Job Description

(Roles and Responsibilities)
The British Embassy in Dubai has a vacancy for an Intellectual Property (IP) Attache, MENA region, job grade SEO for a fixed-term contract for two (2) years. The jobholder will be working for the UK Intellectual Property Office (IPO) and situated in the Department for Business and Trade (DBT).


The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) is the official UK government body responsible for intellectual property (IP) rights including patents, trademarks, designs and copyright. The IPO is an executive agency sponsored by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT). IPO is responsible for: IP policy; educating businesses and consumers about IP rights and responsibilities; supporting IP enforcement, and; granting UK patents, trade marks and design rights.


The IPO operates and maintain a clear and accessible intellectual property system in the UK, which encourages innovation and helps the economy and society to benefit from knowledge and ideas. The IPO is now a team of approximately 1,700, with offices in South Wales (Newport) and London. The IPO Strategy and Corporate Priorities are helping the UK to become the most innovative and creative country in the world.


As IP rights are territorial, UK exporting businessess need help in navigating the in-market IP regime, which can be complex. Since 2012, the IPO has a network of IP attaches in key markets across the world, including China, Latin America, North America, India, SE Asia. The attaches work with local UK Department for Business and Trade (DBT) and Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) leads, to provide support for UK businesses seeking advice on local IP matters. Attaches also raise awareness of IP through business outreach. This includes briefing business delegations, joint webinars with DBT and local trade associations. They also liaise with host governments and stakeholders about local and international IP frameworks / environment.


The IPO is looking for a highly capable individual to deliver a high standard of support to UK businesses looking to enter, or expand their presence, in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.


This is a senior role and the successful candidate, as the IPO's lead representative and technical expert in MENA, will be responsible for setting strategy and delivering policy objectives, as well as providing business support. The role will involve working closely with a wide range of stakeholders, including HMG, regional government departments and official agencies across the MENA region as well as UK businesses, balancing sometimes opposing interests with tact and sensitivity. The jobholder will also be involved in future IP content in trade agreements.


The role will mean being the MENA British Embassy network lead technical expert on IP, delivering IP policy objectives, supporting UK businesses exporting to the region, and promoting the UK's IP agenda. The role will also involve working across the DBT teams in the MENA, offering support in resolving IP related enquires, regardless of sector. We need to be agile and align our activities to priorities of both the UK and MENA, as those change, so too will our focus.


This position will see you exposed to senior government officials and CEOs of large companies and, therefore, strong communication skills and a high level of resilience and persistence are essential, alongside excellent drafting skills and the ability to turn round work quickly and under pressure. Demonstrable experience of creating and administering strategic partnerships is highly desirable, as well as achievement of direct commercial outcomes. We are target driven, so demonstrable experience in achieving successful outcomes will be key.


The job holder will be required to have excellent knowledge of IP, including an IP qualification and/ or extensive experience working in an IP intensive environment. Private sector experience and understanding of the MENA ecosystem would also be advantageous. The job holder will be required to represent the IPO across all aspects of the role including public speaking and representing the government at a senior level, providing advice to the Ambassador and Regional Trade Commissioner in addition to visiting Ministers, senior DBT officials and IPO seniors.


Due to the international nature of the role, the successful candidate will be expected to travel within the MENA region, sometimes at short notice and to the UK. The requirements of the job may necessitate some work outside of core hours, for example for meetings, official business entertainment/representational duties and Ministerial visits.


The jobholder will also be expected to support and collaborate with colleagues across the region, particularly when they are visiting for major trade shows/meetings/ events etc. They will need strong engagement with the UK based MENA team at the IPO to align focus, effort and skills.


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 promote family-friendly flexible working opportunities, where operational and security needs allow.

