

Knowledge

• A basic understanding of current international trade practice (A, I)
• A basic understanding of the types of finance used by a company (A, I)

Skills/Ability

• Effective communication skills – to be able to express ideas and messages clearly and concisely, both orally and in written communication (A, I, P)
• Ability to present information to a variety of stakeholders, through written communications and speaking events (A, I, P)
• Relationship Management skills (A, I, P)
• Business Development skills to maximise UKEF product use (A, I)

Experience

• Experience of developing and maintaining relationships with business stakeholders (A, I)
• Experience working with trading businesses and developing business opportunities by building relationships and trust (A, I, P)

Other requirements

• Ability to fulfil the transport requirements of the role and work outside traditional office hours as required (A, I)

Qualifications

o5 GCSE passes (including Maths and English) at Grade 4 (C) or above; or relevant professional experience (A)
oEvidence of continuing professional development (A)

Behaviours

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

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Managing a Quality Service
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Presentation - a topic to be agreed by UKEF and will be provided to relevant candidates, to be prepared in advance - linked to the behaviour Seeing the Big Picture

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £43,890, UK Export Finance contributes £12,714 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

• 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 employer contribution of 28.97%

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths, Experience and Technical skills.

We are assessing candidates using Success Profiles (see Appendix 1) and across the whole process we will assess your Experience, Technical, Strengths and Behaviours as highlighted below.

The application must be completed by 23.55 on the day of the closing date for it to be accepted.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Please ensure that you read through the Candidate Information Pack attached to this advert, before applying.

All applications will be sifted against our essential criteria outlined in the personal specification.

• Qualification:
  • 5 GCSE passes (including Maths and English) at Grade 4 (C) or above; or relevant professional experience (A)
  • Evidence of continuing professional development (A)
• Statement of suitability - you should fully articulate in 750 words how you meet the essential criteria outlined in the person specification within the Information Pack.

For the initial sift your application will be evaluated against:

1. Experience - CV / Application and Statement of Suitability

In the event of a high volume of applications, an initial sift will be carried out on the following essential criteria:

• A basic understanding of current international trade practice (A, I)
• Effective communication skills – to be able to express ideas and messages clearly and concisely, both orally and in written communication (A, I, P)
• Experience of working with trading businesses and developing business opportunities by building and maintaining relationships and trust (A, I, P)

If you are successful following the sift stage, you will be invited to an initial interview, to be held via MS Teams; this will include the following assessment:

1. Behaviours/ Strengths / Experience - a formal panel interview where you will be interviewed across all four behaviours highlighted below and in Appendix 1.
   1. Working Together - Lead Behaviour in the event of tied candidates
   2. Communicating and Influencing
   3. Seeing the Big Picture – linked to technical presentation
   4. Managing a Quality Service
2. Technical - you will be assessed across your technical expertise and acumen, in relation to the essential criteria
   1. Presentation - a topic to be agreed by UKEF and will be provided to relevant candidates, to be prepared in advance - linked to the behaviour Seeing the Big Picture

Details of interview panel members will be e-mailed to all successful candidates who are invited for interview.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.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 : UKEF Resourcing Team
• Email : Recruitment2@ukexportfinance.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : Recruitment2@ukexportfinance.gov.uk

Further information

Should you have a complaint or wish to raise any concerns regarding the recruitment process, please e-mail your complaint to the Head of Pay and Resourcing (UKEF) at Recruitment2@ukexportfinance.gov.uk and include “Complaint” in the subject heading. Should you remain dissatisfied following UKEF’s investigation then you can refer your complaint to the Commission - http://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/making-complaint.

Attachments

Candidate Information Pack Opens in new window (pdf, 4351kB)