Country Director, Switzerland

Job Description (Roles and Responsibilities) 1

**Who are we?**

The British Embassy in Berne is part of a worldwide network representing British political, economic, and consular interests overseas. Together with the Department for Business and Trade in Europe we are looking for a **Country Director** to lead the DBT team in Switzerland (& Liechtenstein).

Under the leadership of His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for Europe, DBT in Europe promotes British trade and investment worldwide, helps build an appetite for British goods and services globally, and works to promote and support foreign investment in the UK. DBT also brings together policy, promotion, and financial expertise to break down barriers to trade and investment and to help businesses to succeed, as well as championing a free and fair international trading system with global rules.

**Main purpose of job**:
The UK/Swiss relationship is a priority for both countries and this is a vital, senior leadership role in the British Embassy. The work attracts strong interest from UK senior officials, Trade Representatives and Government Ministers, who will visit from time to time to advance the agenda. It is an ideal role to develop and deploy skills in working internationally and delivering real world results with impact.

The DBT Switzerland team also play an important role in supporting the ongoing Free Trade Agreement negotiations between the UK and Switzerland, strategically advising, where appropriate, the UK negotiating team and ensuring provision by the wider team of expert and informed advice on a range of relevant policy areas.

The Country Director will enjoy significant autonomy to set the direction and priorities of the DBT Switzerland team, tailoring the broader DBT Europe Regional Trade Plan and its objectives to the specifics of the Swiss market. They will be part of the wider DBT Europe Country Director cadre, regularly engaging with HM Trade Commissioner for Europe, the Regional Director for Europe West and DBT Europe’s COO.

The Country Director will also form part of the Senior Leadership Team within the British Embassy in Switzerland, and be expected to play an active role in the wider corporate leadership to enable the delivery of UK Government policies and services in Switzerland. They will work with Economics and Science & Innovation and Climate and Energy colleagues on the UK Switzerland Prosperity Strategy.

This is a challenging, varied and high-profile role and presents an exciting opportunity for an ambitious and commercially driven professional with excellent management and, especially, leadership skills with relevant business experience.

**Roles and Responsibilities**:
1. Leadership and strategic vision
- Lead the design and implementation of the Switzerland Country Trade Plan, which is an integral part of the broader DBT-Europe Regional Trade Plan, and the commercial elements of the Embassy-wide Switzerland Country Business Plan;
- Provide clear strategic direction to DBT Switzerland, motivating, supporting and coaching a diverse set of team members to ensure delivery across the pillars of the Switzerland Country Trade Plan, managing the structures and resourcing to underpin this;
- Act as a role model for other DBT Europe Country Directors, contributing proactively and constructively to regional initiatives and agenda-setting, taking the role of being a critical friend to Europe’s senior leadership where appropriate.

2. Promote and increase UK-Switzerland trade and investment, and shape the international trading system in the UK’s interest
- Enhance market access for UK companies in Switzerland (practical assistance for UK exporters to navigate trade rules; prioritise plans and progress for resolving individual market access barriers);
- Identify and deliver opportunities for British exports to Switzerland and support UK firms to export through marketing promotion activities, proactive account management, enhanced sectoral focus, UKEF available tools, and the Export Support Service and with Switzerland’s high tech and innovation sectors;
- Attract and retain inward investment to the UK from Switzerland (increase share of high-value projects, low carbon, capital investment, R&D and levelling-up, and active strategic relationship management (SRM) of critical accounts);
- Support and advance the current Free Trade Agreement negotiations between the UK and Switzerland, strategically advising where needed the UK negotiating team and providing expert and informed advice on a range of relevant policy areas;
- Champion free and fair-trading systems with Switzerland (building constructive relations with Swiss government trade policy teams; providing insightful intelligence on trading systems issues; advocating UK positions convincingly) and defend UK’s interests and economic security;
- Provide analysis and insight into the Swiss economy and commercial opportunities to HMG customers.

3. Cultivate relationships with