Head Of Visits And Events

The British Government is an inclusive and diversity-friendly employer.We value difference, promote equality and challenge discrimination, enhancing our organisational capability.We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds.We do not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, colour, ethnicity, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, age, veteran status or other category protected by law.We promote family-friendly flexible working opportunities, where operational and security needs allow.The FCDO operates an agile workforce and to facilitate this, you may be required to undertake other duties from time to time, as we may reasonably require.Job Category Department for Business and Trade roles (DBT) Job Description (Roles and Responsibilities) Main purpose of job:The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) is responsible for promoting UK trade and investment with the rest of the world.We are the department for economic growth.We support businesses to invest, grow and export, creating jobs and opportunities across the UK.The overseas network is a vital asset in delivering the UK's trade and investment ambitions.Embedded within British embassies and high commissions, our trade teams—led by HM Trade Commissioners—work in close coordination with diplomatic staff to promote UK exports, attract investment, and improve market access.Through commercial diplomacy, they build strategic relationships, provide expert market insight, and support UK businesses to navigate local conditions and seize opportunities.This integrated approach ensures our efforts align with broader UK priorities, including sectoral growth, supply chain resilience, and clean energy transition.The DBT team across Latin America and the Caribbean (LATAC) is led by the HM Trade Commissioner for Latin America and the Caribbean, and his team is responsible for:growing the overall trade and investment relationship between the UK and LATAC marketsimproving market access for British companies, including small and medium sized businesses (SMEs)developing trade policy.Information About the Role This role leads the centralisation and professionalisation of event and mission delivery across the LATAC region.The postholder will establish and manage a consistent framework for planning, executing, and evaluating high-impact engagement activities—ensuring quality, efficiency, and strategic alignment with DBT objectives.By streamlining processes and supplier management, this role will reduce the operational burden on business development teams, allowing them to focus on core trade and investment outcomes.The postholder will oversee targeted events and visits, ensuring each delivers maximum value and impact.This is a regional role and location will depend on the successful candidate.Roles and responsibilities: Design and implement a regional framework for delivering missions and events, ensuring consistency, quality, and alignment with DBT priorities.Lead the strategic planning and delivery of ministerial visits and regional events, ensuring alignment with DBT priorities and regional business plans.Design and implement regional flagship events and sector-specific showcases, in collaboration with UK and LATAC stakeholders.Act as the regional lead and coordination point for cross-post event activity, ensuring consistency, quality, and strategic impact across the region.Provide expert advice and briefings to senior officials and ministers, including drafting high-quality communications, reports, and post-event evaluations.Manage relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including UK government departments, industry bodies, and regional partners to coordinate events and visits in the region.Oversee budgets and procurement, ensuring value for money and compliance with financial policies.Contribute to regional strategic planning, identifying opportunities for engagement and advising on event-related risks and mitigations.Lead on crisis and contingency planning for high-profile visits and events, ensuring robust risk management.Support and mentor junior staff, and where applicable, manage event delivery teams or temporary project staff.Language requirements: Language: English, Portuguese Level of language required: Fluent written and spoken (CEFR C1 essential; C2 in at least one language preferable) Essential qualifications, skills and experience Essential on arrival:Proven experience in leading strategic event or visit programmes, preferably in a government or international context.Strong project management and organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver under pressure.Excellent communication and influencing skills, with experience engaging senior stakeholders and drafting ministerial-level briefings.Demonstrated ability to develop and implement frameworks, processes, or toolkits that improve operational delivery.Experience managing budgets, suppliers, and procurement processes.Ability to work independently and exercise sound judgement in complex or sensitive situations.Fluent English and Portuguese, both spoken and written Desirable qualifications, skills and experience Desirable qualifications, skills and experience:Experience working in or with UK government departments or international organisations.Knowledge of the LATAC region's trade, investment, or political landscape.Required behaviours Delivering at Pace, Managing a Quality Service, Working Together Application deadline 27 October **** Grade Higher Executive Officer (HEO) Type of Position Full-time Region Latin America and Spanish speaking Caribbean Country/Territory Brazil Location (City) Rio De Janeiro, Sao Paulo Type of Post British Consulate General Number of vacancies 1 Start Date 1 April **** Other benefits and conditions of employment External applicants and non-DBT internal applicants must have the legal status to live and work in Brazil.Internal DBT candidates are encouraged to apply for any vacancy for which they are qualified regardless of its listed location.If an internal DBT candidate's application is successful, consideration will be given to determine if the role can be performed from the successful candidate's current location or if it should remain at the advertised location.There is no guarantee a role will move and each decision will be made on a case by case basis.Please note that if a role is approved to move to a different location, the new location's terms & conditions of service will apply, including salary, benefit offerings, internal policies, etc.Employees who are not liable to pay local income tax on their Mission salary, e.g. some non-local national staff and some spouses or partners of UK diplomatic staff, will have their salaries abated by an equivalent amount.Appointable candidates who were unsuccessful may be placed on a 'reserve list'.If during the reserve period of 12 months the same or a largely similar role becomes available, that role may be offered to the second or subsequent candidate.The British Embassy Network offers a strong benefits package.This package includes generous vacation and leave time, flexible working patterns, and enriching learning and development opportunities.Please note that internal candidates applying for positions in other Posts, if they are successful should resign their contract in the respective Post to be admitted in the Post where the position has been advertised.Learning and development opportunities DBT's strong L&D offer includes access to a range of in-house and e-learning opportunities; a regional L&D fund; shadowing and mentoring opportunities; masterclasses from experts and opportunities to get involved in the corporate work across our global network