View Vacancy - Trade and Investment Associate – Consumer Goods

Main purpose of job

An opportunity to join a dynamic team focused on fostering transatlantic business relations between the US and its top economic partner in Europe.

The UK’s Department for International Trade (DIT) has overall responsibility for promoting UK trade across the world and attracting foreign investment to our economy. We are a specialised government body with responsibility for negotiating international trade policy, supporting business, as well as delivering an outward-looking trade diplomacy strategy.

DIT USA works closely with DIT headquarters in London, with related agencies in the UK and with representatives of the English Regions and the UK’s Devolved Administrations in the US, to assist US companies looking to invest in the UK and help UK companies identify opportunities to trade with the US (see www.gov.uk/DIT).

Based in the British Consulate-General, Chicago, 50% of this position provides operational and administrative support to the Trade and Investment Officer (TIO) for Consumer Goods. This team creates UK jobs and will be helping UK exporters identify export opportunities and achieve business across a wide range of consumer goods, focussing specifically on Food & Drink and Retail (and all of the related sub-sectors). In addition, the team looks to identify key decision-makers and business development opportunities with US companies, in the retail space, looking to grow their activities overseas (in the UK).

The other 50% of this role will provide strategic coordinative support to the North America Consumer Goods Head of Sector who is based in Toronto Canada, and who leads the North American teams for Food & Drink and Retail. This part of the role will support the overall functioning of the integrated North America team by coordinating the sector’s information management, internal processes, communications and certain strategic national/continental projects where relevant.

Roles and responsibilities

This job has targets and a multi-tasker is a priority. We are looking for someone who is excited by the opportunities the retail economy offers and who has an interest in food & drink and retail.

Support to Central USA Trade & Investment Officer:

• Work with a Trade & Investment Officer (TIO) to identify export opportunities for market ready UK companies in the food & drink, retail, luxury, fashion, beauty, giftware, interiors and consumer goods space, and to support US retailers looking to expand into the UK market
• Conduct research and compile reports on industry developments, best routes to market and potential U.S. business partners for UK consumer goods exporters (especially in premium categories) looking to enter the U.S. market
• Working with the TIO to champion the UK’s food & drink/retail strategies and to develop/deliver activities that increase awareness of UK consumer brands and help UK exporters achieve business
• Identify key decision makers and business opportunities with US companies, in the retail space, looking to establish or grow their presence in the UK
• Make initial contact, organize visit programmes and schedule meetings for the Consumer Goods TIO. Attend meetings where appropriate and support the management of client relationships
• Assist with initiatives such as trade missions, seminars, webinars, receptions and other events to promote the UK’s strengths in consumer goods. Provide event management and logistical support where necessary
• Maintain client relationship management records, lists of industry contacts and other data
• Liaise with internal teams and external contacts at an executive level, including cold calls and networking at events
• Support and facilitate visits by senior government officials and other VIPs, including by organising logistics and scheduling company meetings
• Provide operational and administrative support to the Consumer Goods TIO
• Develop, maintain, and disseminate knowledge of developments, trends, and opportunities, in the consumer goods sector in both the US and the UK, with a particular focus on food and beverages, household goods, fashion, leisure, and luxury goods
• Build and maintain a healthy pipeline of investment leads
• Manage initiatives such as industry-focused seminars, webinars, receptions and other events to promote the UK’s strengths in the sector
• Routinely monitor regular and social media to source new business opportunities
• Undertake occasional travel in the U.S. and the UK (up to 5% of the time)
  

Support to North America Consumer Goods Head of Sector:

• Coordinate and track inbound multi-post trade enquiries, playing a key role in supporting multi-post collaboration with trade accounts and supply mapping
• Organise and maintain key internal sector information management systems such as the Consumer Goods Master Planner, the sector calendar and MS Teams site
• Provide administrative and coordinative support on US and North American projects, including Food is GREAT campaign initiatives, prosperity bids and federal trade policy inputs
• Draft and disseminate sector communications internally and where relevant, externally
• Track and consolidate business development budgets and expenditures
• Support Head of Sector on management information returns and sector briefing where appropriate
• Make initial contact, organize visit programmes and schedule calls for the Consumer Goods HoS with UK/US stakeholders where relevant. Attend meetings where appropriate and support the management of stakeholder relationships

Responsibilities will include working on budget returns, leading as coordinator for national sector initiatives, helping prepare returns for the Head of Sector, managing the Consumer Goods Master Planning Document which includes pipeline, supply and demand mapping, account management plans and the team calendar.

• Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in a relevant field
• 1-3 years relevant work experience in business development/economic development
• Familiarity with both the US and the UK business environments is highly desirable
• Ability to be proactive, organized and able to work to deadlines, prioritize and multi-task independently or in support of senior staff
• Strong communication (oral and written) skills, including excellent research ability, reading comprehension and topical summary skills
• Attention to detail, good follow up discipline, proof reading skills
• Strong numeracy skills /experience tracking budgets
• 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 work in a fast-paced team and often under tight deadlines
• Computer literacy in standard Microsoft applications
• Ability to undertake occasional travel within the US and the UK and to attend early morning and evening events

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.