Senior Trade & Investment Officer, Advanced Manufacturing, Chicago

Main purpose of job:

Be a part of the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade’s (BIST) mission to drive more trade and investment between North America and the UK. With a mature, high-spending consumer market and an open, liberal economy, world-class talent and a business-friendly regulatory environment, the UK is the leading destination for foreign investment in Europe, the second highest investment destination in the world, and the world’s sixth 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/BIST). 

Based at the British Consulate in Chicago, the Senior Trade and Investment Officer will be responsible for developing positive relationships with senior executives from companies in the Aerospace and Space sectors across the US Midwest and Colorado. You will play a key role as an account manager to these firms, some of which are the most important investors in the UK within the sector. This involves frequent engagement with key decision makers and proactive work to identify and cultivate potential new investment opportunities for US companies in your portfolio. 

The role of the Senior Trade and Investment Officer is to increase cross-border economic cooperation, attract foreign direct investment into the UK economy, and support British businesses with US market entry. You will be part of the North America Advanced Manufacturing team as well as a valued contributor to the Chicago based BIST team, working closely with colleagues from around the US and UK. 

Roles and responsibilities:

• Provide a comprehensive account management service to key US prospects in the Aerospace and Space sectors looking to maintain or grow their footprint in the UK.
• Successfully build and manage a pipeline of knowledge-driven projects that have the potential to bring high-value jobs and investment to the UK.
• Assist high-growth and innovative UK SMEs and established British businesses to develop US market entry strategies and / or grow US market share; and support established British companies in-market to address any concerns around US trade policy or market access barriers.
• Deliver against an ambitious set of annual trade and investment targets.
• Forge positive relationships with US and UK business leaders, from start-ups through F500, as well as trade associations, local development agencies, regional advanced manufacturing providers and other key buyers/partners within the advanced manufacturing industry.
• Develop and implement high-impact, targeted marketing programs and events in conjunction with stakeholder partners to build our brand awareness, promote key messaging, and showcase UK competitiveness in the aerospace and space industries.
• Keep pace with market trends in North America and the UK to identify commercial opportunities and provide informed advice to clients and stakeholders. 
• Work with internal and external stakeholders to deliver high-impact programming, including developing and hosting round tables, trade missions and matchmaking events, seminars and supporting VIP visit programs.
• Support cross-team projects to advance UK economic and trade policy goals.
• Represent BIST and the British Consulate at external functions, including occasional speaking engagements.
• Assist in a consular crisis, if required.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Resources managed (staff and expenditure):

• This role will operate as part of a wider North America sector team but will not have direct reports.
• Manage events and travel budgets. 

Essential skills / experience / qualifications:

• Demonstrated professional experience in an economic development, or business development role, ideally in a related sector.
• Thorough knowledge of the aerospace and space industries, major companies, and trends in the US Midwest and Colorado – and preferably in the UK. 
• Excellent stakeholder management abilities. 
• Excellent interpersonal, presentation and networking skills. 
• Excellent management and collaboration skills with the ability to negotiate and deliver results. 
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.  
• Excellent organisational skills and meticulous attention to detail. 
• Ability to multitask and complete work while traveling. 
• An excellent network of industry contacts in the advanced manufacturing sector and/or start-up ecosystem in the US, or the ability to develop such a network. 
• Proficiency in standard Microsoft applications. 
• Must be able to attend events outside of office hours and undertake travel in the US and internationally 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.

Language requirements: 

• Language: English
• Level of language required: Expert

Desirable skills / experience / qualifications:

• An understanding of international relations and UK Government policy preferred. 

Required behaviours  

• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace
• Managing a Quality Service
• Seeing the Big Picture

Application deadline  

6 October 2026 

Grade  

Higher Executive Officer (HEO)

Type of Position  

Full-time, Permanent

Working hours per week  

40

Region  

Americas, Caribbean & Overseas Territories

Country/Territory  

United States

Location (City)  

Chicago

Type of Post  

British Consulate

Number of vacancies  

1

Salary Currency  

USD

Salary  

$81,100

Type of Salary  

yearly

Start Date  

30 November 2026 

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.

Working Patterns:

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.).  

The UK Government operating in the US offers a substantial benefits package including generous leave, a choice of medical insurance, 401(k) matching up to 7%, extensive learning opportunities and a great work/life balance. 

Unique Tax Rules

Please note that the tax arrangements imposed by the US on staff working for foreign governments, as well as those imposed by the UK Treasury on British and dual nationals working for the UK Government overseas, are atypical. The UK Government cannot withhold taxes (including FICA) on behalf of a US taxpayer. Instead, a US taxpayer is required to file taxes as if they are self-employed, and a FICA allowance is granted for those required to pay the employer contribution. Certain categories of staff (for example dual UK-US nationals and some visa holders) who work at Consulates General are not subject to US taxes. For those not subject to US taxes the UK Government reduces gross pay to a level broadly equivalent to taxed net pay. There are also social security implications for dual UK-US nationals. Please keep all this in mind when looking at the salary and the benefits package. If you are offered a job with the UK’s US Network you will be given further tax and social security information relevant to your personal circumstances and place of work; you are advised to consider this information and its impact on your circumstances carefully – potentially with the advice of a tax professional - before accepting a job.

Additional information  

Closing date of receiving applications is before 23:55 (Local Time) on 06 October 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.