View Vacancy - DXB - Senior Strategic International Partnership Lead (SEO) - SDI

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.
Other British Government Departments (Partners across Government, including UK Visas)
SDI (Scottish Development International)

The British Embassy Dubai has a vacancy for a Senior Strategic International Partnership Lead under the Scottish Development International (SDI) department, job grade Senior Executive Officer (SEO) on a fixed-term contract for one (1) year.

Main purpose of job:

Working as part of SDI’s Middle East team, the postholder will build and lead Scotland’s most senior strategic economic relationships across the UAE. This includes engaging with sector-agnostic government departments at both federal and emirate levels, as well as state-linked companies and major institutions.

By positioning Scotland as a trusted and proactive partner, the postholder will help unlock long-term economic collaboration that goes beyond individual sector opportunities.

Operating at a strategic level, they will act as a key connector between Scotland and the UAE’s most influential cross-sector economic stakeholders, using these relationships to develop impactful programmes of activity that support Scotland’s ambitions for deeper engagement and expanded opportunities in the UAE market.

Working closely with Scottish Enterprise and the Scottish Government, the role will help shape a coordinated, forward-looking approach to country-to-country economic development partnerships, trade and investment dialogue, and market positioning. This involves identifying shared interests, supporting strategic visits and programmes, and ensuring Scotland’s voice is heard, and acted upon, at the highest levels. 

Ultimately, this is a relationship-driven role with a clear economic purpose: to deliver real impact by deepening cooperation, driving opportunity, and supporting Scotland’s global ambitions in one of the world’s most dynamic markets.

While the role is based in Dubai, regular travel across all emirates will be expected.

The FCDO is an inclusive and diversity-friendly employer. We value difference, promote equality and challenge discrimination, enhancing our organisational capability. We do not discriminate on any basis, including categories protected by law. In keeping with the FCDO’s commitment to disability inclusion in the workplace, hiring managers must incorporate the principles set out in the FCDO Disability Confident scheme job applications in the CBS recruitment process.  Our CBS are recruited by Missions in-country in line with local employment laws. 

 

Duties and responsibilities: 

  • Strategic Stakeholder Engagement: Build and manage senior-level relationships across the UAE, particularly within key ministries at a federal and emirate level (e.g. Ministry of Investment, Ministry of Economy), government-related entities, and influential business groups. Represent Scotland and Scottish Development International (SDI) at high-level forums and strategic engagements, ensuring Scotland is positioned as a trusted and proactive partner.
  • Programme Development and Coordination: Lead the design and delivery of initiatives that deepen economic cooperation between Scotland and the UAE. Act as a primary point of contact for sector agnostic strategic partners, coordinate across SDI, Scottish Government, and Scottish Enterprise teams, and translate engagement into practical, long-term opportunities.
  • Cross-Sector Liaison: Having a strong understanding of Scotland’s key sector strengths and priorities for the Middle East market, the post holder will serve as a central connector between UAE stakeholders and relevant Scottish teams. Feed any new trade & investment opportunities emerging from stakeholder engagement to relevant teams within SDI and support timely flow of intelligence, insight and communication to ensure these opportunities are capitalised on.
  • Inward Visits and Strategic Missions: Support the planning and delivery of high-profile visits and delegations to and from Scotland, including Ministerial engagements. Ensure these engagements are strategically aligned and deliver sustained economic impact.
  • Market Intelligence and Policy Monitoring: Monitor and analyse key political, economic, and regulatory developments across the UAE. Produce high-quality briefings and provide strategic insights to inform Scotland’s approach and positioning in the market.
  • Collaborative Working: Work closely with SDI colleagues, the Scottish Government, the Department for Business and Trade (DBT), and the wider UK Government network. Contribute to a coordinated and collaborative approach that supports Scotland’s international economic ambitions.

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.
  • Managing a Quality Service: Deliver service objectives with professional excellence, expertise, and efficiency, taking account of diverse customer needs.
  • 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.
  • Delivering at Pace: Take responsibility for delivering timely and quality results with focus and drive.
  • Proven experience in senior-level stakeholder engagement, particularly with government departments, state-linked entities, or major institutions in an international context.
  • Strong understanding of the UAE’s political and economic landscape, including the relationship between government and industry.
  • Demonstrated ability to develop and deliver strategic programmes or initiatives that result in tangible economic or policy outcomes.
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to represent Scotland credibly at senior forums and build trusted relationships across cultures.
  • Strong coordination and collaboration skills, with experience working across multiple teams, departments, or organisations to deliver shared objectives.
  • Ability to produce high-quality briefings and strategic insights, drawing on political, economic, and regulatory developments.
  • Experience working in international trade, investment, economic development, or government relations.
  • Willingness and ability to travel regularly across the UAE.

Language requirements: 

Language: English
Level of language required: Fluent spoken and written, with the ability to represent Scotland credibly at senior forums and build trusted relationships across cultures. 

  • Arabic language skills, to support deeper relationship-building and cultural understanding.
  • Knowledge of Scotland’s key sectors and economic development landscape, including the roles of SDI, Scottish Enterprise, and the Scottish Government.
  • Experience supporting or managing high-level visits or strategic missions, including Ministerial or senior delegations.
Communicating and Influencing, Delivering at Pace, Managing a Quality Service, Seeing the Big Picture, Working Together
19 October 2025
Senior Executive Officer (SEO)
Full-time, Fixed Term
40
12 months
Middle East & North Africa
United Arab Emirates
Dubai
British Embassy
1
AED
34,820
monthly
8 January 2026

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 34,820 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. 

This role is for a full-time employment, on a fixed term contract basis for one (1) year, subject to six (6) months’ probationary period. The contract may be extended, subject to satisfactory performance and on on-going business requirement. 

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. 

While the role is based in Dubai, regular travel across all emirates will be expected. 

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.

 

How to apply: 

Interested candidates must ensure that the following is fully completed:  

  1. Fully completed online application form which must include:
  2. Fully completed education details and employment history
  3. Fully completed experience, professional skills and behaviour-based sections in the online application form. Please ensure that your application is authentically written based on your own experiences. If AI tools are used, their usage must only be limited to specific tasks such as ensuring formatting consistency and keyword relevance. The core content, personal narratives, and responses to behaviour and skill-based questions must genuinely reflect your professional journey, experiences, and achievements. We place great importance on originality and individual effort throughout the application process. Any form of plagiarism will result in immediate disqualification. 

Please note: It is mandatory that all applicants complete the online application form including the employment and educational details, technical, skills and experience sections and the behaviour-based questions. Applications that are incomplete in any respect will not be considered whilst shortlisting for the next stage.  

Closing date for applications is at 23:55 UAE local time on 19th October 2025. 

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.

This opportunity is closed to applications.