Note: All applicants are required to mandatorily fill the complete online application form including the employment and educational details, experience segment and the behaviour-based 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 Hyderabad, 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 Business & Trade (DBT). DBT 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 DBT’s infrastructure team will deliver the sector strategy in Southern states of India, with focus on Airports, Railways & Metros, Water and Built Environment. S/he may also be given the national lead on one of the above-mentioned sectors. S/he will be expected to support the Senior lead for Urban, Built Environment and Waste sectors.

Southern Indian states of Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka 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 and managing a pipeline of high-value projects/commercial opportunities and wider market development in specific sub-sectors across India, and across all these sectors in the South of India.

As a Senior Trade Adviser, you will be responsible for leading and effectively delivering events, strategies and activities based in Hyderabad and Southern India for these sectors, but may also have to support the wider team in 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 develop 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 of opportunities for UK business, particularly strategic deals which would require UK government support or involvement to win.  You will then work with the DBT team in the UK including International Trade Advisers 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 His 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 DBT 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.

We reserve the right to review, revise or amend the roles and responsibilities from time to time reflecting the changing needs of business.

Roles and responsibilities / what will the jobholder be expected to achieve?:

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 DBT’s internal targets (export wins, market access/regulatory barriers, strategic relationship management and customer satisfaction/quality).
• Stakeholder management/account Management: with your sector teams, build and manage senior level relationships with companies, government departments, trade associations and multipliers in the UK and Southern 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 where appropriate;
• Work in close coordination with various stakeholders such as the wider DBT and UK network in India, DBT 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 DBT sector campaign and wider HMG objectives;

Marketing and Communications (15%)

• 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 (20%)

• Support UK business delegations visiting India and Indian business delegations visiting the UK by organising various events and meetings leading to commercial outcomes for the UK PLC;
• 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 DBT;
• Lead and effectively deliver events and activities based in Hyderabad and Southern India;
• Support wider activities at the Deputy High Commission in Hyderabad

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 in to 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 (and any specific training courses to be completed):

The British High Commission in India and the Department for Business & 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, 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, the candidate is expected to primarily operate from the office. The candidate occasionally will be required to support activities and events outside of normal working hours, and to travel as required.

Any other information (or specific local Post requirements):

You will occasionally be required to support activities and events outside of normal working hours and normal job  responsibilities, and have to travel, depending on business needs.

Other skills / experience / qualifications:

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;