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Job summary

The SME & Trade Finance Directorate (SME&TF) sits within the Business Group and is accountable for the development and delivery of UKEF’s short term business which includes our credit insurance offering.

SME&TF comprises the Export Development and Inclusive Trade Division, which includes the Export Finance Manager (EFM) network and the Inclusive Trade Team, the Short-Term Underwriting Team including Export Insurance, Post-Issue Management, and Business Group Operations.

Our Export Finance Managers are regional representatives of UKEF and are the valuable link for exporters, businesses with export potential, local and national stakeholders and DBT colleagues. They provide information on the types of finance available, the suite of UKEF products and support, and services and signposting to other sources of potential support where appropriate. The EFMs work closely with DBT and our stakeholder banks to ensure that awareness of UKEF's support reaches as many companies as possible, and with a particular regard to under-represented business sectors.

The role of Senior Inclusive Trade Officer will sit alongside the EFM Team In the Export Development and Inclusive Trade Division.

Job description

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 Business Development (BD) activities outlined in our Business Development Strategy. The role holder will work closely with the Head of Inclusive Trade and the EFM team across the UK to support engagement with relevant stakeholders and deliver a programme of activities to support regional and underrepresented businesses. The role holder will support the organising and hosting of UKEF events and programmes under objective 3 of the Business Plan - Inclusive Trade. Key requirements of the role Include:

• Working closely with the Head of Inclusive Trade to implement and deliver Objective 3 of UKEF's Business Plan - Inclusive Trade.
• Building relationships with key external stakeholders to enhance UKEF's profile generally, and specifically in the Inclusive Trade space.
• Using data and AI to develop an effective approach to targeting new customers and report quarterly and annually.
• Supporting with the coordination of UKEF's involvement in events and represent UKEF at these events when required.
• Working collaboratively across the business to support UKEF's role in delivering the UK Government's Industrial Strategy, Trade Strategy and Small Business Strategy.
• Supporting the launch of new initiatives and programmes to deliver Objective 3.
• If applicable, working with EFM's to ensure that Objective 3 activities are also delivered in the Devolved Administration Governments such as The Northern Ireland Assembly, Welsh & Scottish Governments

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

Main activities

To support with the implementation and execution of UKEF's ambition to support as many under-represented businesses as possible across the UK. Under-represented businesses include but is not limited to: businesses based outside of London, women-led businesses, diverse-led businesses, LGBTQ+ led businesses, disabled-led businesses. Working collaboratively with the Head of Inclusive Trade, 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 to under-represented groups. This will be achieved through supporting the Head of Inclusive Trade with the development and delivery of tailored presentations and meetings which will aim to build relationships with key stakeholders and organisations in the under-represented business space, trade finance intermediaries, insurance organisations and other related third parties. This may include the delivery of presentations and also supporting the EFM's to deliver 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. Along with organising events, this role will also provide the opportunity to support in delivering UKEF's first Women & Minority Led Business Accelerator programme.

Specific responsibilities will include:

• Taking personal ownership for supporting the Head of Inclusive Trade with the implementation and execution of Objective 3 of the Business Plan - Inclusive Trade.
• Raising awareness by building effective, ongoing engagement with key stakeholders to enhance UKEF’s profile.
• Leading on delivery and execution through administrative support and strategic activity for UKEF's first Women and Minorities Accelerator programme. Proactively engaging with our delivery partner on programme activity, organisation of events & content creation.
• Carrying out desk research and primary research through engaging with EFMs on new areas and sectors of interest, developing ideas to further our support in existing groups and support more under-represented groups we are not currently engaging.
• Supporting the Head of Inclusive Trade with establishing best practice to ensure that UKEF supports more under-represented businesses across the UK.
• Supporting the Head of Inclusive Trade with targeted / sector led business development using established databases and AI tools.
• Supporting the Head of Inclusive Trade with engaging and setting up meetings with relevant stakeholders, preparation for these meetings and follow up activities where required.
• Supporting with the administration of the Regional Marketing Budget e.g. raising purchase orders requests and general administration requests, that result from activities delivered under Objective 3.
• Coordinating UKEF’s involvement in relevant national and regional external events, working with Marketing, EFM’s, Business Support and external stakeholders to ensure that UKEF has an effective presence and maximises the business opportunity.
• Using data to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of events and initiatives, fostering a culture of continuous improvement.
• Supporting the Head of Inclusive Trade to ensure our Objective 3 activities and programmes activities align with relevant Government's Strategies. Working collaboratively across UKEF teams to provide a coordinated response.
• Working across the EFM team to understand and map where there are clusters or regional hotspots of activity for under-represented businesses or sectors. E.g. Identifying regions where there are high levels of ethnic minority founders which UKEF could more actively engage.
• Raising awareness by identifying opportunities to develop and provide training/seminars in UK Export Finance products primarily to banks and other external third parties.
• Working collaboratively with colleagues across the whole department to ensure UKEF remains a great place to work.
• Developing 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.

Person specification

UK Export Finance is looking for motivated individuals with a desire to learn about the business. Successful candidates will be provided not only with functional training to enable them to do well in their role, but also with personal development to help them to achieve their career ambitions. Please note that the person specification below outlines at which stage(s) you will be assessed on how you meet the criteria for the role(s) including:-

A = assessed at application stage I = assessed at interview stage = assessed at presentation stage

Essential

Qualifications

• 5 GCSE passes (including Maths and English) at Grade 4 (C) or above; or relevant demonstrable 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)
• A basic understanding of the issues/challenges faced by business owners in under-represented groups when looking for finance to grow their business. (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. (I, P)
• Relationship Management skills. (A, I, P)
• Business Development skills to maximise UKEF product use. (A, I)

Experience

• Experience either professionally or academically working on diversity initiatives, with under-represented groups or able to demonstrate a clear passion around the equal opportunities’ agenda. (A, I)
• Experience of developing and maintaining relationships with key stakeholders focussed on under-represented groups. (A, I)
• Experience of working with trading businesses and developing business opportunities by building and maintaining relationships and trust within under-represented groups. (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

•5 GCSE passes (including Maths and English) at Grade 4 (C) or above; or relevant demonstrable professional experience. (A)
•Evidence 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, 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 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 demonstrable 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 - 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 within under-represented groups. (A, I, P)

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

Behaviours / Experience - a formal panel interview where you will be interviewed across all four behaviours and strength highlighted.

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

Technical - you will be assessed across your technical expertise and acumen, in relation to the essential criteria

• 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.

Timetable

Please note that the interview dates are indicative.

Closing date for applications

23:55 on Sunday 9 August 2026

Notification of outcome of application

w/c 10 August 2026

Interviews via MS Teams

25, 26 & 27 August 2026

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 : Recruitment 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

UKEF - Snr Business Devt Officer – Inc Trade Opens in new window (pdf, 4363kB)