View Vacancy - Business Development Associate

The British Consulate-General in San Francisco has an opportunity to join a dynamic and high performing team, fostering transatlantic business relations between the US and its top economic partner in Europe.

Background: 

The Department for International Trade (DIT) is the United Kingdom Government’s international trade arm charged with transatlantic trade development between the UK and the US and with assisting US companies looking to invest in the UK.  Our USA DIT team consists of 140 members of staff spread across 9 different offices. This is a dynamic team that focuses on various sectors including financial services, life sciences, digital and creative media, security, and clean technology.

Based in California, the successful applicants will be a part of the 17 person DIT team responsible for the Northern California area and Pacific Northwest region. The successful candidate will report directly to the Head of Trade and Investment.  This is a fast moving environment that requires an individual to be flexible, organised, efficient and the ability to operate at pace.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide administrative support including organising travel, managing schedules, and providing support on the execution of high level delegations.
• Assist with the organization and execution of networking receptions, events, informational seminars, trade missions, panel discussions, and other initiatives designed to develop business between the US and the UK.
• Assist with reporting on team management targets and support to the Head on client relationship management needs. The position supports team-wide monitoring and profiling of local and marketing budgets, trade and invest reporting and research, marketing materials, business planning, and various office duties. Perform support function on wider team initiatives as requested by the Head of the team.
• Manage and support DIT marketing initiatives for the team.
• Conduct research and compile reports on industry developments, best routes to market and potential US business partners for UK companies operating in assigned sectors that are looking to enter the US market.
• Support the head of the team with monthly budget reporting and forecasting, responsibility for processing the team’s large transactions through the financial system.
• Provide support for GBx, an external network of British CEOs and entrepreneurs, as needed.
• Arranging meetings, writing reports, handling administrative tasks such as booking flights, hotels and scanning business cards and maintaining the CRM.
• Liaise with both internal teams and external contacts at an executive level.
• Build and manage a database of key contacts in the industry.
• Undertake occasional travel in the U.S. and the UK (up to 10% of the time, ca. four weeks).

• A bachelor’s degree linked to the technology sector, or a bachelor’s degree in business, economics, international marketing, or communications.
• 3-5 years relevant work experience in business development/economic development.
• Knowledge of the business environment in the UK and US is highly desirable.
• Ability to be proactive, strategic, organized and able to work to deadlines, prioritize and multi-task independently or in support of senior staff.
• Courteous, professional and experienced in dealing with senior level representatives of various organizations.
• Strong communication (oral and written) skills, including excellent research ability, reading comprehension and topical summary skills.
• Ability and credibility to deal with companies/organizations at a senior level in person and over the phone, with a proven track record of fostering business relationships.
• Ability to provide clear, concise summaries and to respond to ad hoc requests at short notice using databases and other information sources.
• A self-starter - able to work independently and show initiative with limited day-to-day supervision while operating as part of a wider US/UK team (with wide-ranging objectives)
• Ability to work in a fast-paced team and often under tight deadlines.
• Computer literacy in standard Microsoft applications.
• Valid driving license and ability to undertake air travel including overnight stays.

Under US State Department requirements, the Embassy may only employ, as non-diplomatic staff, persons who are US citizens, US Green Card holders or A or NATO visa holders with EAD cards*.

If you hold a visa other than an A or NATO visa you are not currently eligible to work at the Embassy.  Please refer to our website for information on exceptions to this policy at www.gov.uk/government/world/usa.  All candidates will be subject to background checks and security clearance.