Duties and responsibilities:

• Be the UK IPO's representative in the MENA region (based in UAE) with support from the FCDO network in the region and the UK based IPO team.
• Act as the embassy's lead technical expert on IP, developing and delivering IP policy and enforcement programme, and promoting the value of IP (including awareness raising and education) and identifying local IP issues.
• Lead on delivering the UK's engagement, strategic policy objectives, projects and stakeholder events on all IP matters, in a dynamic region.
• Develop and execute plans to support UK exporting businesses in MENA and assist with specific IP issues when they arise.
• Assess opportunities within DBT teams in MENA to include IP within guidance as part of teams export support, to eliminate IP related market access barriers.
• Lead on Government-to-Government activity (including regional IP offices), such as Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) and policy development. Develop strategic cooperation between the UK and MENA, pulling on support from local and UK based colleagues when required.
• Demonstrate proactive business development in order to maintain, build and develop strategic contacts with key stakeholders (both public and private) in the market, to identify new opportunities as they arise and promote existing opportunities to showcase the UKs position on IP.
• Effective stakeholder engagement to build and manage effective working relationships with senior leaders in MENA, colleagues across DBT including International Trade Advisers and Sector teams to increase their knowledge of IP activity in the market.
• Develop partnerships with DBT regional offices, DBT Sectors Group, Chambers of Commerce, Trade Associations and IP organisations, including attending networking events in and out of hours.
• Input into the preparation of annual business plans and strategies for the sector and regularly update sector reports.
• Make presentations at seminars and events in MENA and UK and contribute to in-market briefings to promote UK expertise in the sector.
• Devise and run VIP programmes for Ministers and senior IPO staff visits through scheduling high-level meetings, organising activities, and preparing briefing materials.


Engaging Internationally:

• Lead internationally, engaging our staff, contacts, and international partners to help deliver UK Government objectives, while living the UK Civil Service values and serving the UK public.
• Understand UK Government aims in the wider UK and international context and developing productive relationships with those external contacts and partners to help deliver UK objectives.
• Be aware of cultural sensitivities in your area of responsibility.
• Value and model professional excellence and expertise.


The above list is not exhaustive, and the jobholder will be required to be flexible and take on other ad hoc tasks as required.


Key behaviours required:

• Seeing the bigger picture - Understand how your role fits with and supports organisational objectives. Recognise the wider Civil Service priorities and ensure work is in the national interest.
• Communicating and Influencing - Communicate purpose and direction with clarity, integrity, and enthusiasm. Respect the needs, responses, and opinions of others.
• Working Together - Form effective partnerships and relationships with people both internally and externally, from a range of diverse backgrounds, sharing information, resources, and support.
• Changing and Improving: Seek out opportunities to create effective change and suggest innovative ideas for improvement. Review ways of working, including seeking and providing feedback.
• Delivering at Pace: Take responsibility for delivering timely and quality results with focus and drive.
• Managing a Quality Service: Deliver service objectives with professional excellence, expertise and efficiency, taking account of diverse customer needs.





Essential qualifications, skills and experience
• Minimum 5-10 years demonstrated professional experience in a business development and/or economic development role - either in private sector or government.
• Understanding of practical applications of IP in trade, business and innovation and HMG strategy.
• Experience of working in the MENA region.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and able to influence and network confidently with industry leaders, government officials, and senior business people.
• Excellent communication skills in English, both verbal and spoken. Able to express ideas and messages clearly and concisely, both orally and in written communication.
• Ability to effectively work under tight deadlines and in a fast paced environment.
• Experience of working with senior level interlocutors.
• Experience of brief writing and public speaking.
• Stakeholder engagement across all levels.
• Resourcefulness in solving problems.
• Team player with experience in working in large, complex environments and a willingness to work across boundaries.
• Strong work ethic, organisational skills and keen attention to detail.
• Excellent computer & MS Office skills (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Teams).
• Superior professionalism and judgment.
• Experience of working in complex, matrix organisations.
• Ability to draft succinct reports and provide briefing for generalist and specialist audiences, including for ministers, often to very tight deadlines.
• Delivery of high-quality day-to-day data management.


