View Vacancy - Senior Business Manager for the Life Sciences sector C4, Milan (ITA250)

The British Consulate General Milan is part of a world-wide Government network, representing British political, economic and consular interests overseas. The Department for International Trade works with UK-based businesses to ensure their success in international markets, and encourage the best overseas companies to look to the UK as their global partner of choice.

The Milan based Department for International Trade (DIT) Team is looking for a Senior Business Manager for the life sciences sector. The UK Government is revamping its export strategy in order to meet its high level goals of doubling the number of UK exporters by 2020. As part of this, a more strategic focus is being introduced in key export sectors in important overseas markets. This includes the Life Sciences sector in Italy. This is an exciting time to be joining the team.

The UK Life Science industry (including healthcare services) is one of the world leaders in this sector, in particular in the field of pharmaceutical services, genomics, personalised medicine, digital health, clinical research/R&D and antimicrobial resistance. So there are great opportunities to be exploited.

The new Senior Business Manager will play a pivotal role in designing and then implementing the strategic campaign for boosting UK Life Science exports to Italy and will be measured by their ability to use their network to deliver, as measured by a DIT target matrix.

Additionally, the new hire will extend his/her expert sector knowledge to the Investment team who advise Italian Life Science companies in turn investing in the UK.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• To design and lead a strategic campaign to grow the value of UK exports to Italy in the Life Sciences sector;
• To provide expert advice to UK companies on how to penetrate the Italian market, including identifying different market segment opportunities;
• Working with the Head of Investment to build strong relationships with key Italian companies to facilitate door opening for UK companies for engagement on Investment objectives;
• To manage a small Life Sciences team;
• To manage other campaign activities such as organisation of events at key trade fairs/missions/b2b meetings and medical congresses working closely with colleagues in London HQ;
• To identify local companies and institutions wishing to partner with those in the UK both in regards to supplying the local and global markets. Highlight and develop opportunities for partnering and investment between local entities and UK industry.

• Excellent English both oral and written;
• Excellent Italian both oral and written, possibly mother tongue Italian;
• Excellent interpersonal and networking skills;
• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines;
• Excellent time management and prioritisation skills;
• Ability to research and analyse complex information;
• Self Starter – ability to work well on own initiative;
• Good IT skills, especially MS Outlook, Word, PowerPoint and Excel;
• Staff management experience;
• Project Management experience;
• Experience of Customer Relationship Management software;
• Good knowledge of both the Italian and UK Life Science Business environments;
• Excellent knowledge of the Italian Life Science business dynamics;
• Well established and current active network of contacts among private and public life sciences stakeholders (Public and private hospital sector, pharmaceutical services and technology sector Biotech and pharma companies) in Italy.