View Vacancy - Trade and Investment Officer, Life Sciences, British Consulate General (San Francisco)
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, 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.
Be part of the Department for International Trade’s mission to drive more trade and investment between North America and the UK. With a mature, high spending consumer market and an open, liberal economy, world-class talent and a business-friendly regulatory environment, the UK is the leading destination for foreign investment in Europe, the second highest investment destination in the world and the world’s sixth largest exporter and the second largest services exporter.
We employ over 150 people across North America, all united by our vision of a future where we champion open and fair global trading that drives growth, creates better jobs and higher wages, and improves living standards in the UK and around the world. We seek talented team members with a passion and drive to help us promote exports to North America of British goods and services, two-way investment between the UK and North America, and mutual improved market access to help grow our bilateral trade (see www.gov.uk/DIT).
Main purpose of role
You will be part of two vibrant teams – the British Consulate team based in San Francisco and a healthcare and life sciences team located across North America. You will report to the Regional Director at the British Consulate General in San Francisco, and will line manage one associate. You will have responsibility for cultivating relationships with C-suite executives from leading healthcare providers and top biotech, health tech, medical device, and diagnostics companies based in the Bay Area and Seattle, WA. Your primary objective will be to generate and deliver projects that drive UK-US economic growth and improve health outcomes.
Roles and responsibilities
- Forge and maintain positive relationships with business leaders, trade associations, and other key partners within the healthcare and life sciences community both in the UK and the US to increase transatlantic trade and investment
- Develop US market opportunities and facilitate UK export growth by delivering business development activities to support UK Life Sciences companies, including virtual and in-person trade missions and campaigns at industry conferences
- Identify and support a pipeline of ambitious Foreign Direct Investment projects and provide account management to Pacific Northwest Headquartered companies looking to maintain or grow their footprint in the UK. Build R&D partnerships between US companies and the UK, and drive clinical trials to the UK
- Develop position and implement marketing strategies, social media posts, activities, and events to generate leads of potential UK investors, building relationships, and to highlight the UK as the leading centre for Life Sciences in Europe.
- Manage and/or support visits by senior UK government officials by securing high-level meetings, organising activities, and preparing briefing materials.
- Support UK economic growth and UK trade policy agenda, in collaboration with other UK government departments.
- Maintain knowledge of market, incentives, centres of excellence and best practice in both the US and the UK in the Life Sciences sector.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
Essential on arrival:
- Either a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience and knowledge in a Life Sciences, Sales or Marketing field.
- Demonstrated professional experience in a business, economic development or science role.
- Thorough knowledge of Life Sciences industry, major companies and trends in the Pacific Northwest region – and preferably in the UK.
- Excellent stakeholder management abilities.
- Excellent interpersonal, presentation and networking skills.
- Excellent management and collaboration skills with the ability to deliver results.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Excellent organizational skills and meticulous attention to detail.
- Ability to multitask and complete work while traveling.
- An understanding of international relations and UK Government policy preferred.
- Driving license.
- Must be able to attend events outside of office hours and undertake travel in the US and internationally up to 10% of your time.
Learning and development opportunities (and any specific training courses to be completed):
- A wide variety of opportunities to learn about the life sciences and healthcare industry on the job
- Training courses administered by the UK government in areas such as presentation skills, business writing, project management, consultative selling, and the UK’s investment proposition
- Funding available to take external training courses
- Tuition reimbursement of up to $1,500 per year
- Induction program in UK in first year (subject to Covid-19 protocols)
Under US State Department requirements, the UK Government in the US may only employ, as non-diplomatic staff, persons who are US citizens, US Permanent Residents or A visa holders with EAD cards*. If you hold a visa other than an A visa you are not currently eligible to work at our office. Please refer to our website for information on exceptions to this policy at www.gov.uk/government/world/usa. All selected candidates are subject to background checks and will require a security clearance prior to starting work.
*A visas are acceptable at the Embassy and Consulates. The UK Mission to the UN (UKMIS) accepts G visas, and British Defense Staff (BDS) outposts accept A or NATO visas.
Any other information (or specific local Post requirements):
- Able to be located in/relocate to the San Francisco area.
- Be willing to undertake occasional travel domestically in the US and occasional international travel to the UK as health/safety measures allow.
- Be willing to represent DIT and the British Consulate at external functions (both during working hours and evenings).
The UK Government operating in the US offers a substantial benefits package including generous leave, a choice of medical insurance, 401(k) matching up to 7%, extensive learning opportunities and a great work/life balance.
Staff recruited locally are subject to terms and conditions of service in accordance with US, state, and/or local employment law.
Individuals who are not a US taxpaying citizen will be paid a net salary based on a simulated US tax status.
Internal candidates must inform their supervisor before they apply to a different position.
Only successful candidates will be contacted. Please no phone calls. Due to the high volume of resumes we receive, we cannot guarantee consideration of your application if the submission instructions are not properly followed.
Working Hours:
Working hours can be flexible around base office hours Monday – Friday 9.00 – 5:30.
This opportunity is closed to applications.
