View Vacancy - AUH - Trade & Investment Advisor, Life Sciences C4(L)

The British Embassy in Abu Dhabi has a vacancy for a Trade & Investment Advisor, Life Sciences.

We are looking for a highly capable individual to deliver a high standard of trade and investment support to British companies looking to enter or expand their presence in the UAE market. The jobholder will be the Department for International Trade’s (DIT) lead adviser for the UAE on Life Sciences and will work within the Healthcare and Life Science Cluster.

This is a key senior role in the team and this position will see you exposed to Ministers and CEOs of large companies and NHS Healthcare Trusts, and therefore strong communication skills and a high level of resilience and persistence are essential; alongside excellent drafting skills and the ability to turn around work quickly and under pressure. The role also involves working closely with senior managers to ensure that the DIT team provides first class support to UK companies looking to work and trade in the UAE.

Duties and responsibilities:

– Major project work

• Lead on Government-to-Government activity such as Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) and policy development.
• Lead on scoping opportunities in the life sciences sector for major projects in which UK businesses might successfully bid, leading to export wins for UK companies.
• Obtain the latest information on commercial projects and promote UK strengths in the sectors.
• Work with HealthcareUK (part of DIT) in the UK.
• Country lead on DIT activities during Arab Health and other relevant Trade Shows and Trade Missions.
• Develop and maintain a Strategic Relationship Management (SRM) approach for key interlocutors in the assigned sector, enabling other DIT staff and the wider Embassy access for extensive, up-to-date key documents/ information for key ministries/ companies in the UAE.
• Working with DIT teams in the region as part of the Healthcare and Life Science Cluster.

– Business development

• Maintain, build and proactively develop strategic contacts with key stakeholders in the market in order to identify new commercial opportunities as they arise and promote UK strengths in life sciences.
• Foster relationships between UK businesses and local stakeholders.
• Develop partnerships and support the UAE British Business Group and the UK/UAE Business Council working group, including attending networking events in and out of hours.
• Working individually, with International Trade Advisors based in UK or through use of DIT services, mentor new and experienced UK exporters through the implementation of new strategies and plans to increase their trade activity in the market and connect them with key stakeholders.
• Provide market access advice and, where required, work with Prosperity Team colleagues towards elimination of barriers to trade for UK plc in the market.
• Undertake visits to the UK for promotion of market opportunities in the life sciences sector.
• Prepare annual business plans and strategies for the sector and regularly update sector reports.
• Making presentations at seminars and other DIT events in the UAE and UK and contribute to in-market briefings to promote UK expertise in the sector.
• Develop partnerships with DIT regional offices, DIT Sectors Group, Chambers of Commerce and Trade Associations.
• Provide written and oral briefing for high level visits quickly whilst under pressure.
• Devise and run with VIP programmes for Ministers and senior DIT staff visits.

– DIT service delivery

• Work closely with Healthcare UAE market specialist based in Dubai, UKEF (UK Export Finance) Counsellor and the HealthcareUK team based in the UK to keep pipeline opportunities information and progress updated, agree action and share key insights with regional colleagues.
• Work closely with the UAE healthcare lead on cross-cutting projects and opportunities.
• Generate export wins, export opportunities, and other metrics for UK companies to contribute towards DIT targets.
• Provide senior level support, advice, and insight regarding the commercial environment in the UAE in the life sciences sector.
• Represent the commercial viewpoint of the British Embassy beyond the DIT team, across the Embassy and externally.
• Work with DIT’s delivery partner in market – referring relevant companies to the partner and liaising with them on areas of mutual benefit.
• Management of DIT events in the UAE including exhibitions, seminars, market visits, and supervision of programmes for UK delegates visiting the market.
• Work closely with the Expo 2020 lead on projects of mutual interest.
• Work closely with the Expo 2020 lead on design opportunities in the run up to, during, and legacy after the event.
• Occasionally support events in the sector and the wider DIT team.

– Wider Embassy activities

• Contribute towards wider Embassy activities.
• Assist the Embassy team in making arrangements for VVIP visits as required.

Key competencies required:

• Managing a Quality Service - Being organised to deliver service objectives and striving to improve the quality of service, taking account of diverse customer needs and requirements. Creating an environment to deliver operational excellence and creating the most appropriate and cost effective delivery models for public services, and effectively planning, organising and managing time and activities to deliver a high quality and efficient service.
• Collaborating and Partnering - Creating and maintaining positive, professional and trusting working relationships with a wide range of people within and outside the organisation to help get business done. Delivering business objectives through creating an inclusive environment, encouraging collaboration and building effective partnerships with colleagues and stakeholders, whilst having the confidence to challenge assumptions.
• Making Effective Decisions - Using sound judgement, evidence, and knowledge to provide accurate, expert and professional advice and evaluating options before arriving at well-reasoned, justifiable decisions. Creating evidence-based strategies, evaluating options, impacts, risks and solutions, and aiming to maximise return while minimising risk and balancing social, political, financial, economic and environmental considerations to provide sustainable outcomes.
• Engaging Internationally – Representing and Advancing UK interests and policies, have a working knowledge of country context and local sensitivities, negotiate effectively combining logic and reason with interpersonal sensitively, seek to create solutions offering mutual benefits, anticipate problems and be able to respond to the unexpected, value and model professional expertise and show pride and passion for our work.

• Excellent interpersonal skills and able to influence and network confidently with industry leaders, government officials, and senior business people;
• Excellent communication skills (both written and spoken) in English;
• Team player who is capable of working on their own initiative and manage others;
• Have a proven record of organisational ability;
• Excellent IT skills.