Director of Trade

Main purpose of role:

Be part of the Department for Business and Trade’s (DBT) mission to drive more trade and investment between North America and the UK. With a mature, high spending consumer market and an open economy, world-class talent and a business-friendly regulatory environment, the UK is the leading destination for foreign investment in Europe, and the second highest investment destination in the world. The UK is also the world’s seventh largest exporter and the second largest services exporter.

We employ over 130 people across North America, all dedicated to increasing economic growth to ensure businesses thrive, markets are competitive, and consumers are protected. We seek talented team members with the passion and drive to help us in our mission to build a global appetite for British goods and services; drive investment; negotiate trade deals and open markets; and promote free trade, economic security and resilient supply chains (see www.gov.uk/DBT).

Based at the British Consulate-General in San Francisco, the Director of Trade will act as the senior point of contact and advisor to the British Consul General on regional trade and investment opportunities. You will lead a dynamic team of nine to strengthen UK-US trade and investment across California, Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington and Wyoming in Northern California and the US Northwest region. You'll drive strategic partnerships, manage key accounts, and shape policy to unlock new opportunities, working closely with senior stakeholders across the UK Government’s US network, including the British Embassy in Washington DC to deliver growth and innovation in a collaborative environment.

Roles and responsibilities:

• Champion the UK’s trade and investment ambitions across Northern California and the US Northwest, acting as a senior adviser to the British Consul General.
• Lead and inspire a high-performing team of 9 to spot opportunities, build connections, and showcase the UK as a destination for investment, exports and growth.
• Drive ambitious State Level Strategy outcomes, from securing MOUs to opening procurement opportunities, tackling market barriers, and advancing professional qualifications agreements.
• Support your team in building and converting a strong pipeline of export and investment opportunities, including relationships with some of the largest US investors into the UK.
• Turn trade policy into commercial impact by connecting business opportunities to priority sectors and State-level partnerships.
• Grow and influence a powerful regional network of policymakers, business leaders, chambers of commerce, trade associations, and think tanks.
• Represent the Department of Business and Trade as a visible and credible voice for UK business interests, while contributing to wider prosperity, innovation, and growth goals.
• Lead delivery of high-quality programmes for Ministerial and senior UK Government visits.
• Build and develop an inclusive, high-performing team with a strong culture of learning, communication, and respectful feedback.
• Management of regional budget.
• Other duties as assigned.

Resources managed:

• The successful candidate will lead a team of 9 with direct line management of 5 Senior Trade and Investment Officers each representing a different priority sector. The sectors are Financial Services; Healthcare and Life Sciences; Capital Investment; Tech; & Creative, Media and Sport.

Essential qualifications, skills and experience

Essential on arrival:

• Significant professional experience, gained within a business or economic development role.
• In-depth knowledge of business in Northern California and the US Northwest.
• Excellent management and leadership skills with the ability to deliver results through others.
• Proven competence in leading strategy development and business planning.
• Excellent stakeholder management abilities.
• Proven advisory and influencing skills at senior levels.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent interpersonal, presentation and networking skills.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Manage budget and make resource recommendations to senior leadership.
• An excellent network of industry contacts and the ability to develop new networks with senior business and industry leaders.
• Level of English required - expert
• Must be able to attend events outside of office hours and undertake travel in the US and internationally for up to 20% of your time.

As a valued member of our team, we will help you to achieve your goals through continuous professional development.

Desirable qualifications, skills and experience

• Business knowledge of the UK

Required behaviours

Communicating and Influencing, Leadership, Making Effective Decisions, Seeing the Big Picture

Application deadline

26 July 2026

Grade

Grade 7 (G7)

Type of Position

Fixed term, with possibility of renewal

Working hours per week

40

Region

Americas, Caribbean & Overseas Territories

Country/Territory

United States

Location (City)

San Francisco

Type of Post

British Consulate General

Salary

$128,570 USD yearly

Start Date

14 September 2026

End Date

30 June 2027

Other benefits and conditions of employment

All selected candidates are subject to background checks and will require a security clearance prior to starting work.

Eligibility

You must have the right to live and work in the US in order to take up this role, whether in your own right or as a dependant, and be able to demonstrate that when required. If you are not a US citizen, dual US citizen or US Permanent Resident, it is your responsibility check your eligibility to work for a foreign government in the United States, and specifically to work in this role at this location, and provide proof of your eligibility via an Employment Authorisation Document or other relevant document when required. The UK Government does not routinely sponsor work visas; the job advertisement will state clearly whether sponsorship is available.

You may refer to our website for additional information: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/living-in-the-usa.

Core Hours/Hybrid Working

While many jobs in the US Network are able to offer flexibility in terms of working hours, core business hours are 09:30 to 15:00 (in the local time zone) Monday through Friday.

Employees will be expected to work from office full-time during the first 90 days of employment. After this time employees may work from home no more than 40% of the working week, subject to operational needs.

All working hours and hybrid working are position specific and subject to change at any time, without notice. If you have any questions, please address them with the hiring manager. This role will require the successful candidate to be willing to represent DBT and the British Consulate at external functions (both during working hours and evenings).

Learning and Development

The British Embassy and its US Network is committed to all employee’s ongoing learning and development needs. We offer a comprehensive platform for personalised learning for everything from soft skill development (communicating with impact, handling difficult conversations, time management) to more technical or professional skills necessary to complete your job (software training, formal qualifications etc.).

Additional information

Closing date of receiving applications is before 23:55 (Local Time) on 26th July 2026

All applicants must fully complete the online application form, including the sections for employment and educational details, experience, and behaviour-based questions. Only those applications that contain all required information will be considered. To ensure the sift process remains anonymous, please do not include any personally identifiable information in your application form.

Only successful candidates will be contacted. Please no phone calls. Due to the high volume of resumes we receive, we cannot guarantee consideration of your application if the submission instructions are not properly followed.

Appointable candidates who were unsuccessful may be placed on a ‘reserve list’. If during the reserve period of 6 months the same or a largely similar role becomes available, that role may be offered to the second or subsequent candidate.

Internal candidates must inform their supervisor before they apply to a different position.