Are you a skilled Business Development professional with a passion for clean growth and renewable energy?

The British Embassy’s Department for Business and Trade is seeking an enthusiastic and dynamic colleague to join our team as a Senior Market Adviser. You will work towards Norwegian companies that are establishing or growing in the UK energy sector. Particular focus will be given to offshore wind, carbon capture, and hydrogen development. The British Embassy in Oslo is part of the worldwide UK diplomatic network representing British political, economic and consular interests overseas.

Main purpose of job:

To safeguard, attract, win and retain Norwegian inward investment to the UK in the energy sector. The core focus will be on clean growth and renewable energy, particularly offshore wind, carbon capture and hydrogen development while looking for the emerging trends and new opportunities within this space. The focus is mainly foreign direct investment, but with scope to attract capital investment. 

To identify leads and develop a pipeline of high-value investment projects by engaging with investors, predominantly the larger corporates but also capital and institutional investors. To market the UK as investment destination and sell the UK offer convincingly by obtaining detailed market knowledge and a deeper understanding of key UK energy policies. Upskill oneself and keep abreast about market conditions, government positions and polices to have the in-depth knowledge required to build credible relationships with a range of stakeholders and support them in deciding on a UK investment decision.

Develop and nurture a network of stakeholders in corporates, organisations and UK government to act as intermediary where intervention between investors and UK government to get the investment decisions over the line.

To liaise with the London DBT HQ, sector organisations, partners (Ministers, OGD, Networks, UK Regions and Nations), and sector specialists; conveying Norwegian interest (and position) and obtaining the best UK proposition to be communicated back to Norwegian clients. As part of this play a wider embassy role, providing colleagues and senior leadership advice on industry perspectives in energy, while utilising high-level engagements to deliver on the investment agenda.

To shape, plan and execute visits, events and initiatives that will generate leads to build the pipeline, manage the resources needed efficiently and report the outcome of the delivery.

 To timely capture, record and maintain information from interactions, services offered, and wins captured on our CRM systems or other platforms.

 Role and responsibilities:

• Strategic focus 30%

Shaping and executing business development plans, advising stakeholders on opportunities and investors’ challenges through stakeholder engagement, marketing, networking and business development initiatives. Contribute to the development of strategic account plans for key Norwegian companies and be part of cross-departmental teams both locally and in the UK.

•  Tactical focus 40%

Proactively identify leads from direct investors; encourage Norwegian companies to set up a UK entity and grow their UK footprint. Communicate the UK offer. Manage the strategic accounts and mitigate risk for loss of investments and utilise internal and X-Whitehall stakeholders to secure success. Deliver on agreed KPIs and provide evidence. Develop and deliver outcome-focused events and visits, 

• Operational tasks 10%

Monitor, assess and follow-up on DBT internal business, including feeding into pipeline discussions with London colleagues. Follow-up with UK delivery partners on the development of UK proposals.

•  Cross-cutting Contribution 10%

Support wider network, embassy and team objectives, including on cross-cutting events, visits and meetings, and contributing to briefings and speeches for Ministers and senior officials. Maximise opportunities for the UK through collaboration with other teams, both in the Oslo embassy and other UK embassies across our Nordic Baltic Network. 

• Administration 10%

Data capture, including interactions, on our CRM system or other platforms, in a timely fashion. Reporting and resource management, including self-development.

• Fluency in English and Norwegian at a C1 level according to CEFR*       

• University degree in relevant field (economics, political economy, business, social sciences, international relations etc.) or equivalent professional experience.

• Relevant work experience.  

• Demonstrable analytical skills, and the ability to make sense of complex information.

• Proven experience in explaining information and reporting to senior stakeholders.

• Excellent interpersonal and networking skills.

• Ability to work well on own initiative.

• Good IT skills, especially using MS Office tools.