View Vacancy - Business Development Manager – High Value Manufacturing (FRA19.624)
The British Embassy is looking to appoint a Business Development Manager to join its Department for International Trade (DIT) team on a one-year fixed-term contract to help drive Britain’s prosperity objectives in the high value manufacturing and advanced engineering sectors.
The Department for International Trade (DIT) promotes British trade and investment around the world; helps to build an appetite for British goods and services globally; and works to encourage foreign investment into the UK. DIT also brings together policy, promotion and financial expertise to break down barriers to trade & investment and to help businesses to succeed. The DIT team in France comprises 29 people in Paris, Lyon and Bordeaux. The team works with both French investors and British companies doing business in France across the main business sectors of the economy. For more information about DIT please follow the link.
The successful candidate will work closely with DIT colleagues in France and Europe to identify and support high potential trade and investment opportunities in the advanced engineering and manufacturing sectors: including automotive, aerospace, and rail. Central to the role will be the provision of high quality guidance and support to French and British businesses – especially strategic accounts, high-potential and innovative SMEs and Mid-Sized Businesses (MSBs). The successful candidate will provide targeted in-market introductions, conduct in-depth market research and analyse trade policy and market access issues to help achieve DIT’s objectives. Exploratory work on Industry 4.0, factories of the future and new manufacturing processes will also help frame the job holder's priorities. The job-holder will work closely and proactively with French and British business representatives and a range of other public/private sector interests to communicate high value opportunities to relevant stakeholders, especially in areas linked to the UK’s Industrial Strategy and traditional competitive strengths.
Close working with colleagues from across the Embassy in areas like policy, science & innovation and outreach, will be essential to help to maximise opportunities for the UK. The work will be varied and demanding and the successful candidate will need to be a flexible, committed self-starter, able to juggle priorities and to work on demanding timelines.
Roles and responsibilities:
Develop a business plan and strategy aimed at maximising the delivery of high-value trade and investment opportunities in the advanced engineering and manufacturing sectors, working closely with Embassy colleagues, business and other stakeholders.
Work closely with DIT colleagues in France and Europe as well as the wider HMG network, to identify, target and engage a strong pipeline of high potential French investors and UK export stakeholders.
Contribute to efforts to communicate prosperity opportunities in the UK market through organising or supporting sector-related activities and events, including inward and outward trade missions, visit programmes, workshops and webinars.
Lead on the account management of strategic companies, key clusters and trade associations across advanced engineering and manufacturing sectors to identify prosperity opportunities and provide feedback on any market access barriers to export opportunities in France.
Provide hands-on practical advice, support and guidance to French companies seeking to invest in the UK and to UK companies seeking to win business in France.
Excellent French and English language skills (written and spoken) are required.
Great IT skills, especially Word, PowerPoint and Excel, are needed.
Previous commercial experience would be useful – as would any hands-on advanced engineering and manufacturing sector (automotive, aerospace, rail) knowledge or experience.
Good project management, including an eye for detail, to ensure that all aspects of service delivery have been thought through carefully.
Customer focus: a concern for quality and drive for continuous improvement in the service provided.
Excellent communication skills to work well with commercial clients, external contacts and a wide and diverse Embassy team.
Drive and enthusiasm combined with the ability to deliver, working as part of a team.
Resourcefulness and ability to act on own initiative, with an ability to find creative solutions when the unexpected occurs.
This is a full-time, fixed-term position.
All appointments are subject to professional background check satisfactory security clearance. The successful applicant will be required to provide a copy of his/her passport or national identity card for all nationalities held, an up-to-date criminal record (casier judiciaire) for recent countries of residence (which can be obtained online at https://casier-judiciaire.justice.gouv.fr ), two written proofs of address (utility invoices and/or bank statements) and two references.
Staff recruited locally by the British Embassy in France are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local French employment law and FCO guidance for Local Staff. The posts we offer are not an entry point into the UK’s Diplomatic Service.
Your application will only be considered if you follow the guidance below:
- Your application must be sent in English only.
- Your application must clearly indicate all nationalities you hold.
Visa / Passport requirements: Candidates must currently hold the independent right to live and work in France and be prepared to ensure that right remains throughout the scope of the contract. Additional requirements may become necessary pending EU Exit. If requirements change additional eligibility information will be shared during the recruitment process.
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.
FCO does not pay for travel related expense incurred in interviews (including Security Check) or accept any financial risk, including cancelation or reschedule costs. The FCO will not meet the costs connected with relocation if offered a position.
This opportunity is closed to applications.
