View Vacancy - Senior Trade Adviser – Technology Sector- C4, Bengaluru

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 identity, 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.
Department for International Trade roles (DIT)
DIT

Note: All applicants are required to mandatorily fill the complete online application form including the employment and educational details, motivational segment and the competency based questions. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Please note that due to Covid-19 outbreak, the start date of employment mentioned in the advert is tentative, subject to normal business of British High Commission. All recruitment campaigns will remain open for applications, we will progress the recruitment process as swiftly as possible and continue to review all applications, monitor progress and developments. We will be in touch with you for the interviews/ should there be further updates on the application, however given the circumstances, kindly expect some delay in response and please reach out to SAAD.Recruit@fco.gov.uk if you have any further questions.

Main purpose of job:

Background: Based in the British Deputy High Commission in Bengaluru, this role is an exciting opportunity to work with business and government in an international setting, within an India-wide Technology team at the UK Department for International Trade (DIT). DIT secures UK and global prosperity by promoting and financing international trade and investment, and championing free trade, and will soon start negotiating a new Free Trade Agreement with India.

Technology/IT is a vital sector for the UK-India trading relationship. The Technology team covers sectors such as Artificial Intelligence, Software-as-a-Service, Emerging Technologies and and other related areas. This is a large and challenging area to operate in but one with plenty of opportunity for India and UK collaboration. 

The incumbent will be expected to focus specifically on developing a pipeline of UK export projects and wider market development in sub-sectors such as AI, SaaS, and Block-chain, as well as supporting the sector and cluster manager with in Bengaluru.

As a Senior Trade Officer, you will be responsible for leading and effectively delivering events, strategies and activities based in  Karnataka/Kerala for the Technology sector. You will also be responsible for establishing and maintaining relations with companies, trade associations, and multipliers. The job entails working closely with and supporting your colleagues in the wider team.

The job holder will have to work on the three pillars: Commercial opportunities, Market Development and Market Access in order to achieve this. You will bring with you, or demonstrate how you would quickly acquire, an in-depth knowledge of the Technology sector, ideally both in the UK and India.  You will support a strategy based on this knowledge to turn the long-term potential of the sector into a pipeline of opportunities for UK business.  To do so, you will identify and build relationships within the sector and build a pipeline of validated projects for UK business, particularly large or high-value deals which would require UK government support or involvement to win.  You will then work with the DIT team in the UK and in other markets to bring UK companies to India and support them to win business, delivering towards the UK government’s commercial targets and wider trade objectives.

Your role will be high profile and with responsibility.  You will be a voice for the UK government and industry in the sector; you will be expected to gain access to the most senior levels within Indian industry and government if necessary using Her Majesty’s Trade Commissioner, Deputy High Commissioners and other senior staff throughout India.  You will be a self-starter who can demonstrate a long-term objective; plan and manage a delivery model; identify, grow and make effective use of stakeholders.   You will work with colleagues within DIT in India and elsewhere, with other UK government colleagues, Indian government(s), business and other multipliers (trade associations, etc.).

The team in DIT focuses on:

  • Supporting UK Technology exports to India across sectors; providing advice and assistance to UK companies looking to invest and operate in India; identifying commercial partnership opportunities, both in the UK and India.
  • Key responsibilities will include supporting current and future scoping of export opportunities for UK business, including public tenders, if any, at every stage from facilitating introductions of organisations through to the winning of contracts/closing of deals and identifying trade policy and market access issues and leading on discussions to overcome these.

As a part of this role, the job holder will:

Market development and Business opportunities (60%)

  • Create, validate, plan and deliver a strategy for enhancing the bilateral trading relationship within the Technology sector, and within related sub-sectors. 
  • Identify, validate and deliver a pipeline of high value projects and opportunities; plan and deliver activities to connect UK business to these opportunities and provide bespoke support to UK companies to win business.  In doing so, meet DIT’s internal targets (trade policy, strategic relationship management business wins, return on investment and customer satisfaction/quality).
  • Within the Digital Economy team, build and manage senior level relationships with companies, government departments, trade associations and multipliers in the UK and Western India.
  • Research and Identify high-value export opportunities for the UK companies, support UK companies to get access to these opportunities and win significant contracts in India.
  • Assist UK companies to increase exports to and invest in India, find new partners and safeguard investments; and identify new opportunities in areas such as asset management,
  • Support overseas direct investments from UK companies in India;
  • Work in close coordination with various stakeholders such as the wider DIT and UK network in India, DIT teams in HQ, International Trade Advisers, senior-decision makers of Technology companies in the UK and India, and various departments of Government at the State and Central levels to deliver DIT sector campaign and wider HMG objectives;

Market Access and Policy Support (30%)

  • Work with trade policy and market access colleagues to overcome trade barriers being faced by UK companies;

Delegations and Ministerial Visits (10%)

