View Vacancy - Senior Trade and Investment Adviser (Pharma & Biotech) (DIT Barcelona) / ESP22.600

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.
Department for International Trade roles (DIT)
DIT

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 British Embassy in Spain is part of a world-wide network, representing British political, economic and consular interests overseas and is now recruiting for the position of Senior Trade and Investment Adviser (Pharma & Biotech), based in Barcelona, Spain.

The Senior Trade and Investment Adviser will be responsible for leading on the promotion of closer commercial ties between the UK and Spain in the Pharma and Biotech sector. This involves raising the profile of the UK sector, supporting UK companies’ exports to Spain, attracting and supporting Spanish pharma and biotech companies to set up and expand operations in the UK, and identifying and removing barriers to trade in this key strategic sector.

It includes significant autonomy to set strategic direction and priorities. The role will require close collaboration with DIT and Policy colleagues in the wider Spain network, and in the UK and Europe, especially with other members of life sciences teams in DIT Madrid and DIT Bilbao, developing regional strategies as required. 

The role is based in the British Consulate-General Barcelona, reporting directly to the Director of DIT Barcelona. The Senior Trade and Investment Adviser may be called upon to deputise for the Director of DIT Barcelona in senior management meetings and at external events.

Roles and responsibilities:

  • Lead DIT Spain work on the Pharma and Biotech sector, providing strategic oversight and coordinating work of the Spain virtual sector team. Using high level of sector expertise and own critical judgement, identify, plan and deliver activities, projects and events related to the sector, with responsibility for managing an allocated financial budget and related reporting. Manage workstreams to ensure activity is in line with objectives and strategy.
  • The main contact and representative of DIT Spain on issues related to Pharma and Biotech, for liaison with partners across government (the British Embassy Spain Network, DIT Europe, DIT HQ, Science and Innovation Network, and across Whitehall, e.g. BEIS) and important external stakeholders covering industry, institutions and government (including high value companies, clusters, associations such as ASEBIO, FarmaIndustria, chambers of commerce and all levels of government including government agencies, such as, BioCat (Catalunya) ,BioGa (Galicia), etc…
  • Promote UK strengths across Spain, including showcasing the UK as a thought leader, science superpower and business-friendly market, presenting UK opportunities in the priority subsectors within Pharma and Biotech, such as drug discovery and development, vaccines, clinical trials, cell and gene therapy and other advanced therapies, and small molecules. This includes leading activities and developing relationships with clusters, associations and companies in the Pharma and biotech sector in regions across Spain.
  • Support UK business in Pharma and Biotech sector in Spain. Engage with new UK exporters and account manage those with a Spanish presence to support their expansion, providing professional advice on exporting/market entry/expansion, utilising up to date knowledge of market conditions and maintaining strong local contact networks of buyers, distributors and multipliers. This work will be done in close co-ordination with DIT Madrid and Bilbao life sciences colleagues to ensure optimal outcomes. The Senior Trade and Investment Adviser will use sector expertise to identify opportunities in the Spanish market, such as needs for speciality services in clinical trials, or opportunities for British companies (e.g. contract research organisations) to sell their speciality research products and services (e.g. in drug discovery or therapeutics) to Spanish buyers.
  • Identify and support new and existing Spanish investors in the UK Pharma and Biotech sector, providing compelling arguments for investment and expansion in the UK using knowledge of UK capabilities and developing and managing a portfolio of active potential investment projects using strong relationship management techniques. Manage key account relationships with CEOs and senior contacts of major Spanish corporates that have an interest in the UK.
  • Provide verbal and written briefings, as well as drafting letters and speeches in English or Spanish for the Ambassador, senior officials or ministers for engagement in meetings and at sector events. Accompany Ambassador, senior officials and ministers and provide strategic and tactical advice using high level of sector expertise, to maximise impact of engagement towards achieving commercial objectives. Develop engagement plans for Ambassador to support sector objectives.
  • Work alongside UK and European colleagues to bid for regional funds, organise regional events and participate in sectoral business forums, with additional focus on supporting and representing UK trade and thought leadership at international congresses that take place in Spain, such as World Vaccines Congress, and around pharma/biotech clusters in Barcelona and Madrid and across Spain.
  • Identify market access issues and barriers that are hindering UK exports to Spain in the Pharma and Biotech sector. Work closely with Embassy’s market access and public policy officers to provide advice to companies and resolve barriers, including through engagement and influence with Spanish authorities.
  • Line management of a permanent Trade & Investment Adviser as well as an Intern in some years. Responsible for performance of these staff and the delivery of their objectives, through strong leadership, motivation, coaching, training and performance management processes, as well as leading on any recruitment campaigns for these jobs.
  • Contribute to the learning and development of staff under line management, as well as the wider DIT Spain team. Use sector expertise to upskill the rest of the team so that they are able to read across from this sector to their own work, allowing them to identify and capture more commercial opportunities.
  • Deputise for the Director of DIT Barcelona when called upon, including day-to-day management of the team when the Director is absent, and representing DIT Barcelona in meetings with senior leaders from DIT Europe and British Embassy Spain, as well as in external events and trade shows.


