Investment Delivery Officer

Main Purpose of Role:

The British Government’s Embassy in Washington DC has an exciting opportunity for a highly motivated and detail-oriented professional to join the British Defence Staff United States (BDSUS) as an Investment Delivery Officer.

The Investment Delivery Officer is one of four members of the Trade team, which sits within the 15 member Acquisition team and forms part of the Defence Acquisition and Technology (DAT) Team in BDSUS.

This specialist and influential role supports the DAT teams in securing investment from US Defence and Security companies into the United Kingdom, working at the heart of UK–U.S. defence cooperation and contributing directly to the prosperity agenda.

The U.S. Network offers a unique career-enhancing opportunity and is committed to supporting its staff through a range of benefits including generous leave, insurance packages and a highly competitive 401(k) programme. It also promotes a culture of flexibility which enables people to maintain wellbeing through an excellent work/life balance approach, including hybrid working, flexible hours and working from home where possible. In this role, you will work in a diverse international environment alongside UK diplomats, armed forces personnel and other locally engaged staff across the British Government’s network in the United States.

Roles and Responsibilities:

The Investment Delivery Officer supports work to strengthen the UK Defence Industrial Base through attracting and growing investment from the United States defence and security ecosystem. The role will contribute to delivery of strategically important investment projects that enhance UK defence capability, industrial resilience and supply chain security as set out in the Industrial Strategy.

The postholder will work as part of a defence focused trade and investment team, supporting engagement with US companies that already have a UK presence, are interested in expanding their UK footprint, or who are considering investing or establishing operations in the UK. The role offers exposure to defence industry, international engagement and cross government working in a fast paced and high profile environment.

You will support engagement with US defence and dual use companies by helping develop investment propositions aligned to MOD capability and industrial priorities. This will include researching company and market intelligence, preparing briefing materials and supporting discussions with companies on potential UK investments such as manufacturing, sustainment, research and development or supply chain activity.

You will assist in progressing defence related investment projects through the delivery pipeline, working with colleagues across MOD, wider government – including DBT and the Office for Investment in the UK - and external partners. This will involve coordinating inputs, tracking progress against milestones, flagging risks and supporting delivery to agreed timescales.

You will help maintain accurate records of investment activity, ensuring project information such as scope, timelines and anticipated outcomes is recorded using stakeholder and customer relationship management systems.

The role will also involve gathering and logging intelligence from engagement with US defence companies, including views on policy, regulatory or operational issues affecting investment decisions. You will support information sharing across MOD and other departments to inform policy development and senior advice. The role will involve close collaboration with DBT teams at post, especially across civil advanced manufacturing and capital investment (Venture Capital and Private Equity) in defence‑related equities.

The postholder should be able to attend events outside of office hours and undertake travel in the US and internationally up to 20% of the time.

Essential on arrival:

• Strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to be professional, confident, and able to deal with interlocutors at senior level.
• Team player.
• Excellent organisational skills, ability to multi-task and attention to detail.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Interest in the UK-U.S defence relationship.
• Able to gain the necessary security clearance required (we will support your application for this).
• Flexibility to work a varied schedule.
• Thorough knowledge of the Defence and/or Security industries, major companies, and trends in the US and preferably in the UK.
• Experience working with external stakeholders or partners, showing professionalism and good judgement.
• Must hold one of the following passports: UK, US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand.
• Must be able to attend events outside of office hours and undertake travel in the US and internationally up to 20% of your time.

Language requirements:

Language: English

Level of language required: Expert

Desirable qualifications, skills and experience

• Experience working in a government or embassy environment.
• Evidence of adaptability and flexibility when working to changing priorities.
• The ability to understand new or complex information and summarise it in a clear, structured way.
• Understanding of the UK investment environment and UK government policy in this area.