Africa And Middle East Trade Specialist

Position Overview

This position serves as the Africa and Middle East Trade Specialist for the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity’s Office of Trade and Investment (OTI). The Africa and Middle East Trade Specialist (PSA option 1) will cover a designated geographic territory* and counsel Illinois businesses in export opportunities and strategies to successfully navigate export growth in a market(s) within the territory. The Africa and Middle East Trade Specialist manages all program responsibilities to execute annual group trade missions to international trade shows; presents OTI programs and services to business representatives, associations, and government audiences; and acts as the content expert on the Africa and Middle East region for the Bureau.

* Africa and Middle East include: Algeria, Angola, Bahrain, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo (Democratic Republic of the Congo), Congo (Republic of the Congo), Côte d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia (Republic of the), Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Qatar, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Swaziland (Eswatini), Tanzania (United Republic of), Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Essential Functions

• Confers and connects with regional market staff to identify Illinois industries and services that have the greatest export potential in the assigned region.


• Maintains current Africa and Middle East market and industry information, economic  trends and international trade policies in order to develop and advise management on long term strategies and goals for marketing and promoting Illinois products and services.


• Provides international marketing expertise to Illinois companies to export their products and services to Africa and Middle East regions.


• Represents the OTI, DCEO and the State of Illinois at both public and private organization meetings and at international events with foreign dignitaries and representatives from Illinois’ international community.


• Maintains and tracks client/company information and program activity data in order to measure program results, activities, goals and objectives.


• Performs other duties as required or assigned which are reasonably within the scope of the duties enumerated above.

Minimum Qualifications

• Requires knowledge, skill, and mental development equivalent to completion of four (4) years of college, preferably with courses in business or public administration. 


• Requires prior experience equivalent to three (3) years of progressively responsible administrative experience in a public or business organization, preferably in the field of international marketing. 

Preferred Qualifications

• Prefer three (3) years or more experience working as an international trade consultant performing duties such as market research or business lead generation with focus on Africa and Middle East. 


• Prefer three (3) years or more experience in sales, marketing, business development or business counseling with a focus on international markets. 


• Prefer two (2) years or more experience collecting and analyzing data, developing recommendations, and presenting to executive leadership.


• Prefer two (2) years or more experience in sales, marketing, business development or business counseling with a focus on domestic markets. 


• Prefer two (2) years or more experience with end-to-end trade show management including planning, managing and executing programs and budgets.


• Prefer two (2) years or more experience with end-to-end accountability (owning, managing, and delivering) for multiple projects simultaneously.


• Prefer two (2) years or more experience in public facing role that includes presenting or promoting both in domestic and international settings.


• Prefers intermediate-level experience in the utilization of spreadsheet software, document creation, email, and cloud-based platforms, including Data analysis, dynamic formatting, workflow tracking, and file collaboration.

Conditions of Employment

• Requires completion of a background check and self-disclosure of criminal history.


• Requires appropriate, valid driver’s license.


• Requires ability to travel both domestically and internationally in the performance of duties, with overnight stays as appropriate.


• Overtime is a condition of employment, and you may be requested or required/mandated to work overtime including scheduled, unscheduled, or last-minute overtime. This may require the ability to work evenings and weekends.


• This position has been found to meet the requirements in section 4A-101 of the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act requiring the occupant/employee to file a Statement of Economic Interest. The Illinois Governmental Ethics Act (5 ILCS 420/4A et seq.) requires certain state officials and employees to file annual Statements of Economic Interest with the Office of the Secretary of State that will be made available for examination and copying by the public. All employees required to file a Statement of Economic Interest are also required to file the Supplemental Statement of Economic Interest with the Executive Ethics Commission. (See Executive Order 15-09) Fines and penalties apply to untimely filings.


• Certain provisions of the revolving door restrictions contained in 5 ILCS 430/5-45 apply to this position. As a result, the employee should be aware that if offered non-State employment during state employment or within one year immediately after ending State employment, the employee shall, prior to accepting any such non-State employment offer, notify the Office of the Executive Inspector General for the Agencies of the Illinois Governor (OEIG) or may be subject to a fine.

The conditions of employment listed here are incorporated and related to any of the job duties as listed in the job description.

About the Agency

The mission of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) is to create equitable economic opportunities across the State of Illinois. By attracting and supporting major job creators, investing in communities, strengthening Illinois’ world-class workforce, fostering innovation, and ushering in the new clean energy economy, DCEO works to fortify Illinois’ reputation as a global economic powerhouse while ensuring Illinois is the best state to live, work and do business.