View Vacancy - SH - Senior Trade & Investment Officer, Healthcare and Life Sciences (LSHSC), B3(L)

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 Department for International Trade (DIT) embraces and values diversity in all forms. We welcome and pride ourselves on the positive impact diversity has on the work we do, and we promote equality of opportunity throughout the organisation. DIT China would value applications from people from the widest possible diversity of background, culture, experience and gender. 

Main purpose of job:

This is an important role within the Life Science, Health and Social Care Directorate at the Department of International Trade (DIT) China. Working with the Healthcare and Life Sciences (LSHC) team, you will be responsible for growing UK trade and investment in China. This exciting role is for a proactive, dynamic and enthusiastic individual, at the heart of advancing the directorate’s market access ambitions that form a key part of the Department for International Trade (DIT) Regional Trade Plan for the China and Hong Kong region, which are:

Objective 1 - Driving and inspiring UK exports to China, significantly increasing the UK market share of China's goods imports, and more than double the value of UK services exports.

Objective 2 - Strengthened trade policy engagement with China to achieve incremental market access, mitigate business risk and prepare for future trade deals

Objective 3 - Broadening and deepening the UK-China investment partnership, positioning the UK as the top European destination for Chinese investment and providing strong support for UK investors.

The Department for International Trade (DIT) operates in 108 countries. Establishing new relationships around the globe, DIT promotes British trade to ensure the UK takes advantage of the huge opportunities open to us, securing and improving economic well-being, stability, and helping to create tens of thousands of jobs.

DIT has one of the largest representations of the 18 government departments working in China, which are coordinated and led by Her Majesty’s Ambassador who is responsible for the UK’s relationship with China.

Her Majesty’s Trade Commissioner (HMTC) is responsible for Trade and Investment work in China, one of nine global regions and the largest DIT overseas network in the world. With c.190 staff across six posts - Beijing, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chongqing and Wuhan – DIT, as part of the UK government network in China offers a fast-paced place to work at the heart of UK-China Government relations.

Detail:

Your main role is to win business for the UK in China’s Life Sciences and healthcare (LS HC) sectors and help secure new and increased investment from China to the UK. This role is particularly suited to those with experience of China’s life science industry.

Key functions of the job:

  • Identify opportunities in China market for UK LS HC companies, with a particular focus on medical devices and technologies, to secure export success.
  • Research and develop a network of influential relationships with key Chinese Life Science and healthcare companies that have the potential to set-up in the UK and achieve Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) success, working with the head of LS & HC investment.
  • Expand ties with government, industry bodies and business clients in China and the UK, (notably Healthcare UK), to develop a pipeline of trade opportunities and overseas investment interests in healthcare. Work with colleagues in China and the UK to match these with UK capability and strategic strengths.

Roles and responsibilities / what will the jobholder be expected to achieve:

Delivering strategic trade and investment opportunities: 50%

  • Support the delivery of export success through existing opportunities and projects, management of UK LS HC trade missions to China, and account management of individual UK firms to support their business in China.
  • Lead regional work for the medical devices and technology sector, within a national medical devices team.
  • Identify and land Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) projects from Chinese healthcare companies, setting up in the UK, working with the head of investment for LS & HC.
  • Develop a personal understanding of the key Chinese companies and organisations in China in these sectors, including their capability, interests, and opportunities for collaboration.
  • Work with sector colleagues around China and the UK to raise awareness of opportunities through relevant channels, and draw on their expertise and activities where they can help to support objectives.
  • Develop an understanding of the healthy ageing sub-sector, with a particular focus on the medical devices opportunities.

Effective Relationship Management: 20%

  • Build an effective network of relationships with senior leaders in key companies and organisations in China and the UK, including intermediaries, trade associations, and government departments, understanding their strategic intentions and business needs.
  • Foster long-term, working level government-to-government contacts, and facilitate high level engagement with more complex/senior relationships as appropriate.
  • Maintain a close working relationship with sector team members in other posts, other teams, and partners;
  • Be flexible to the wider needs of the team between consulates and between policy, prosperity and trade to ensure that you are an effective team member supporting the wider team goals.
  • Support the SRO for Healthy Ageing to develop a strong working relationship with other DIT LS HC sector teams, UK Government stakeholders such as S&T and the health policy and programmes team, to develop a whole of China offer to UK industry in the ageing sector.

