Trade Manager, Healthcare, EO (British Embassy)

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 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%

Deliver successful trade related promotional activity – 30%

Trade Policy – 15%

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%

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.

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):

• 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.

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

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.