View Vacancy - In-Market Food and Drink Specialist (FRA21.097)

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Other British Government Departments (Partners across Government, including UK Visas)
SDI (Scottish Development International)

Due to COVID-19, you may experience some delay in the progress of this recruitment campaign. We are working hard to minimise any disruption. You may find more information in the Additional Information section below.

The British Embassy in Paris is part of a worldwide network, representing British political, economic and consular interests overseas and is now looking to recruit an In-Market Food and Drink Specialist.

The purpose of the job is to increase and widen on-the-ground support available to Scottish companies operating in the Food and Drink industry, who have the ambition, capacity and capability to export their products and/or services into Europe and specifically into France. Additionally, to identify new opportunities and trends from the region and communicate these to Scottish companies.  

France is an important market for Scotland’s food and drink export market, and this post will see Scotland continue to have a dedicated post based in France to drive forward and grow exports to this market. This post will build on the existing team of international Food and Drink Specialists which SDI have had in place since 2015 and will adopt the same ways of working as a global team.

Main responsibilities will include:

  • Provision of trade advice and guidance to Scottish companies wishing to access markets in France within the Food and Drink sector;
  • Support Scottish companies with their market entry and growth strategies;
  • Develop and maintain market-specific relationships and networks with key industry organisations, buyers, and networks in the region;
  • Work with sector colleagues in Scotland to identify and deliver specific in-market trade opportunities;
  • Gathering market intelligence and data through appropriate mechanisms and reporting back insights, opportunities, trends and findings to sector teams, companies, and partners as appropriate;
  • Help to build Scotland’s reputation and profile in-market through developing targeted activity leading to the achievement of the longer-term strategic objectives for the sector;
  • Support the development and maintenance of good working relationships with key partners and organisations, stakeholder networks, trade press and business contacts throughout France and in Scotland;
  • Lead in the development of market plans, feeding into the sector operating plan, and participate/lead (as appropriate) in the project teams for all international market events (physical and virtual) taking place in France;
  • Highlight opportunities to expand exports as part of a cross-sector approach and work with relevant partners to deliver.
  • Fluency in French and English (both oral and written, minimum C1 level*);
  • Knowledge and understanding of the Food and Drink sector, or must be able to demonstrate the ability to quickly acquire the requisite level of specialist knowledge to engage credibly with senior industry representatives in the sector;
  • Strong customer relationship management skills;
  • Strong communication skills, and must be IT literate and comfortable using MS Office as well as CRM systems;
  • Business development as well as research and analytical skills acquired in an international market development context;
  • Strong team-working ability with experience of working in a multi-partnership context;
  • Exceptional planning and organisational skills, ability to work independently, apply initiative, and work under pressure to meet multiple and changing priorities, deadlines, and objectives;
  • Strong team-working ability with experience of working in a multi-partnership context;
  • Ability to work to agreed targets in terms of conducting research and arranging logistics;
  • Excellent interpersonal skills. Ability to maintain a range of contacts to build effective working relationships, and work closely with senior staff and their contacts.

Other information

  • Working with a wide variety of colleagues and partners, the role will be focussed on supporting company growth within an international context and will often be required to work autonomously away from our main office locations;
  • Potential travel to Scotland for training and sector development activities;
  • Post COVID attendance at evening and weekend events will sometimes be a feature of this role.
  • Experience of working in an international trade environment;
  • Knowledge and experience of working in France.
13 April 2021
Higher Executive Officer (HEO)
Full-time, Permanent
35
Europe, Eastern Europe & Central Asia
France
Paris
British Embassy
1
EUR
5,088 gross
1 July 2021

This is a full-time and permanent position.

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.

Visa/work permit requirements: Candidates 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 that it is your responsibility to ensure you meet the legal requirements to live and work in this country.

Please note that the deadline for applications is 23:55 on the day mentioned in the above field “Application deadline”.

We advise you to allow enough time to complete and submit your full application, since only applications completed and submitted before the deadline will be considered.

Please be aware that the deadline for submitting applications is considered to be the time zone for the country where the vacancy has arisen.

Please be advised that the British Embassy will not be able to meet the travel costs incurred when travelling to the interview, nor the costs connected with relocation if offered a position.

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.

Additional Information (due to Covid 19):

  • You may experience some delay in the progress of this recruitment campaign and we are working hard to minimise any disruption;
  • Interviews will be done remotely if the existing situation determines this to be the right course of action;

  • Starting date may be delayed depending on circumstances at the time and it will be agreed with the selected candidate.

Please be aware that you will only be able to apply to vacancies for Country Based Staff roles with the British Government through this official tal.net site (operated by Oleeo). Jobs may be advertised on third party websites, however our adverts will always link back to the official tal.net site. If you complete and send an application through any other site, we will not receive it.

This opportunity is closed to applications.