The British Embassy Riyadh has a vacancy for Senior Trade Advisor for the Healthcare sector under the Department for Business and Trade (DBT), job grade Higher Executive Officer (HEO), on a fixed-term contract for two (2) years.

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) is the British Government’s trade and investment development organisation. Its aim is to enhance the competitiveness of companies in the UK through overseas trade and investments and attract high-level of quality foreign direct investment into the UK. We work with UK based businesses to ensure their success in overseas markets and international investors to help them bring high-quality investment to the UK. DBT has a network of trade teams across Saudi Arabia that work closely together to deliver services to UK and Saudi businesses.

This is an exciting and historic time to be in Saudi Arabia. In recent years, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) has accelerated its Vision 2030 programme of social and economic liberalisation to diversify its economy. The UK enjoys an excellent reputation for its healthcare services and goods and plays a vital role in delivering public policy and providing social value in areas such as public health, employment and skills, and community cohesion.

The main purpose of this job is to support UK companies that are seeking to develop their business through trade with Saudi Arabia in the Healthcare sector. The Senior Trade Advisor leads the sector team and works on the development and implementation of a high value strategy; and leads on generating UK commercial wins in priority sectors across the Kingdom. 

Duties and responsibilities:

• Lead on Healthcare Sector activity in Saudi Arabia. Identify relevant sector opportunities and promote to potential UK firms.
• Maintain and update a country-wide strategy and pipeline for delivering sector activity against agreed export targets.
• Support Saudi investors to invest in UK healthcare companies, healthcare assets, and other healthcare foreign direct investment (FDI) projects into the UK.
• Manage and design relevant sector trade promotion events (both virtual and online) and provide in-market guidance.
• Stakeholder Management: Build and proactively manage a network of high value Saudi healthcare businesses, investors, and with key UK stakeholders in the Healthcare sector.
• Work with colleagues across the UK Government including, Department of Health and Social Care, the Office for Investment, and Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), etc.
• Contribute to VIP visits, both to Saudi Arabia and to the UK.
• Where necessary, provide the wider DBT team in Saudi Arabia with in-country support, including (but not limited to) official programmes, trade missions, events, and trade shows.

The jobholder also has line management responsibilities for a Trade Officer (AO grade). The jobholder will also need to work with the Healthcare Cluster Lead to manage the healthcare trade promotion budget.

The above list is not exhaustive, and the jobholder will be required to be flexible as specific responsibilities could change in the future and this would be at the discretion of the line manager or head of section. The job description may be reviewed to meet changes in business needs. The jobholder may also take on other ad hoc tasks as required, including participating in the Embassy’s emergency planning and any other response to a crisis.

Key behaviours required:

• Managing a Quality Service – Deliver service objectives with professional excellence, expertise, and efficiency, taking account of diverse customer needs.
• Leadership – Show pride and passion for public service. Create and engage others in delivering a shared vision. Value difference, diversity, and inclusion, ensuring fairness and opportunity for all.
• Communicating and Influencing – Communicate purpose and direction with clarity, integrity, and enthusiasm. Respect the needs, responses, and opinions of others.
• Working Together – Form effective partnerships and relationships with people both internally and externally, from a range of diverse backgrounds, sharing information, resources, and support.

Eligibility:

• The successful candidate must be able to secure a local residence and work permit in Saudi (iqama) OR already have the right to work and reside in Saudi.
• The British Embassy provides visa sponsorship. The successful candidate will be required to transfer their visa under the Embassy’s sponsorship.

• Commercial experience in the UK or Saudi, and ideally in both, and knowledge of trade and investment concepts.
• Proven experience of working pro-actively, independently and towards performance targets within a team setting, contributing to the overall goals of the section.
• Excellent interpersonal and networking skills, comfortable dealing with high-level officials and contacts.
• Team player who is capable of working on their own initiative and manage others. Ability to effectively work and collaborate across teams and stakeholders based across multiple locations.
• Excellent communication skills in English, both verbal and spoken. Able to express ideas and messages clearly and concisely.
• Collaborative approach to colleague and stakeholder partnerships. Ability to drive delivery of outcomes and overcome obstacles, especially when working with and through others.
• Excellent organisational and self-management skills to respond effectively to tight – and changing – deadlines and priorities.
• Strong customer focus and ability to deliver quality service.
• Ability to learn quickly and work with a high degree of autonomy.
• A positive, “can-do” attitude that can see way through challenges.
• Strong IT skills and well-versed in the use of Microsoft Office applications (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams).