Deputy Director of Trade - DBT

Based at the British Consulate in Chicago, the Deputy Director of Trade will lead Financial and Professional Services trade and investment activity across the US Midwest, while supporting the Director of Trade with regional delivery, senior stakeholder engagement, team coordination and strategic priorities.

The role will focus on Financial and Professional Services, including Fin Tech, asset management, insurance, legal, accounting, consulting and wider professional services.

The postholder will build relationships with senior US and UK business leaders, identify investment opportunities into the UK, support UK companies entering or growing in the US market, and develop partnerships with professional services firms that influence corporate international expansion decisions. The postholder will also support regional leadership across the Chicago consular region, including senior visits, briefings, performance oversight, regional strategy, state-level engagement and cross-sector priorities.

You will be part of the North America team as well as a valued contributor tothe Chicago based DBT team including support for the cross sector priorities. You will also work closely with colleagues based around the US and UK.

• Lead DBT’s Financial and Professional Services activity across the US Midwest, with a particular focus on Chicago and Illinois as major centres for client engagement, senior visits and professional services networks.
• Provide high-quality account management to priority US investors and prospects in Financial and Professional Services, identifying opportunities to maintain, expand or establish a UK footprint.
• Build and manage a disciplined pipeline of high-value investment opportunities, ensuring activity and evidence are recorded accurately in agreed systems.
• Support UK Financial and Professional Services companies, including Fin Tech and professional services firms, to develop US market entry strategies, grow market share and address relevant trade policy or market access issues.
• Develop strong relationships with professional services multipliers, including law firms, accounting firms, consultancies, advisers, trade associations and business networks, to generate intelligence, referrals and commercial opportunities for DBT’s wider sector teams.
• Design and deliver targeted events, round tables, trade missions, matchmaking activity, senior visit programmes and stakeholder engagement that promote UK capability and deliver measurable trade and investment outcomes.
• Support the Director of Trade with regional strategy, planning and delivery across the Midwest, including business intelligence, regional briefings, core scripts and senior-level engagement.
• Lead or support senior official and Ministerial visits, including programme design, stakeholder engagement, briefing coordination, tasking, follow-up and read-outs.
• Help strengthen team delivery by supporting performance oversight, CRM/Data Hub discipline, key account management, pipeline management, onboarding, mentoring and capability-building.
• Support state-level engagement and trade policy priorities, including UK-Illinois activity, regional market access intelligence and collaboration with sector, policy and economic colleagues.
• Work with marketing and communications colleagues to promote the UK-US trade and investment relationship and showcase UK strengths in Financial and Professional Services.
• Represent DBT and the British Consulate-General externally, including at business events, stakeholder meetings and occasional speaking engagements.
• Contribute to wider Consulate priorities, corporate activity, inclusion, wellbeing and crisis response when required.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

• Support the Director of Trade with coordination and leadership of the Chicago trade and investment team, including direct or matrix management of a small number of officers as agreed.
• Manage or contribute to management of events, travel and programme budgets, ensuring activity is prioritised and delivered in line with financial guidance.

• Professional experience in Financial…