View Vacancy – Trade and Investment Associate – Food & Beverage Team

Main purpose of job:

 The British Government is an inclusive and diversity-friendly employer. We value difference, promote equality and challenge discrimination, enhancing our organisational capability. We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We do not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, colour, ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual orientation, age, veteran status or other category protected by law.

An opportunity to join a dynamic team focused on fostering transatlantic business relations between the US and its top economic partner in Europe.

The UK’s Department for International Trade (DIT) has overall responsibility for promoting UK trade across the world and attracting foreign investment to our economy. We are a specialised government body with responsibility for negotiating international trade policy, supporting business, as well as delivering an outward-looking trade diplomacy strategy.

DIT USA works closely with DIT headquarters in London, with related agencies in the UK and with representatives of the English Regions and the UK’s Devolved Administrations in the US, to assist US companies looking to invest in the UK. (See www.gov.uk/DIT).

The British Consulate General in New York is seeking a qualified Trade and Investment Associate (TIA) for the Consumer Goods- Food & Drink sector. The TIA will be based at the British Consulate in New York, supporting the Food & Drink Trade & Investment Officer (TIO), working as part of the Consulate team, and part of a US- and UK-wide virtual team.

The TIA will actively contribute to the F&D team’s strategy by supporting UK companies who export to the US.  The TIA will spend their time focusing on the Trade sector, focusing on the subsectors of specialty food, cheese, alcohol, and low and no alcohol, along with supporting wider collaborative projects within the Consumer Goods team and wider British Consulate General New York objectives.

Roles and responsibilities:

• Provide support to the F&D Trade Officer based in New York and covering the Boston and DC regions.
• Proactively identify opportunities for companies looking to export to the US. Attend meetings where appropriate and assist in the management of client relationships
• Conduct research and compile reports on industry developments, best routes to market and potential US business partners for UK companies looking to enter the US market.
• Develop, maintain, and disseminate knowledge of developments, trends, and opportunities in the US.
• Maintain client relationship management records, lists of key industry contacts and other data.
• Provide operational and administrative support to the Trade and Investment Officer and to the wider team as and when required.
• Ability to use a variety of online and social media tools.
• Support incoming trade missions, networking receptions, visit programs, plan company meetings and introductions and research/produce market reports.
• Support the Trade Officer in assisting UK companies in developing their market entry strategy and support UK companies already in the US market.
• Liaise with internal teams, and external contacts at an executive level, including cold calls and networking at events.
• Support trade policy engagement as it relates to the industry by identifying market access barriers between the US and UK.
• Contribute to the Government’s broad prosperity agenda including UK climate ambitions for COP 26, collaborating across the Consulate departments in support of these.

Essential on arrival:

• 1-3 years professional experience in international business, food and beverage or other related field.
• Proactive, self-starting approach to work with the ability to deliver effectively under limited day-to-day supervision in a deadline-sensitive, fast-paced environment.
• Strong ability to problem solve, organize, prioritize and manage tasks.
• Ability to effectively and credibly deal with companies/organizations at a senior level through all forms of communication and a proven track record of fostering business relationships.
• Excellent research and report writing skills – with an ability to identify relevant information and provide clear, concise summaries.
• Strong and enthusiastic networking skills, and the ability to attend early morning and evening events.
• Committed team player, with the ability to build strong connections both within and outside of the Department for International Trade.
• Understanding and knowledge of the business environments in the UK and US.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook) is essential; familiarity with data management systems is desirable.
• Ability to undertake travel within the US and the UK.

Under US State Department requirements, the UK Government in the US may only employ, as non-diplomatic staff, persons who are US citizens, US Permanent Residents or A visa holders with EAD cards*. If you hold a visa other than an A visa you are not currently eligible to work at our office. Please refer to our website for information on exceptions to this policy at www.gov.uk/government/world/usa. All selected candidates are subject to background checks and will require a security clearance prior to starting work. *A visas are acceptable at the Embassy and Consulates. The UK Mission to the UN (UKMIS) accepts G visas, and British Defense Staff (BDS) outposts accept A or NATO visas.