View Vacancy - Trade Officer (Food & Drink / Rail & Infrastructure), British Consulate General Vancouver

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)
Department for International Trade (DIT)

Main purpose of job

An opportunity to join a dynamic team focused on fostering transatlantic business relations between Canada and the UK.

The Department for International Trade (DIT) is the UK Government department charged with securing UK and global prosperity by promoting international trade and investment, and championing free trade.  In Canada and the United States, DIT works closely with other UK agencies, including the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), to:

  • Promote British trade and investment across the world;
  • Build global appetite for British goods and services;
  • Break down barriers to trade and investment in order to help businesses succeed; and
  • Support the development of a new trade policy framework for the UK as it leaves the EU.

The British Consulate in Vancouver is seeking a Trade Officer, with a primary focus on the Food and Drink sector and secondary focus on the Rail/Infrastructure sector. The Officer will be based at the British Consulate in Vancouver and work as part of the Consulate team and part of a North American-wide virtual team.  There will be direct line management responsibilities for a maximum of 1 person.

As a Trade Officer, you will work with Senior Trade Officers to increase UK food and drink and UK rail/infrastructure exports to Western Canada by breaking down market access barriers and positioning the UK as a leading source of quality products and services in these areas.  With the support of the Canadian sector leads, you will assist in the development and implementation of trade promotion strategies to deliver millions of pounds of UK exports to Canada each year.  Your remit will focus on:

  • Building Canadian demand for UK Food & Drink and Rail/Infrastructure products and services through business development;
  • Educating UK companies on how to efficiently access the Canadian market;
  • Undertaking B2B and B2C Food & Drink and Rail/Infrastructure promotions to increase UK product profile; and
  • Supporting UK companies on market access issues.

This is a multi-disciplinary role and the successful candidate will be pivoting between business development, marketing and trade policy work.  It also provides scope for creativity and working across teams.

Main duties are:

  • With support from the sector lead and using the North America Food & Drink business plan as a guide, develop and implement a Western Canada (BC, AB, SK and MB) strategy to increase UK Food and Drink exports in collaboration with the Canada sector lead.
  • With the Canada Rail/Infrastructure business plan as a guide, assist the Western Canada Rail/Infrastructure lead (Calgary) develop and implement a regional strategy to identify, update, maintain information and contacts, as part of a project pipeline of Rail-related infrastructure projects in BC and AB.
  • Provide comprehensive account management to UK-based Food & Drink and Rail/Infrastructure companies, providing detailed market guidance, market entry strategies, channelling them to relevant opportunities in-market to help them develop and/or increase their business in Canada.
  • Develop and maintain a comprehensive network of business contacts in the Food & Drink sector (e.g. buyers, distributors, agents, influencers, government contacts, etc.) and the Rail/Infrastructure sector (e.g. public and private sector, trade associations, etc.) to support business development efforts, leveraging other colleagues, including the Consul General to support effective networking.
  • Champion the UK Food & Drink and Rail/Infrastructure strengths and effectively persuade Canadian buyers to consider UK products and work with UK suppliers.
  • Build and maintain expert knowledge of developments and trends in the Food & Drink and Rail/Infrastructure sectors to anticipate and address emerging sector opportunities and challenges.
  • Help organise and execute the delivery of Food & Drink and Rail/Infrastructure activities, which may include, trade missions, buyer visits, seminars, networking receptions, webinars and other initiatives in Western Canada.
  • Attend key business events to promote UK capabilities and support UK suppliers.
  • Draft written contributions for research reports, briefings and internal reporting purposes.
  • Manage administrative tasks such as updating databases, file storage and organisation, scheduling meetings, and other similar duties.
  • Attend official functions outside of office hours and undertake occasional travel in both North America and the UK.

Resources managed (staff and expenditure):

Direct line management of 1x A2.

Essential on arrival:

  • Bachelor’s degree, or higher, in a relevant field such as international trade, business or the equivalent experience gained in industry.
  • 2-3 years’ work experience in Canada in a professional and client-focused environment, and in particular in a relevant public and/or private sector, economic or business development capacity.
  • Direct or relevant industry experience that can be applied to the Food & Drink and/or Infrastructure sectors.
  • Fluency in English, including excellent and oral communication skills intended for a business audience.
  • Experience and ability to work in a deadline driven environment with a demanding workload and competing priorities in a calm, efficient and professional manner.
  • Proactive self-starter with the desire to find new business/opportunities/contacts and develop/maintain our network.
  • Positive team player with a flexible approach to work.
  • Strong project management and organisations skills, attentiveness to detail and good follow-up discipline.
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications.
  • Ability to undertake occasional travel and work outside of regular work hours.

Desirable:

  • Familiarity with or knowledge of the UK.
  • Experience in B2B business development, export promotion, sales, category management or importing.
  • Research and analytical skills.
  • Professional experience in international trade.
  • Experience of managing staff.
20 October 2019
Executive Officer (EO)
Full-time, Permanent
37.5
Americas, Caribbean & Overseas Territories
Canada
Vancouver
British Consulate General
1
CAD
$60,610.54
6 January 2020

You must have the legal status to live and work in Canada.

The British Embassy Network offers a strong benefits package.  This package includes generous vacation and leave time, flexible working patterns, and an enriching learning and development opportunities.

Learning and development opportunities

The Canada network promotes a learning culture in which each member of our team is encouraged and supported (including through funding) to develop professionally, through a combination of formal training, coaching, mentoring and peer learning, and on the job experience.

Working patterns

This position is suitable for occasional work from home and open to a case being made for other flexible work patterns.

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.