Trade Manager, Healthcare, EO (British Embassy)

This is a hugely exciting opportunity to lead on a priority sector for the UK in Vietnam. Healthcare is at the centre of the UK-Vietnam partnership. Healthcare products, including pharmaceuticals, contribute a major and growing proportion of UK exports to Vietnam. Our two countries are co-operating increasingly on how digitalisation can play a role in the development of Vietnam’s healthcare sector. The UK and Vietnam have collaborated closely across the sector, including on strengthening health system resilience, tackling antimicrobial resistance, and pursuing equitable access to healthcare. This is a great opportunity to be a part of the global Healthcare UK team based in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam’s largest commercial hub, contributing to the delivery of one of the high-profile sectors for the UK in Vietnam.

In this role you’ll champion the UK’s healthcare offer, working with and on behalf of major UK companies to promote exports and facilitate better access to Vietnam’s rapidly growing market. You’ll lead on developing new partnerships and deliver high-profile trade promotion activities to strengthen UK-Vietnam co-operation across all elements of the sector. You will be a visible and vocal advocate for UK expertise in digital health, clinical services, and medical education, and emerging sub-sectors such as consumer healthcare, medical devices, and med tech, leading on creative and innovative ways to support the development of Vietnam’s healthcare system. You will work closely alongside your counterpart in Hanoi, and others across the UK Embassy and Consulate-General, to capitalise on the benefits of the UK-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (UKVFTA) and the upcoming CPTPP agreements, and to bolster UK-Vietnam bilateral trade and investment. You will lead on healthcare strategy and sector promotion for DBT and build and maintain excellent relationships with commercial and government contacts.

The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate in-depth knowledge of the healthcare sector, or the capability to quickly develop this knowledge. You will be able to communicate effectively to a British audience and articulate the opportunities to major stakeholders. You will be a self-starter, able to manage your own time effectively, evaluating options, impacts, risks and solutions – knowing when and how to seek advice from others. You will also be expected to make a positive contribution to the wider DBT and One-HMG team across the Vietnam network. Occasional travel to Hanoi will be required.

The Department for Business & Trade (DBT) was established July 2016 to promote UK and global prosperity by championing international trade.  The DBT Team in Vietnam has a network of 2 trade teams based in the British Embassy in Hanoi and the Consulate-General in Ho Chi Minh City, spanning key strategic sectors for the UK. Healthcare is an important sector for the UK in Vietnam with pharmaceutical exports our second largest export to Vietnam.

Roles and Responsibilities / What will the jobholder be expected to achieve?:

• Your primary role will be to assist UK companies in the healthcare sector to do business in Vietnam, including management of our strategic relationships with relevant Government departments and with key stakeholders in the sector. You will be expected to identify new projects needing UK expertise and work with the UK to source that expertise. You will also work on market access issues affecting British companies in this sector so your role will involve building up an extensive range of contacts and understanding sometimes technical information.

• You will be the principle lead for DBT healthcare projects in Ho Chi Minh as well as southern region. This role is ideally suited to someone who is proactive and comfortable working under limited supervision – coming up with their own solutions to problems – but knowing when and how to seek advice from others. You should also be a strong networker who seeks out new relationships while maintaining current relationships. You will also be expected to make a positive contribution to the wider DBT and British government team which will include working closely with colleagues in the Embassy in Hanoi and British Consulate-General in Ho Chi Minh City, the wider ASEAN region, and the delivery partners in private sector.

• You will be expected to liaise with numerous stakeholders including UK Export Finance (UKEF) in the UK to identify possible areas for collaboration and viable projects for UKEF funding. Similarly, you will be expected to seek out opportunities in the sector for aid funded business projects such as those supported by the World Bank and the European Development Bank. You will also keep an eye on inward investment opportunities that arise when collaborating with Vietnamese counterparts.

Deliver strategic trade opportunities (Healthcare & Life Science markets) – 30%

Work with companies, organisations and individuals who may be sources of opportunities for UK companies, formulating and managing a stakeholder engagement plan for these companies. Lead on healthcare strategy and planning. Work closely with Healthcare UK & the British Chamber of Commerce to alert British businesses to export opportunities. Develop and manage sector pipeline and stakeholder mapping strategies for the sectors to deliver DBT objectives – working with the APAC region and political/development counterparts as relevant. Deliver export wins and produce quarterly updates to review activity.

Deliver successful trade related promotional activity – 30%

Work with the wider Trade Team as required, including providing support to trade missions, VVIP visits, seminars, webinars, receptions and other events to promote the UK – leading these events when required.

Trade Policy – 15%

Develop a clear understanding of the non-tariff barriers for UK companies seeking greater market share in the HCLS sector in Vietnam, and work with the trade policy colleagues to devise and implement strategies to address market access barriers.

You will maintain a list of ongoing issues, with background and suggested next steps and regular engage with DBT HQ in London about these issues – proactively providing them with updates.

Lead on DBT healthcare and HCMC based projects – 25%

Use project management techniques to successfully deliver projects on time and within budget, working closely with the prosperity team on wider healthcare agenda. Work with stakeholders to develop project proposals as relevant and ensure projects are meeting Vietnamese and UK objectives. Support regional work to understand opportunities in sector.

Work seamlessly with colleagues in other teams in British Embassy and British Consulate-General to broaden and deepen the UK-Vietnam bilateral cooperation in health, championing equitable access to healthcare & collective response against COVID-19.

You will be expected to support Consulate colleagues through corporate activity.

Essential qualifications, skills and experience

• Proactive self-starting approach to work with the ability to deliver effectively with limited day-to-day supervision in a fast-paced environment;

• A network of industry contacts in the healthcare sector in Vietnam, or the ability to develop such a network;

• Strong interpersonal and networking skills;

• Experience in delivering public events

• Comfortable working with senior business contacts and stakeholders

• Ability to work under pressure and to tight deadlines;

• IT proficiency, including Office and the ability to learn FCDO applications/systems.

Language requirements: 

• Language: English and Vietnamese
• Level of language required: Fluent

Desirable qualifications, skills and experience

• Familiarity with UK business and UK culture;

• Experience working with the Vietnamese government and local authorities;

• Experience working internationally

Other benefits and conditions of employment

Learning and development opportunities (and any specific training courses to be completed):

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office is committed to developing its staff. There will be opportunities for formal training alongside collaborating with a wide range of colleagues delivering on-the-job learning.

• Working in a diplomatic mission

• International policy skills course

• UK Diplomatic Academy foundation learning

• Regional and London-based formal learning opportunities

Employment offers are subject to successful clearance of pre-employment and security checks.

Staff who are locally recruited by the British Embassy are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local employment law.

No accommodation or relocation expenses are payable in connection with this position.

Visa sponsorship may be possible for non-Vietnamese nationals if meet local requirements.

Employees who are not liable to pay local income tax on their Mission salary may have their salaries reduced by the equivalent local income tax amount.

Disabled and ethnic minority applicants will be invited to interviews if meeting the minimum requirement of the job.