Head of Export Finance

Job Description (Roles and Responsibilities)

On behalf of UK Export Finance, the British Embassy in Brazil is seeking a Head of Export Finance, to be based in one of Sao Paulo, Brasilia or Rio de Janeiro.

The UK Government is adding to its commercial team in Latin America to grow UK trade with the region in a mutually beneficial manner. Finance is a critical part of promoting more trade between the UK and our overseas partners. UK Export Finance has already helped other regions deliver on their trade and investment plans, and in so doing opened opportunities for UK companies. This role provides an opportunity to help shape the long-term UK partnership for prosperity and stability with Latin America.

About UK Export Finance

UK Export Finance (UKEF) is the UK’s export credit agency (ECA) and operates in partnership with the Department for International Trade (DIT).

UKEF’s mission is to ensure that no viable UK export fails for lack of finance or insurance, while operating at no net cost to the taxpayer. In 2020/21, UKEF provided £12.3 billion of support to help 549 exporters sell to over 100 countries.

UKEF helps UK companies:

- Win export contracts by providing attractive financing terms to their buyers.
- Fulfil contracts by supporting working capital loans and guaranteeing performance bonds.
- Get paid by insuring against buyer default.

UKEF Business Plan

The UKEF four-year business plan has 4 delivery objectives, which set out what we need to achieve to realise our mission, and 3 organisational objectives, which define the resources, skills and operational capabilities we will need to do that.

You can read our Business Plan Business plan in full here, and find out more about the Department’s work in the latest UK Export Finance Annual Report and Accounts.

Partners, stakeholders and observers

UKEF works closely with partners within government, most notably the Department for International Trade and the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office. In the private sector our principal partners include trade associations and financial institutions.

Our work is varied and complex, spanning all business sectors and all corners of the world. UKEF is delighted to have been named best Export Credit Agency by Global Trade Review and Trade Finance Global Magazines. This is a recognition of our innovative approach to supporting exporters, comprehensive product offering and substantial appetite to take on new business.

About the Department for International Trade

The Department for International Trade (DIT) is the UK government department that helps foster UK exports and inward investment. DIT officers at overseas posts liaise with the UK headquarters and other departments across the British Government to generate commercial, policy and institutional collaborations. In Brazil, DIT is headquartered at the British Consulate in Sao Paulo, with team members also in the Embassy in Brasilia and the other consulates in Rio de Janeiro, Recife and Belo Horizonte.

**Main Roles and Responsibilities**:
The jobholder will be responsible for promoting UKEF’s export finance capabilities and developing opportunities in Brazil (primarily), Chile, Uruguay, Paraguay and Argentina. The jobholder will be the sole UKEF representative in Brazil based in the British Diplomatic Posts in either Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro or Brasilia depending on applicants. The purpose of the role is to promote export growth through finance by building relationships and partnerships with business, government and other stakeholders.

As one of a small network of UK Export Finance executives in the Americas you will work closely with colleagues based in Bogota and Houston to coordinate efforts across the region, and report in to UKEF London HQ.

The jobholder will support Her Majesty’s Ambassadors in the region to deliver HMG’s trade and investment objectives by delivering the UKEF offer. He/she will work with the DIT and UKEF management teams. The jobholder will help grow UKEF supported exports by focussing on five (5) areas of activity:

- 1) Build awareness of UKEF support capabilities_
- Raise the profile of UKEF regionally through engagement with the local business community, government bodies, and other stakeholder organisations.
- Deliver UKEF marketing plans, ensuring that messages are appropriate to the audience.
- Develop and implement promotion activities that educate the local/ regional business community on UKEF products.
- Develop UKEF knowledge base within the local DIT team.
- 2) Build and share market knowledge_
- Develop knowledge and insight of public and private sector organisations, including their strategic business planning and development objectives. Implement findings into UKEF strategic plans.
- Understand and interpret host government development plans, priority sectors, and projects.
- Act as the lead source of UKEF advice to local DIT teams, including integration of UKEF objectives in priority campaigns (in