View Vacancy - SH - Senior Intellectual Property Officer (Business Support), C4(L)

This is an important role spanning across two UK Government Departments, the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) and the Department for International Trade (DIT). You will play a key role in advancing the trade and investment ambitions articulated in the 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 – Consistent 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.

Intellectual Property Office
The UK Intellectual Property Office (IPO) is an executive agency of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS). The IPO is responsible for policy across all areas of IP, educating businesses and consumers about IP rights and responsibilities, supporting IP enforcement, and granting UK patents, trademarks and design rights. Led by a Chief Executive based in the UK, we are now a team of over 1,000, with offices in Newport and London and small overseas teams. In China, we have team of four, primarily focusing on influencing Chinese IP policy and supporting UK businesses with IP issues.

Department for International Trade

The Department for International Trade (DIT) was established by the Prime Minister in July 2016 to integrate and elevate the Trade agenda; help secure a better deal for the UK as it negotiates a successful exit from the EU; and, establish new relationships with other countries around the globe. DIT promotes British trade across the world and ensures the UK takes advantage of the huge opportunities open to us, securing and improving the economic well-being and stability of the UK, and helping to create tens of thousands of jobs every year.
Led by Her Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for China and Hong Kong we are one of nine global regions and part of an overseas network that operates in 108 countries. The largest DIT overseas network in the world, with 200 staff across six posts - the British Embassy in Beijing, plus Consulates in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chongqing and Wuhan – DIT, as part of the One HMG network in China and Hong Kong, offers a fast-paced place to work at the heart of UK-China Government relations.

Detail:

Based out of our Consulate General in Shanghai, the jobholder will lead on improving UK business intellectual property (IP) outcomes in China, by disseminating information, providing direct support to companies and industry associations, and delivering strategies to address systemic market access barriers. Working closely with colleagues at the DIT industry sector teams across China, the jobholder will also manage all partner relationships, and will deliver against IPO (MI) and DIT (Export Win) business support targets.

• [40%] Leadership of UK business support on intellectual property in China, including:

             1.) 1-2-1 support for UK businesses, through email communication, conference calls and face-to-face meetings) to help design appropriate market entry strategies, handle disputes and signpost to legal and other support services.

             2.) UK business outreach, through event presentations, newsletters and other communications, and managing partner relationships (e.g., with the China-Britain Business Council, CBBC, the Confederation of British Industries, CBI and others).

The role will include delivering support for business as a high-quality service, delivering against UK IPO and DIT China business support objectives.

• [40%] Lead on IP market access/business environment issues alongside DIT China sector teams and Trade Policy Unit (TPU). Ensure that bilateral dialogues, project funding and other channels are fully leveraged in securing medium/long-term, systemic change in priority areas for UK-China trade and investment. 
• [20%] Lead visit delivery and related government relations on IP in East China, including Shanghai, and Zhejiang, Jiangsu and Anhui provinces.

• Experience working with businesses to tackle market access and business environment challenges in overseas markets
• Strong written and spoken English language communication skills, to enable smooth communications with UK-based business stakeholders