View Vacancy – Head of Defence & AEM, Department for Business & Trade Germany (DEU24.417)

Who are we? 

The British Embassy in Berlin is part of a world-wide network, representing British political, economic and consular interests overseas. The UK’s Department for Business & Trade (DBT) in Germany is looking for a Head of Defence &  & Advanced Engineering and Manufacturing (AEM) trade team based at the British Embassy in Berlin to will focus on German defence and security investment into the UK.

We aim to be a diverse and inclusive employer, welcoming to people of all backgrounds. The senior leadership is committed to ensuring that we are a supportive and fair place to work.

Our Setting:

The DBT Germany team is made up of approximately 40 staff, based in the Embassy in Berlin and Consulates-General in Düsseldorf and Munich. It is the largest team in the DBT Europe Region (around 300 staff in 34 countries in total) and works closely with colleagues in London and across the UK to improve market access for business and boost exports and investment. In Germany, DBT is made up of sector-focussed teams, with cross-cutting support on Operations, the Strategic Communications Team and the Trade Policy and Market Access team. DBT Germany’s work is crucial to supporting the UK economy: Germany is the UK’s second largest trading partner, with bilateral trade accounting for more than £132bn in 2022 – 8% of total UK trade. The UK and Germany are long-standing partners with shared interests in free and fair trade, WTO and rulebook reform and supporting multilateralism.

Commercial Context:

In 2023, The UK and Germany had the largest defence spending in Europe. Both countries are deepening their cooperation on defence and security. This role focuses on the commercial opportunities for the UK’s leading defence and security ecosystem, with a particular focus on German AEM defence investment into the UK. Defence covers a wide range of themes, including land, air, maritime, defence tech, security and cyber security.

Role & Responsibilities: 

Securing strategic investment will be your key priority, followed by strategic leadership and management of a team member focused on Defence Exports & Market Access. All roles and responsibilities in DBT Germany are flexible and our staff adapt their work in line with Ministerial priorities and developments in the British and German markets. Role includes any other duties that may reasonably be required in support of the wider work of the Embassy, including crisis work.

Securing Strategic Investments:

As a team leader, you will be ambassador of the UK’s commercial defence potential in Germany. You will need to develop a deep understanding of regulation, industry trends, and future developments. Your task is to craft compelling, tailor-made investment proposals and engagement plans for potential investors. Defence covers a wide range of themes, including land, air, maritime, defence tech, security and cyber security. Your mission is to secure strategically important investments from German companies. You will be comfortable engaging with senior manager and C-Level decision makers on behalf of the British Government.

Strategic Leadership: 

You will lead your team with expertise and enthusiasm, delivering a well-planned investment, export and market access strategy that focuses only on the highest-value opportunities for the UK. The successful candidate will provide leadership to the DBT Germany Defence & AEM Team, with particular responsibility for the Team’s strategy to support Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) from German companies into the UK. You will manage and oversee one role focused on defence exports to Germany. Your team will manage the most important export relationships, identify high-potential export opportunities, and identify market access barriers under your guidance. Your leadership also extends to ensuring your team stays on top of the most critical policy and market access topics, particularly as they relate any bilateral or multilateral cooperation agreements. This involves close collaboration with policy leads in DBT, UKDSE, and other government departments such as MOD and FCDO. 

You will coordinate budgets, business planning and strategic commercial project efforts across various government stakeholders, ensuring we harness the full potential of UK industry and government policy. You will serve as the go-to expert and advisor for the Germany Senior Management Team on all things related to Defence and support the Deputy Director who oversees your sector. As a senior member of DBT Germany, you will draw on your experience and insight to supporting and accompanying senior diplomats and Ambassadors, visiting Ministers, and officials from the UK. You will do occasional external speaking engagements. Your team will support events and initiatives that foster collaboration between the UK and Germany, showcasing UK capabilities and values. 

Requirements: 

As a senior member of the DBT Germany team, the jobholder will need to be creative, strategic and able to mobilise a wide network (both inside government and in the private sector), in order to build a pipeline of potential investors into the UK. They will have exceptional relationship management skills to ensure sustained, sophisticated and tailored engagement and have the ability to work credibly at the most senior levels. The role will demand strong leadership skills to develop staff and capability and motivate a high-performing and diverse team, as well as the ability to collaborate strategically with policy and defence colleagues in the Embassy and DBT teams in other markets.

Our Ideal Candidate Shows: 

• Full professional proficiency in German and English (written and spoken, minimum of C1 level for CEFR framework*);
• Experience working on Foreign Direct Investment and/or experience working with Defence or AEM companies;
• Experience leading and developing a team;
• A university degree;
• Proven commercial/economic experience;
• Strong commitment to develop staff and capability building;
• Strong communication and presentation skills;
• Ability to demonstrate personal impact and develop and maintain effective relationships with senior stakeholders;
• Strong analytical and research skills;
• Strong organisational skills and experience leading projects;
• Excellent interpersonal skills and excels working as part of a team;
• Self-starter and ability to work well on own initiative.