View Vacancy - Trade Officer- Chemicals and Life Sciences - B3

Main purpose of job: 

The Department for International Trade (DIT), operating from the British High Commission network, is looking to fill a vacancy in our trade team at the British Deputy High Commission in Ahmedabad. The primary role will be to assist UK companies in the sectors of Chemicals, Healthcare and Life sciences to do business in India, with the possibility of working across other priority sectors for DIT.  The individual will have to work on the three pillars: Market development, Market Access and Commercial opportunities in order to achieve this.

The role would include management of strategic relationships with industry contacts, and relevant Government departments in Gujarat, including updating our internal SRM tools. The job holder will also be expected to support with internal official visits and events, and trade delegations.

Gujarat is one of the leading states in Chemicals manufacturing and provides base to several industries. Along with Chemicals, Healthcare and Life Sciences industry which comprises of Pharmaceuticals, Medical Technology, and Digital Health, are key focus areas for DIT in India.

Working with your manager and colleagues, you will identify and develop an extensive range of contacts in businesses, trade and other government organisations in these sectors, to seek out opportunities for UK businesses, thereby contributing to DIT trade targets.

You will also be a part of the wider virtual Chemicals, Healthcare & Life sciences sector team in India, reporting to the Senior Trade Officer, and will need to be a self-starter, able to manage your own time effectively, evaluating options, impacts, risks and solutions – knowing when and how to seek advice from others.  You will also be expected to make a positive contribution to the wider DIT and One-HMG (Her Majesty’s Government) team in India.

You will be based out of British Deputy High Commission in Ahmedabad.

The job holder will require

• To liaise with senior management of Chemical companies, industry and trade associations, Indian hospitals, pharmaceuticals, medical devices and diagnostics in Gujarat, and develop a key account management strategy.
• To identify opportunities for trade between UK and India in the above mentioned areas, and build a pipeline for your region.
• To ensure delivery of targets including, Export Wins, Service Deliveries, Overseas Direct Investment.
• To identify market access barriers for UK companies, and work with trade policy team on resolving them.
• To update internal SRM tools, and extract and disseminate required information to team members.
• To contribute and deliver on planned marketing activities to promote UK Chemicals, Healthcare and Life sciences companies.
• Build and manage senior level relationship with Chemical companies in UK and India

Roles and responsibilities:

Identifying companies in Chemicals, Healthcare and Life Sciences who may be sources of opportunities for UK companies, delivering a pipeline of export opportunities for the UK in Gujarat. Support UK companies looking to invest in India where agreed (case-by-case basis), support our trade policy objectives for the sector (e.g. identifying and tackling market access barriers); and support work on longer term strategic priorities. In doing so, contribute to delivering DIT’s agreed ambitions for export and overseas direct investment wins, and other metrics for the sectors e.g. customer satisfaction/quality, formulating and managing a stakeholder engagement plan to visit these companies.

Ability to communicate with clarity, conviction, integrity and enthusiasm, keeping internal and external stakeholders informed at all times. Updating relevant and useful sector export/ business opportunities and other information on internal SRM tools.

Ability to work cross sectors if needed, and support wider UK Government objectives, including delivery on events, Ministerial/VIP visits and activities, and trade delegations.

Language requirements:

Language:      English, Hindi, Gujarati (desirable)

Level of language required:       Fluent 

Qualifications:

Graduate/post-graduate. Candidates without the required educational qualifications but with exceptional practical experience will be considered.

Experience:

• Minimum 5 of years of relevant commercial/business experience.
• An understanding of Chemicals, Healthcare and Life Sciences sector, with an ability to quickly develop contacts in the sector.
• Strong analytical skills to search out significant opportunities for UK business.
• Excellent interpersonal, team working and communication skills.
• Ability to deal with senior level decision makers in the business world.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with an ability to develop a network and manage the relationship with senior decision makers in Government and Industry;
• IT competent: Skilled at using social media to gather information efficiently.  Highly competent in standard MS Office tools, such as Word, Outlook, PowerPoint and Excel

Desirable:

• Experience of working in trade/investment promotion.
• Experience of working in Chemicals sector, hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, diagnostic laboratories and medical device companies in India or the UK is an added advantage.
• Experience of working as part of a dispersed team.
• Marketing and presentational skills.
• Knowledge about UK business environment or experience of working/living in the UK;
• Graduate/Postgraduate qualification in Business Administration, Management, Economics and Commerce;