Trade and Investment Officer, Technology, San Francisco

Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade; San Francisco (CA); Hybrid; USD 47,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous leave

Medical insurance

401(k) matching

Learning opportunities

Work-life balance

Job summary

Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade (BIST) seeks a Trade and Investment Officer for Technology based in San Francisco to build US partnerships and advance UK tech interests. You will cultivate relationships with C-suite leaders, support UK exporters, and drive opportunities across Northern California and the Pacific Northwest with a focus on R&D and market growth.

The role requires travel up to 10% and flexible hours to support events outside normal times.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated professional experience in a business, economic development, project management or client management role.
• Excellent time management skills with a proven ability to meet deadlines.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with a professional and helpful manner.
• Ability to undertake research and follow market trends to identify new opportunities.
• Excellent organisational skills and meticulous attention to detail.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• An interest in, or understanding of, the technology sector in the US and/or UK.
• Ability to use a variety of online and social media tools.
• Must be able to attend events outside of office hours and undertake travel in the US and internationally up to 10% of your time.

Responsibilities

• Identify and reach out to innovative companies in the Technology sector interested in establishing or expanding operations and R&D opportunities in the UK to build pipeline of ambitious foreign direct investment projects.
• Support the Senior Trade & Investment Officer/s and Deputy Sector Director, Technology in developing US market opportunities for a broad range of UK exporters.
• Keep pace with market trends, incentives, and centres of excellence in North America and the UK to identify commercial opportunities and provide informed advice to clients and stakeholders.
• Develop knowledge of the technology ecosystem in Northern California and Pacific Northwest region and the UK; keep up to date with the latest trends in emerging technologies.
• Support positive relationships with US and UK business leaders, trade associations and other key buyers/partners within the Technology industries.
• Support trade group visits and trade show events to foster economic opportunities for the UK and US.
• Support high‑profile visits, including UK Ministerial and VIP delegations through scheduling high‑level meetings, organising activities, and preparing briefing materials.
• Consult with clients to manage and coordinate client events.
• Support cross-team projects to advance UK prosperity and trade policy goals.
• Provide operational and administrative support including maintaining client and project databases.
• Assist in a consular crisis, if required.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Skills

Professional experience

Time management

Interpersonal skills

Research and trend analysis

Organisational skills

Written and verbal communication

Technology sector interest

Event attendance travel

Job description

Be part of the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade’s (BIST) mission to drive more trade and investment between North America and the UK. With a mature, high spending consumer market and an open, liberal economy, world-class talent and a business-friendly regulatory environment, the UK is the leading destination for foreign investment in Europe, and the second highest investment destination in the world. The UK tech ecosystem is valued at £1 trillion and ranks #1 in Europe for ecosystem size, venture capital investment and startup activity. This is an exciting opportunity to work at the heart of the US-UK technology corridor.

We employ over 130 people across North America, all dedicated to increasing economic growth to ensure businesses thrive, markets are competitive, and consumers are protected. We seek talented team members with the passion and drive to help us in our mission to build a global appetite for British goods and services; drive investment; negotiate trade deals and open markets; and promote free trade, economic security and resilient supply chains (see www.gov.uk/DBT).

Based at the British Consulate-General in San Francisco, the Trade and Investment Officer (TIO) for Technology sector will suport the technology team in building positive relationships with senior executives from companies in the Technology sector, across the Bay Area and Pacific Northwest region. In this role you will both cultivate relationships with C-suite executives from top companies while also supporting UK companies in their efforts to grow in the US market. This is an exciting opportunity to work with some of the most innovative and high‑profile global companies at the nexus of the world’s two leading technology economies.

You will be part of the North America Technology team as well as a valued contributor to the San Francisco based BIST team, working closely with colleagues from around the US and UK.

Roles and responsibilities:

• Identify and reach out to innovative companies in the Technology sector interested in establishing or expanding operations and R&D opportunities in the UK to build pipeline of ambitious foreign direct investment projects.
• Support the Senior Trade & Investment Officer/s and Deputy Sector Director, Technology in developing US market opportunities for a broad range of UK exporters.
• Keep pace with market trends, incentives, and centres of excellence in North America and the UK to identify commercial opportunities and provide informed advice to clients and stakeholders.
• Develop knowledge of the technology ecosystem in Northern California and Pacific Northwest region and the UK; keep up to date with the latest trends in emerging technologies.
• Support positive relationships with US and UK business leaders, trade associations and other key buyers/partners within the Technology industries.
• Support trade group visits and trade show events to foster economic opportunities for the UK and US.
• Support high‑profile visits, including UK Ministerial and VIP delegations through scheduling high‑level meetings, organising activities, and preparing briefing materials.
• Consult with clients to manage and coordinate client events.
• Support cross-team projects to advance UK prosperity and trade policy goals.
• Provide operational and administrative support including maintaining client and project databases.
• Assist in a consular crisis, if required.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Level of language required:

