Trade Manager in the Healthcare field

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Job Category

Department for International Trade roles (DIT)

Job Subcategory

DIT

Job Description (Roles and Responsibilities)

Main purpose of role:

This is a hugely exciting opportunity to lead on a priority sector for the UK in Vietnam. Healthcare has been at the centre of the UK-Vietnam partnership over the last two years. Healthcare products, including pharmaceuticals, contribute a major and growing proportion of UK exports to Vietnam. Our two countries are co-operating increasingly on how digtalisation can play a role in the development of Vietnam’s healthcare sector. And in the context of the COVID19 pandemic, 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.

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’ll be a visible and vocal advocate for UK expertise in digital health, clinical services, and medical education, leading on creative and innovative ways to support the development of Vietnam’s healthcare system. You’ll work closely alongside your counterpart in Hanoi, and others across the UK Embassy and Consulate-General, to capitalise on the benefits of the recently-signed UK-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement, and to bolster UK-Vietnam bilateral trade and investment. You will lead on healthcare strategy and sector promotion for DIT, 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 DIT and One-HMG team across the Vietnam network. Occasional travel to Hanoi will be required (subject to Covid-19 restrictions).

The Department for International Trade (DIT) was established July 2016 to promote UK and global prosperity by championing international trade. The DIT 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 DIT 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 DIT 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, British Chamber Vietnam and the wider ASEAN region.
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) – 40% 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 DIT 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 – 10% 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 – 25%

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 DIT HQ in London about these issues – proactively providing them with updates.

Lead on DIT 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.

Resources managed (staff and expenditure):

None

Essential qualifications, skills and experience

Essential on arrival:

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;
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: Excellent written and oral communication skills in both English and Vietnamese are essential for this role.

Desirable qualifications, skills and experience

Familiarity with UK business and UK Culture;
Experience of working with the Vietnamese government.

Required competencies

Making Effective Decisions, Collaborating and Partnering, Achieving Commercial Outcomes, Delivering at Pace

Application deadline 9 January 2022

Grade B3 (L)

Type of Position Full-time, Fixed term, with possibility of renewal

Working hours per week 35 nett

Region Asia Pacific

Country/Territory Vietnam

Location (City) Ho Chi Minh City

Type of Post British Consulate General

Number of vacancies 1

Salary Currency VND

Salary VND 33,993,894 per month

Start Date 14 February 2022

Other benefits and conditions of employment

This position is being advertised as a 12 months fixed term position in Ho Chi Minh, and will be extended subject to performance and availability of funding.

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

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is committed to developing its staff, working hard to provide a comprehensive L&D offer. Staff have access to a wide variety of online resources through the Diplomatic Academy and Civil Service Learning. Staff are strongly encouraged to take advantage of all the available opportunities.

The job-holder will be required to take some specific training courses related to their role. All new staff undertake a workplace induction and there are a number of mandatory e-learning courses covering areas such as diversity, health and safety, and information management.

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.

Working patterns:

This role will require office based work at the Consulate in Ho Chi Minh City with little scope for remote or flexible working.

Additional information

All applications must be received before 23:55 (Local Vietnam Time) on the day of the deadline indicated above.

Please be aware that the deadline for submitting applications is considered to be the time zone for the country where the vacancy has arisen.

Incomplete application forms will not be taken into consideration, so please ensure you provide the information requested. Only shortlisted candidates for interview will be contacted. Interviewees will be assessed on the core competencies listed above. Unsuccessful candidates will be notified via the system in due time.

Indicated start date is provisional and subject to successful completion of reference and security checks.

To those applicants not short-listed, we extend our appreciation for considering the British Government as a potential employer.

Please check the application centre regularly for any update on your application.

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