View Vacancy - Trade & Investment Associate - Life Sciences

Background:
Department for International Trade (DIT) is the United Kingdom’s international business development agency. (See https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-international-trade for further information.)

Working closely with DIT Headquarters in London, our Investment Services Team, and other departmental agencies in the UK, together with representatives of Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales, DIT Washington drives transatlantic trade and foreign investment into the UK. Comprising 125 staff across 9 US offices, the team benchmarks progress against an aggressive set of trade and investment benchmarks in various sectors, such as Financial & Business Services, Life Sciences & Healthcare, Digital & Creative Media, Security, Energy, Clean Technology, ICT and Aid-Funded Business. The Trade and Investment Associate will report to the Trade and Investment Officer for Life Sciences in Washington, and is part of the DIT USA Life Sciences & Healthcare Team. We define the Life Sciences/Healthcare Sector as covering pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, medical devices and health IT.

The advertised post, based at the British Embassy in Washington DC, is for a Trade and Investment Associate (TIA) supporting the Washington DC’s Trade and Investment Officer for Life Sciences & Healthcare. He/she will work as part of a team responsible for the Life Sciences & Healthcare sectors in the Mid-Atlantic and Southern regions of the United States, engaging with clients in an 11 state patch, including the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, as well as Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Delaware, North and South Carolina, Tennessee, Florida, Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi. Activities will include assisting UK life sciences companies looking to enter or grow their business in the US (i.e. ‘trade’), and helping innovative US life sciences companies to capitalise on R&D and commercial opportunities in the UK (i.e. ‘investment’).

As part of the overall scope and responsibilities of the role, the successful candidate will be required to attend official functions outside of office hours and to undertake domestic travel in the role, as well as a limited amount of international travel to the UK.

Duties and Responsibilities:
• Conduct research and compile reports on life sciences and healthcare industry developments, best routes to market, and potential US business partners and contacts for UK companies operating in the sector and considering US market entrance;
• Undertake proactive research and marketing efforts to identify potential investors to the UK in the life sciences and healthcare sector. This includes making initial contact, compiling visit programs, planning and attending company meetings, writing up company briefings and meeting note, as well as a significant administrative function in our CRM system.
• Develop knowledge of key trends and developments in the sector in both the US and UK.
• Build and manage a database of key contacts in the industry.
• Assist with initiatives such as incoming and outgoing trade missions, seminars, panel discussions, receptions and other events to promote the UK’s strengths in the Life Sciences & Healthcare sector and its subsectors. Contribute when necessary to administrative and logistical support for event participation.
• Provide operational and administrative support to the Trade & Investment Officer and to the wider DIT team as and when required.
• Liaise with both internal teams and external contacts at an executive level.

Additional duties may include:
• Maintain a strong knowledge and understanding of US Federal Government agencies, inter-department relationships and procurement policies; develop and maintain relationships with US Dept. of Health and Human Services and related agencies.
• Represent the Embassy and/or DIT at networking events both during normal business hours and in evenings/mornings as needed.
• Assist with Embassy support services in times of crisis

• A minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in relevant field
• 3-5 years professional experience in international business, preferably with a proven track record of fostering strong business relationships.
• Ability and credibility to deal with companies/organizations at a senior level in person and over the phone, with a proven track record of fostering business relationships.
• Excellent research and report writing skills – with an ability to provide clear, concise summaries and to respond to ad hoc requests at short notice using databases and other information sources.
• Proactive self-starter, able to prioritize and effectively manage multiple tasks.
• Attention to detail and good follow up discipline.
• Strong and enthusiastic networking skills.
• Committed team player.
• Comfortable with initiating and handling introductory calls to relevant companies.
• Knowledge of the business environments in the UK and US
• Excellent organizational skills; proactive approach to work.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced team and often under tight deadlines.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook) is essential, plus fluency with online and social media networks.
• Ability to undertake occasional travel within the US and the UK; ability to attend morning and evening events.

Under US State Department requirements, the Embassy may only employ, as non-diplomatic staff, persons who are US citizens, US Green Card holders or A or NATO visa holders with EAD cards*. If you hold a visa other than an A or NATO visa you are not currently eligible to work at the Embassy. Please refer to our website for information on exceptions to this policy at www.ukinusa.fco.gov.uk. All candidates will be subject to background checks and security clearance.

*A visas or NATO visas with EAD cards are acceptable at the Embassy, Consulates, and British Defence Staff (BDS) outposts. The UK Mission to the UN (UKMIS) accepts G visas.