High impact visits and events: 15%

  • Develop propositions for high-level visits from UK to China and from China to the UK that complement and support the delivery of the Healthcare sector strategy.
  • Plan and manage the delivery and follow up of important visit programmes, engaging with key contacts in government and businesses, and other networks as appropriate. Provide timely, high-quality briefing and reports.

Policy: 10%

  • Trade policy – develop a clear understanding of the barriers for UK companies operating in China in the medical devices sector and support strategies that improve market access for UK companies.
  • Health policy – support UK – China collaboration on health policy with a particular regard to healthy ageing.

Knowledge & Skills Development: 5%

  • Undertake continuous learning and development, including on-the-job opportunities to deepen knowledge and understanding of the healthcare sector, the UK capability landscape, and the regional business environment, learning from others across government and the wider teams, as well as formal training courses.

Resources managed (staff and expenditure):

None, but you will have a high level of autonomy for managing your work schedule. The role will require frequent travel within your regions of China, as well as some travel across wider China, occasionally to UK/Europe, and you will manage your own travel and subsistence expenditure in accordance with guidelines and under the advice of your line manager.

Essential on arrival:

  • Commercial experience, in government or private sector
  • Strong interpersonal skills, including written and verbal presentation and communication skills
  • Ability to work across teams and stakeholders based across multiple locations
  • Bachelors degree or above is preferred
  • 4-5 years relevant working experience, in either private or public sector roles, preferred.
  • Previous experience in the health sector will be advantageous.
18 January 2021
Executive Officer (EO)
Fixed Term, Full-time
35
24 months
Asia Pacific
China
Shanghai
British Consulate General
1
CNY
Chinese: CNY 19,096 ; British: CNY 26,443
29 March 2021
28 March 2023

We offer a competitive package, which includes basic salary, good leave entitlement, and insurance plan, etc. The gross starting salary (before all deductions) for this position is RMB 19,096/ month for Mainland China Nationals and an abated monthly salary of RMB 26,443/ month for British Nationals and spouses/ partners (all nationalities) of diplomats who are ‘W’ (diplomatic) visa holders and meet passport criteria.

We also offer excellent development opportunities and a 22-day annual leave entitlement in pro rata. Conditioned working hours is 35 hours/ week from Monday to Friday and flexible working can be arranged upon personal needs. For more details on our Total Rewards Package, please visit our website http://www.gov.uk/government/world/china.

Any other information (or specific local Post requirements):

No accommodation or relocation expenses are payable in connection with this position. You must have or be able to obtain a local work permit

Staff recruited locally by the British Embassy are subject to terms and conditions of service according to local employment law. 

Employment offers are subject to successful clearance of pre-employment checks. Only short-listed applications will be called for personal interviews.

The Embassy is an equal opportunities employer and does not discriminate on grounds of ethnic origin, race, religious beliefs, age, disability, gender or sexual orientation.


Learning and development opportunities (and any specific training courses to be completed):

There is plenty of opportunity to develop on and off the job, and to establish expertise and build capability. We are strongly supportive of the job holder continuing to develop their investment and trade professionalism.

In addition, opportunities and activities include:

- Courses and learning modules offered through the International Trade Profession and Diplomatic Academy.

- Attending external events and conferences hosted by academic institutions, business chambers, etc

- Learning and Development programmes, which have recently included leadership, line management, effective remote working and trade policy.

- Opportunities for job shadowing across the network.

- An individual bid fund providing funding to support more tailored learning and development needs.

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.

The start date mentioned in the job advert is a tentative start date and the successful candidate will be required to undergo security vetting procedures. Any offer of employment will be subject to the candidate achieving suitable clearances.

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.