View Vacancy - Trade & Investment Officer – Life Sciences

The Department for International Trade (DIT) Abu Dhabi invites applications for the position of Trade & Investment Officer, Life Sciences - Grade A2 (L). This is a challenging support officer position designed to support the sector lead deliver a High Value Campaign and also to flex to work on current team priorities.

The Role:

Based in Abu Dhabi, the successful candidate will work closely with senior managers to help ensure that the DIT team provide first class support to UK companies.  They will also provide support to the Trade and Investment Advisor for the Life Science sector.

The successful candidate’s role will be to support the delivery of a high value campaign to maximise export wins for UK companies. 

This position will have a key role in enabling greater trade between the UK and the UAE which is a high-growth market for DIT.

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

• Managing a small number of key stakeholders; building close working relationships and arranging regular meetings to share information about business opportunities and upcoming events.
• Monthly checks of team stakeholder management and arranging appointments as necessary.
• Organising receptions and other events as required by customers to launch their products or offices in the UAE. This is a chargeable service and involves logistical arrangements and organising guest lists and locations, catering etc.
• Organising events listed on the high value campaign as part of the UK’s export strategy.
• Arranging the marketing aspects of high value campaign events i.e. correct branding on invitations, arranging branding for the event, preparing tweets to send from the event, taking photos at the event and preparing a short write up of the event objectives to publicise it.
• Making arrangements for official visitors. These can range from ministers, members of the Royal Family and senior officials. Arrangements usually involve a programme of appointments, social events and transport and can involve a significant amount of preparation (up to 6 weeks before the visit). Work on such visits usually requires working with local authorities and Government. Drafting related protocol notes.
• Meeting visiting UK businesspeople and briefing on the Life Sciences sector in the UAE. This will include background on the market, advice on setting up business here, and sector-specific information.

• Participation in the arrangements for visiting UK trade missions including administrative arrangements and contributions to briefing packs, attendance at briefings and highlighting areas of opportunity in the UAE to members of the mission.
• Visiting local companies in the UAE to keep abreast of business opportunities and developing contacts.
• Finding and posting export opportunities on the DIT Website every month. Dealing with UK company responses.
• Responding to enquiries from local companies seeking information about potential contacts in the UK.

• On occasion, attending out of hours social networking functions.
• Take part in the Embassy emergency planning and any response to a Crisis affecting UK citizens.

Key Competencies:

• Collaborating and Partnering - People skilled in this area create and maintain positive, professional and trusting working relationships with a wide range of people within and outside the Civil Service to help get business done.
• Managing a Quality Service - Effectiveness in this area is about being organized to deliver service objectives and striving to improve the quality of service, taking account of diverse customer needs and requirements.
• Making Effective Decisions - Effectiveness in this area is about being objective; using sound judgment, evidence and knowledge to provide accurate, expert and professional advice.
• Leading and Communicating - Effectiveness in this area is about leading from the front and communicating with clarity, conviction and enthusiasm.

Essential:

• Exceptional planning and organisational skills, the ability to work independently, apply initiative, problem solve and work under pressure to meet multiple and changing priorities, deadlines and objectives.
• Confident when dealing with senior government officials, visiting VIPs and high level private sector contacts.
• Excellent team player who can work on their own initiative with the ability to take a wider perspective.
• Excellent oral, written English and interpersonal skills.
• Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office packages and ability to adapt and get to grips with other systems.