  • Support UK business delegations visiting India and Indian business delegations visiting the UK by organising various events and meetings;
  • Support senior managers, including UK Ministers, HM Trade Commissioner and other senior management, providing them with high-quality briefing and advice with an aim to strengthen relationships with senior local contacts and further facilitate towards achieving the objectives of the team and DIT;
  • Lead and effectively deliver events and activities based in  Karnataka & Kerala;

To be successful:

  1. You will have an in depth understanding of the Technology sector - knowledge of both in India and the UK context and a strong network on the ground would be preferred. You will use your good analytical skills to apply this to identifying significant market opportunities for UK business and then supporting them to turn these in to opportunities;
  2. You will need to be strategically aware to identify emerging opportunities in the sector, as well as relevant trends in the UK and emerging potential exports and investments into India;
  3. You will have strong interpersonal skills and be capable of setting the direction for yourself and those around you, gaining their trust and respect - while working within a virtual team located across India;
  4. You will have experience of developing productive relationships with senior decision-makers, stakeholders and partners, and of using these to deliver your objectives; and
  5. You will need to be collaborative and flexible, and able to manage yourself and the demands on you.
  6. You will have good project management skills to deliver campaigns; and excellent English written and verbal communication skills. You will be expected to produce written work in to a high standard.

Qualifications:

Graduate/post graduate. Candidates without the required educational qualifications but with exceptional practical experience will be considered.

Experience:

  • Minimum of 5 years of relevant commercial/business/government experience
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills with an ability to develop a network and manage the relationship with senior decision makers in government and industry
  • Strong analytical and problem-solving skills to search out significant opportunities for UK business.
  • Tried and tested project management skills
  • Excellent interpersonal, team working and people management skills
  • Basic understanding of the Technology sector

Language requirements:

Language: English, Kannada, Malayalam

Level of language required: Excellent spoken and written English and, spoken Kannada/Malayalam is desirable

  • An in-depth understanding of the sector and a strong network in the sector in India
  • Experience of dealing with senior level decision makers in corporate organisations and state governments
  • Experience of working in the UK; knowledge of the business environment and of UK business related policies.
  • Marketing and presentational skills
  • Experience of working in trade/export promotion
2 February 2022
Higher Executive Officer (HEO)
Full-time, Permanent
40
South Asia & Afghanistan
India
Bangalore
British Deputy High Commission
1
INR
INR 110,484 per month + 12% PF + 6% Superannuation fund
1 March 2022

For British High Commission (BHC) candidates, the Local Staff BHC Terms & Conditions will apply. 

For other than BHC candidates, salary will be ­­­­­­INR 110,484 per month plus 12% provident fund and 6% Superannuation Fund.

Additionally the BHC offers a great benefits package that includes annual domiciliary medical cover, plus a Group Hospitalisation Scheme with Rs. 500,000 floater cover for your immediate family. 

Please note - BHC does not deduct tax at source and employees are required to ensure that any requirements of local income-tax law are complied with in full. Employees who are not liable to pay local income tax on their Mission salary, eg. some non-local national staff and some spouses or partners of UK diplomatic staff, will have their salaries abated by an equivalent amount.    

The BHC is recognised as a good employer, with a robust, fair and transparent performance management & appraisal system linked to increments and staff bonuses. We have a 5-days working week, plus annual leave, public holidays, maternity leave provision, special leave, paid sick leave provision; ample development opportunities, travel opportunities, a good organisational culture, and excellent work/life balance. 

Around half of our work force is women.  We treat people with respect and equality and have a policy of zero tolerance for any form of discrimination, bullying, or harassment. 

This is a good opportunity to be part of a strong, diverse team, working in the biggest network that FCDO has anywhere across the globe.  We are aiming to make it the best.

To Apply: 

Please note applications without (a) and (b) will not be considered.

A.    Complete the Online Application Form

B.    Complete the Motivation and Competency Segment in the Online Application Form

Internal candidates applying for this position need to upload their appraisal forms for the previous 2 years (if applicable) and also inform their current line managers, else the applications will not be considered.

We will accept only online applications by 02nd February 2022 (latest by 23:55 hours IST).

Please note that all the applicants will be required to strictly adhere to the security guidelines for British High Commission

Employees who are not liable to pay local income tax on their Mission salary may have their salaries reduced by the equivalent local income tax amount. 

Please note - Provident Fund Transfer in and out from EPFO is not possible as BHC PF is managed by a private PF trust governed by Indian Income Tax Act, 1961. The staff still has the option to transfer out and in from a privately held PF trust which are not governed by EPFO.

Applicants who do not have the required qualification & experience should kindly abstain from applying, as their applications will not be considered.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and no telephone enquires will be dealt with.

The appointment will be subject to Police Verification and other checks including references, medical, educational and professional.

We welcome all applications irrespective of age, race, colour, gender, disability, sexual orientation, religion, belief or creed. We are also open to applications from people who want to work flexibly.

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.