  • Fluency at C1 level in English and Spanish according to CEFR Framework;
  • At least 5 years’ experience with a successful track record in international trade, investment, or business development;
  • High level of knowledge and expertise of the Pharma and Biotech sector in the UK and/or Spain;
  • A strong understanding of the policy and regulatory framework of the Pharma and Biotech sector in the UK and/or Spain;
  • Experience managing and being accountable for multiple budgets;
  • Ability to work at pace, independently, and prioritising projects, often managing a heavy workload;
  • Successful experience in building and maintaining effective networks and working relationships at senior business levels;
  • Excellent communication and influencing skills, using appropriate styles, methods and channels;
  • A sound knowledge of the business environment in Spain and the UK;
  • Excellent organisational, IT, administrative, and public presentation skills.
  • An existing network of business contacts in the Pharma and Biotech sector in the UK and/or Spain;
  • Experience promoting trade and investment in a Government/public sector body;
  • Proven ability to manage high-quality delivery advice to companies in a fast-moving environment;
  • Catalan language skills would be a minor advantage.
Seeing the Big Picture, Delivering at Pace, Communicating and Influencing, Working Together
28 November 2022
Higher Executive Officer (HEO)
Full-time, Permanent
37.5hrs
Europe, Eastern Europe & Central Asia
Spain
Barcelona
British Embassy
1
EUR
55,009.83 annual salary
15 January 2023

This is an (HEO) grade, full-time, permanent contract. The working hours are 37.5 hours per week, following the Embassy hybrid working policy, which allows for remote working for up to two days a week on average.,

The successful candidate is subject to a confirmation of a background check, security clearance and the successful completion of a probationary period.

The successful candidate will be enrolled in the Spanish Social Security Scheme and will therefore not be entitled to any gratuity from the Embassy based on gross annual salary.

The Embassy is a Diplomatic Mission with tax exempt status and does not collect taxes for other States. Employees are fully responsible for payment of income tax at the legally required rate. Staff recruited locally by the British Embassy in Spain are subject to terms and conditions of service according to local Spanish employment law.

Visa/work permit requirements: Candidates must currently hold the independent right to live and work in Spain and be prepared to ensure that right remains throughout the scope of the contract.

Please note that it is your responsibility to ensure you meet the legal requirements to live and work in this country.

Please note that the deadline for applications is 23:55 on the day mentioned in the above field “Application deadline”.

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.

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

FCDO does not pay for travel related expense incurred in interviews (including Security Check) or accept any financial risk, including cancelation or reschedule costs. The FCDO will not meet the costs connected with relocation if offered a position.

*Please note for more information on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, Teaching, Assessment levels please click on the following link CEFR. Please bear in mind in case you are invited for an interview your language skill is going to be assessed. 

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.