JOB DESCRIPTION

View Vacancy – BK – Trade Officer (Defence and Security), AO

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.

Job Category

Department for Business and Trade roles (DBT)

Job Subcategory

Department for Business and Trade (DBT)

Job Description (Roles and Responsibilities)

Main purpose of job:

The British Embassy Bangkok is a large diplomatic mission of around 140 staff delivering a dynamic and rapidly expanding programme of activity in support of the UK’s objectives including on prosperity, trade, security, open societies, consular services and law enforcement. The Embassy is a modern, diverse and inclusive employer where everyone contributes to the Embassy’s CORE Values of Generosity, Ambition and Courage.

This is an exciting opportunity to join our Department for Business and Trade (DBT). The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) supports UK based businesses to export globally and encourages overseas investment across all parts of the UK.

The successful applicant will assist the trade managers in every aspect of their duties including administrative tasks such as setting up meetings, arranging travel and providing briefings for meetings.

The trade officer will also assist the trade managers to deliver their export win targets by supporting with research, gathering business intelligence and meeting and interacting with UK companies both in Thailand and the UK, with a view to developing business and trade opportunities in Thailand.

Roles and responsibilities / what will the jobholder be expected to achieve?:

• Corporate strategy focus: Conduct market and company research in the Defence and Security sector, and any other sectors of interest to DBT to understand the target companies’ business model, product lines and growth stage. Develop brief company profiles for the sector managers for use by UK companies to help uncover synergies between firms to enable matching as potential business partners, investors and customers.
• Business development focus: develop target lists of companies and best contacts within these companies depending on the product and/or service solution we are assessing local demand for. Build network of key contacts in responsible sectors that would lead to commercial benefits for UK companies.
• Sector activity: deliver promotional activities in accordance with each sector’s objectives; organise events/ tradeshows, webinars, MoU signing ceremonies, etc.
• Marketing & Communication: support DBT Marketing, Comms and Event manager in developing content for both offline and online channels to promote sectorial/ DBT’s activities.
• Administrative support: responsible for the administrative support shared within the DBT team including transport arrangements, organising meeting, preparing meeting materials, verifying certifications and purchasing materials for DBT team (stationery, IT inventory, etc.).

Essential qualifications, skills and experience

• Fluent English and Thai (spoken and written)
• A demonstrable knowledge of, and or experience in, the Defence industrial sector.
• Good communicator at all levels, spoken and written
• Strong administration and organisation skills
• Flexible and reactive to new issues and priorities
• Ability to work at pace and prioritise, managing workload
• Ability to liaise with and manage external stakeholder relationships
• Experience in completing timely and accurate written information in English and Thai
• IT proficiency – Using MS Office, Outlook and ability to learn FCDO systems
• Social media proficiency – Using LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook
• Ability to travel within Thailand and overseas

Desirable qualifications, skills and experience

• Keen interest in business and trade
• Service in the Thai Military
• Spreadsheet and data analytic skills
• Experience of living in or understanding of the United Kingdom, British people and culture

Required behaviours

Changing and Improving, Communicating and Influencing, Delivering at Pace, Managing a Quality Service

Application deadline

17 November 2025

Grade

Administrative Officer (AO)

Type of Position

Full-time, Permanent

Working hours per week

36

Region

Asia Pacific

Country/Territory

Thailand

Location (City)

Bangkok

Type of Post

British Embassy

Number of vacancies

1

Salary Currency

THB

Salary

50,034

Type of Salary

monthly

Start Date

5 January 2026

Other benefits and conditions of employment

The British Embassy offers a competitive remuneration package, including salary (will be abated for those not liable to tax), benefits, a leave entitlement, health insurance and comprehensive development programme based upon business need and individual staff requirements.

Learning and development opportunities:

The British Embassy Bangkok encourages all staff to develop their capabilities, through both formal training (courses) and informal (job-shadowing, coaching, on-the-job training etc.). The majority of our formal L&D opportunities are drawn from FCDO resources. All staff are encouraged to share their skills and experience with colleagues, through informal training (‘lunch & learn’) or coaching/mentoring. All staff are eligible for 5 L&D days a year.