Essential on arrival:

• Demonstrated professional experience in a business, economic development, project management or client management role, ideally in a related sector.
• Excellent time management skills with a proven ability to meet deadlines.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with a professional and helpful manner.
• Ability to undertake research and follow market trends to identify new opportunities.
• Excellent organisational skills and meticulous attention to detail.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• An interest in, or understanding of, the technology sector in the US and/or UK.
• Ability to use a variety of online and social media tools.
• Must be able to attend events outside of office hours and undertake travel in the US and internationally up to 10% of your time.

As a valued member of our team, we will help you to achieve your goals through continuous professional development.

Required behaviours

Communicating and Influencing, Delivering at Pace, Managing a Quality Service, Working Together

6 September 2026

Grade

Executive Officer (EO)

Type of Position

Permanent

Working hours per week

40

Location (City)

Salary Currency

USD

$35.35 hourly

Start Date

30 November 2026

Other benefits and conditions of employment

All selected candidates are subject to background checks and will require a security clearance prior to starting work.

You must have the right to live and work in the US in order to take up this role, whether in your own right or as a dependant, and be able to demonstrate that when required. If you are not a US citizen, dual US citizen or US Permanent Resident, it is your responsibility check your eligibility to work for a foreign government in the United States, and specifically to work in this role at this location, and provide proof of your eligibility via an Employment Authorisation Document or other relevant document when required. The UK Government does not routinely sponsor work visas; the job advertisement will state clearly whether sponsorship is available.

You may refer to our website for additional information: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/living-in-the-usa.

Core Hours/Hybrid Working

While many jobs in the US Network are able to offer flexibility in terms of working hours, core business hours are 09:30 to 15:00 (in the local time zone) Monday through Friday.

Employees will be expected to work from office full-time during the first 90 days of employment. After this time employees may work from home no more than 40% of the working week, subject to operational needs.

All working hours and hybrid working are position specific and subject to change at any time, without notice. If you have any questions, please address them with the hiring manager.

Working Patterns

Be willing to represent DBT and the British Consulate at external functions (both during working hours and evenings).

Learning and Development

The British Embassy and its US Network is committed to all employee’s ongoing learning and development needs. We offer a comprehensive platform for personalised learning for everything from soft skill development (communicating with impact, handling difficult conversations, time management) to more technical or professional skills necessary to complete your job (software training, formal qualifications etc.).

The UK Government operating in the US offers a substantial benefits package including generous leave, a choice of medical insurance, 401(k) matching up to 7%, extensive learning opportunities and a great work/life balance.

Please note that the tax arrangements imposed by the US on staff working for foreign governments, as well as those imposed by the UK Treasury on British and dual nationals working for the UK Government overseas, are atypical. The UK Government cannot withhold taxes (including FICA) on behalf of a US taxpayer. Instead, a US taxpayer is required to file taxes as if they are self‑employed, and a FICA allowance is granted for those required to pay the employer contribution. Certain categories of staff (for example dual UK‑US nationals and some visa holders) who work at Consulates General are not subject to US taxes. For those not subject to US taxes the UK Government reduces gross pay to a level broadly equivalent to taxed net pay. There are also social security implications for dual UK‑US nationals. Please keep all this in mind when looking at the salary and the benefits package. If you are offered a job with the UK’s US Network you will be given further tax and social security information relevant to your personal circumstances and place of work; you are advised to consider this information and its impact on your circumstances carefully – potentially with the advice of a tax professional - before accepting a job.

Additional information

Closing date of receiving applications is before 23:55 (Local Time) on 06 October 2026.

All applicants must fully complete the online application form, including the sections for employment and educational details, experience, and behaviour-based questions. Only those applications that contain all required information will be considered. To ensure the sift process remains anonymous, please do not include any personally identifiable information in your application form.

Only successful candidates will be contacted. Please no phone calls. Due to the high volume of resumes we receive, we cannot guarantee consideration of your application if the submission instructions are not properly followed.

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.

Internal candidates must inform their supervisor before they apply to a different position.