Desirable qualifications, skills and experience
• University qualification (undergraduate/ postgraduate) in IP is highly desirable.
• Previous experience working for a government department.
• Private sector experience.
• Arabic Language Skills.


Required behaviours
Changing and Improving, Communicating and Influencing, Delivering at Pace, Managing a Quality Service, Seeing the Big Picture, Working Together
Application deadline
31 July 2024
Grade
Senior Executive Officer (SEO)
Type of Position
Full-time, Fixed Term
Working hours per week
40
Duration of Post
24 months
Region
Middle East & North Africa
Country/Territory
United Arab Emirates
Location (City)
Dubai
Type of Post
British Embassy
Number of vacancies
1
Salary Currency
AED
Salary
32,863
Start Date
1 September 2024
Other benefits and conditions of employment
Working hours and remuneration:


The Embassy aims to offer an attractive working environment and remuneration package for this role, which includes 25 days of leave per annum (calculated pro-rata).


The salary for this role is AED 32,863 per month.


There are no other allowances payable as part of this package. No accommodation and relocation expenses are payable in connection with this position.


The Embassy is open from Monday to Friday from 0700 to 1800 hrs. The Employee's normal weekly working hours are forty (40) Monday to Friday (inclusive). This is inclusive of one-hour paid rest break for each five (5) hours worked; the timing of the rest break shall be approved by the Employee's Line Manager and in accordance with operational requirements.

Whilst the role will be based in Dubai, the jobholder will be required to visit the Embassy in Abu Dhabi frequently and often at short notice as this role carries responsibility for activities in all Emirates.

The jobholder will be required to be flexible in their approach to hours worked as these will be dictated by operational needs and will involve frequently working out of hours (evening and/ or weekends) during networking events.

This role is based in Dubai but will cover the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and will involve travel within the region and to the UK for business purposes. The successful candidate must be able to secure visas for these countries.


The Embassy has an active Learning and Development Committee, and the whole of Post is committed to providing the time and resources for staff to develop personally and professionally. The 70/20/10 learning and development model is applied in a flexible manner, with extensive informal and formal opportunities readily available.


The successful candidate will be required to transfer their visa under the Embassy's sponsorship.



Additional information
How to apply:


Interested candidates must include to their online application form:

• An updated Curriculum Vitae (CV);
• A covering letter/motivation essay stating how you meet the requirements of the role; and,
• Examples in the relevant sections of the online application form of how you meet the key behaviours and skills required.


Applications that do not include this information will not be considered.


Closing date for applications is at 23:55 UAE local time on 31st July 2024.

Applications received after the stated deadline will not be considered.

•Internal candidates (i.e., those employed by the British Embassies in Abu Dhabi & Dubai) applying for this position are advised to inform their current line managers upon submission of their application. •

Process:


The recruitment process, including security clearance, is expected to take around two to three months. The security clearance process includes checks available in country and with UK, dependant on the security level required for the role and the candidate's profile and UK footprint. You may experience some delay in the progress of this recruitment campaign, and we are working hard to minimise any disruption.


Due to the large number of applications, we receive, only those shortlisted for the next step of the recruitment process will be contacted.


The start date mentioned in the job advert is tentative and the successful candidate will be required to undergo security vetting procedures before employment can begin. Any offer of employment will be subject to the candidate achieving suitable clearances.


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.


The FCDO operates an agile approach to delivery. To facilitate an agile workforce, you may be required to undertake other duties from time to time as we may reasonably require. The British Embassy Dubai is an equal opportunities employer, dedicated to inclusivity, a diverse workforce and valuing difference.





Please be aware that you will only be able to apply to vacancies for Country Based Staff roles with the British Government through this official tal.net site (operated by Oleeo). Jobs may be advertised on third party websites, however our adverts will always link back to the official tal.net site. If you complete and send an application through any other site, we will not receive it.