Working patterns:

This is a full time role – 36 hours/week, Monday to Friday.

We are currently operating a hybrid working pattern with at least 60% of the time being spent in the office.

The Embassy has a smarter working policy and is committed to offering flexible working patterns balanced with the operational requirements of the role. In crisis/emergency situations you may need to work as required to support the Embassy response, sometimes on a shift pattern, which may result in unsociable hours and/or weekend working.

As an inclusive employer we are happy to discuss alternative working patterns at interview or at the point of any job offer.

Other Information:

Employment offers are subject to successful clearance of pre-employment and security checks. Staff who are locally recruited by the British Embassy are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local employment law.

No accommodation or relocation expenses are payable in connection with this position. All candidates must be legally able to work and reside in the country of the vacancy with the correct visa/work permit status or demonstrate eligibility to obtain the relevant permit. Any costs related to obtaining or renewing permits and visas are the responsibility of the successful applicant.

Employees who are not liable to pay local income tax on their Mission salary may have their salaries reduced by the equivalent local income tax amount.

The FCDO also operates an agile workforce. To facilitate this, you may be required to undertake other duties from time to time as we may reasonably require.

Additional information

Please note that your application must be submitted before 23:55 on the day mentioned in the above field “Application deadline”.  

Please be aware that the deadline for submitting applications is considered to be the time zone for the country where the vacancy has arisen.

We advise you to allow enough time to complete and submit your full application since only applications completed and submitted before the deadline will be considered.

Note: All applicants are required to mandatorily fill the online application form completely including the employment and educational details, experience, professional skills and behaviour based questions. We will be thoroughly reviewing the applications and incomplete form in any respect may not be considered while shortlisting for the next stage.

Only shortlisted candidates for interview will be contacted. Interviewees will be assessed on the core behaviours/qualifications listed above. Unsuccessful candidates will be notified via the system in due time. 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.

To ensure a successful application, it is important that you explain how you demonstrate these behaviours, including through your experience. You are strongly advised to read the Success Profiles: Civil Service behaviours which provides detailed guidance on how the behaviours are defined.

Applicants are encouraged to use the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) format to prepare specific examples of when they have demonstrated these behaviours in their application. Using the STAR format to provide evidence of your skills and experience in your application and at interview helps to give a structure. You briefly describe the situation in which you showed the behaviour, and then explain your task in addressing the situation, what action you took and the result of this.

For inclusivity and diversity, please remove the following personal information when uploading your CV: name, address, email address, age, date of birth, gender, and nationality.

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

Please note that it is likely that any non-Thai national who is successful in securing a role within the Embassy will need to leave the country and re-enter with a specific type of visa if currently living in Thailand or will need to apply for a visa before travelling here if currently based outside of Thailand. Whilst the Embassy can support you with this process, the costs involved will need to be met by the candidate.
 
Employment offers are subject to successful clearance of pre-employment and security checks. Staff who are recruited by the British Embassy are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local employment law.

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, 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 British Embassy offers a competitive compensation package including a guaranteed 13th month pay, 20 days paid annual leave (calculated on a pro-rata basis if you join after 1 January), extensive medical insurance and access to a guaranteed 5 days of learning opportunities a year.

The British Embassy Bangkok promotes the following values:

• Collaboration

We support each other and are inclusive

We work closely with others to deliver

• Empowerment

We are innovative and adaptive
We achieve a healthy work-life balance, taking advantage of hybrid working

• Expertise

We build on and champion our diverse skills and expertise
We draw on data, technology and evidence

• Respect

We build trust and value differences
We invite and appreciate other perspectives

• Impact

We take a strategic approach
We prioritise and are all clear on expectations

To those applicants not short-listed, we extend our appreciation for considering the British Government as a potential employer.

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.

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: No requirements