View Vacancy - Senior Trade Adviser – Infrastructure, HEO - Mumbai

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.
Other British Government Departments (Partners across Government, including UK Visas)
Department for International Trade (DIT)

Note : All applicants are required to mandatorily fill the complete online application form including the employment and educational details and the behavioural questions. We will be thoroughly reviewing the application forms only for all the required details. Forms that are incomplete in any respect will not be considered while shortlisting for the next stage.’’

Main purpose of job:

Based in the British Deputy High Commission in Mumbai, this role is an exciting opportunity to work with business and government in an international setting, as part of an India-wide Trade team within 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 is responsible for negotiating the a new Free Trade Agreement with India. 

This senior role in the DIT’s infrastructure team will deliver the sector strategy in Western states of India, with focus on Airports, Railways & Metros, Water, Construction & Urban sub-sectors. S/he may also be given the national lead on one of the above-mentioned sectors. 

Western Indian states of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Goa are focus markets for infrastructure sector and there are some significant opportunities in this region, which would be of interest to UK companies. These states also has some of key infrastructure companies, with whom the job holder will be expected to develop stronger relationships. 

The job holder will be expected to focus on developing a pipeline of UK export projects and wider market development in specific sub-sectors across India, and across all these sectors in the West of India. 

As a Senior Trade Adviser, you will be responsible for leading and effectively delivering events, strategies and activities based in  Mumbai and Western India for these sectors, but may also have to support work going on other parts of the country. You will also be responsible for establishing and maintaining relations with companies, trade associations, and multipliers, working closely with and supporting your colleagues in the wider team. 

You will bring with you, or demonstrate how you would quickly acquire, knowledge of the infrastructure sectors, 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 opportunities UK business, particularly strategic deals which would require UK government support or involvement to win.  You will then work with the DIT team in the UK to bring UK companies to India and support them to win business, delivering towards the UK government’s commercial targets and wider trade objectives. 

You will be a voice for the UK government and industry in the sector.  Success will mean access to senior levels of 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, and identify, grow and make effective use of stakeholders to achieve this.   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.), to add value to UK businesses through introductions and advice. 

Roles and responsibilities:

Market development and Business opportunities (60%)

  • 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 (export wins, market access/regulatory successes, strategic relationship management and customer satisfaction/quality). With your sector teams, build and manage senior level relationships with companies, government departments, trade associations and multipliers in the UK and Eastern 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;
  • 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 infrastructure 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;

Marketing and Communications (20%)

  • Lead on marketing, press and communication activities including creating of core scripts and pitch packs for the sectors, as also work closely with the Strategic Relationship Management team to lead on sector specific relationship management.

Delegations and Ministerial Visits (15%)

  • 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 Mumbai and Western India;

Market Access and Policy Support (5%)

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

To be successful:

  • You will have an understanding of the sectors involved or a clear ability to learn. Knowledge of both in India and the UK contexts 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 into opportunities.
  • You will need to be strategically aware to identify emerging opportunities in your sectors, as well as relevant trends in the UK and emerging potential exports and investments into India.
  • 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;
  • You will have experience of developing productive relationships with senior decision-makers, stakeholders and partners, and of using these to deliver your objectives;
  • You will need to be collaborative and flexible, and able to manage yourself and the demands on you.
  • 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.

Language requirements: 

Language: English Essential, and any one or more regional language 

Level of language required:  Excellent spoken and written English and excellent spoken ability in one or more regional languages

Learning and development opportunities: 

The British High Commission in India and the Department for International Trade offer excellent training opportunities to employees. A successful candidate will be asked to complete an induction course and further training will be offered tailored to individual needs. The candidate will need to travel within India and internationally (COVID permitting), with opportunities to travel to the UK for sector related events and training courses. 

Working patterns:

While IT and mobile phone use allows for flexible and working from home, occasionally you will be required to support activities and events outside of normal working hours, and to travel as required.

Essential on arrival: 

  • Graduate/Post Graduate from reputed University. Candidates without the required educational qualification but with exceptional practical experience will be considered with: 
  • Minimum 5 years of relevant commercial and business 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 skills to identify relevant opportunities for UK firms in India, and the ability to turn them into contracts for UK businesses;
  • Excellent team working skills, with strong ability to build cooperative working relationships across our own network, and outside of the British High Commission network with a wide range of organisations;
  • IT competent. highly competent in standard MS Office tools, such as Word, Outlook, PowerPoint and Excel and skilled at using digital and social media to gather information efficiently;
  • Basic understanding of budget management.
  • Knowledge of Infrastructure sector in the UK and India, major players and factors influencing UK exports and ODI; 

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
Managing a Quality Service, Delivering at Pace, Communicating and Influencing, Working Together
29 January 2023
Higher Executive Officer (HEO)
Permanent
40
South Asia & Afghanistan
India
Mumbai
British Deputy High Commission
1
INR
INR 110,484 per month plus 12% Provident Fund and 6% Superannuation Fund
12 January 2023

For British High Commission candidates, the Country Based Staff BHC Terms & Conditions will apply.

Basic Salary will be INR 110,484 per month together with a 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 INR 500,000 floater cover for your immediate family. If you are a spouse of a staff member already employed with British High Commission, you will be covered under the family medical cover of your spouse.

No relocation or any other related costs or assistance will be provided.

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-day 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 forces are 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 FCO 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 Experience, Behaviour and Technical/ Professional skills based questions 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 29th January 2023 till 23:55 IST.  

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

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.