View Vacancy - FDI Project Manager – Food/Logistics (FRA19.125)
The British Embassy in Paris is part of a world-wide network, representing British political, economic and consular interests overseas. It is also part of the UK’s France Network (including offices in Lyon, Bordeaux and Marseille and representation to international organisations in Paris (OECD and UNESCO) and Strasbourg (CoE).
The British Embassy is currently looking for a Project Manager to join the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) team.
The successful candidate will strengthen and reinforce our FDI team in France, providing Strategic Relationship Management (SRM) support in consumer and industrial areas anchored around food & drink, transport & logistics, agriculture and agri-tech and construction. This would include identifying and building relationships with French companies that could be new investors in the UK, or that could benefit from additional support to grow an existing business in the UK. The post-holder will join a high-performing FDI team and work in collaboration with DIT HQ and FDI teams in the UK - ensuring that local priorities align with the bigger organisational context - and with other FDI colleagues across DIT’s Europe network.
The main responsibilities will include:
Delivery: Introduction and implementation of robust and future-proof strategic relationship management of and support for French companies in transport & logistics, agriculture & agri-tech, food & drink and construction.
Resources: Propose, discuss, agree and implement SRM plans for each selected company: taking personal initiative, securing buy-in and ensuring cooperation with all relevant colleagues.
Capture: Ensuring local SRM data, knowledge, activities and plans are captured, while sharing those with the relevant account team and key stakeholders.
Strategy: Using all means available to deliver successfully FDI projects including cooperation with the France senior leadership team, VIP contacts, key stakeholders, HQ/Post colleagues and policy teams for efficient account management. Identify, suggest, plan and deliver strategic activities engaging the client throughout the ‘life’ of the account plan.
Communication: As required by the FDI team, build solid rapport with key clients in order to increase their interest in information about UK market solutions, policy and regulatory changes. Create a thorough understanding of the local team’s client requirements; enabling anticipation of specific client requests and establishment of trust and loyalty in the relationship.
Synergies: Operational alignment with overall DIT SRM Strategy & regional European initiates and actions where cross border cooperation can maximise opportunities & results for the UK economy. Active and constructive engagement in regional activities to identify best SRM practice and increase synergies for UK promotional activity and impact.
Personal: Demonstrate personal ambition for DIT’s FDI team including the ability to maximise resource, introduce innovative ideas and enhance capabilities leading to increased performance and effectiveness.
Flexibility: Seamless integration into the existing FDI team at Post, delivery of general FDI-related work including lead generation, investment meetings, event organisation and delivery, VIP visits and related briefing and reporting according to FDI requirements at Post.
The role will require occasional travel within France, the UK and the rest of Europe.
Fluency in English and French (both written and spoken, minimum of C2 level for CEFR framework*);
Excellent organisational, communication and team working skills;
Interpersonal skills;
Experience in account / relationship management;
Proven project management/SRM credentials;
Ability to build rapport at all levels internally and externally;
Strategic thinking;
Big picture thinking;
Analytical skills, including effective use of Excel and CRM tools;
2 to 5 years of relevant experience.
Project management certificate;
Knowledge of UK strengths at country and regional level;
Experience with and awareness of the FDI sales cycle;
Existing relevant sector knowledge in food & drink, logistics, agri-tech or construction.
This is a full-time fixed-term position of 12 months with the possibility of extension.
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://www.cjn.justice.gouv.fr/cjn/b3/eje20 ), 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.
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.
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://www.cjn.justice.gouv.fr/cjn/b3/eje20 ), 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.
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.
* Please note Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, Teaching, Assessment indicates Level C2 as Mastery or proficiency Level which comprehends that a person can understand with ease virtually everything heard or read; can summarize information from different spoken and written sources, reconstructing arguments and accounts in a coherent presentation; can express themselves spontaneously, very fluently and precisely, differentiating finer shades of meaning even in the most complex situations. For more information please click on the following link CEFR. Please bear in mind in case you are invited for an interview your languages skills are going to be assessed.
This opportunity is closed to applications.
