Senior Trade Advisor - Healthcare & Life Sciences, Grade-HEO, Bengaluru or Chennai

HM Government; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Join HM Government as a Senior Trade Advisor focusing on Healthcare & Life Sciences, a pivotal role in enhancing UK-India trade relations. You will strategize, engage with top companies, and address market access challenges in India, contributing to significant export opportunities for UK businesses.

Benefits

Annual domiciliary medical cover

Group Hospitalisation Scheme

Learning and Development opportunities

Qualifications

• More than 5 years experience in sales or marketing in healthcare.
• In-depth understanding of Healthcare and/or Life Sciences sector.
• Proficient communication skills, both written and verbal.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute sector strategy for Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala.
• Manage relationships with Indian and UK businesses in Healthcare & Life Sciences.
• Support UK companies looking to invest in India.

Skills

Communication

Analytical Skills

Project Management

Networking

Education

MBA or Postgraduate degree with specialisation in pharmaceutical, healthcare or life sciences

Tools

MS Office (Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, Excel)

Job description

Senior Trade Advisor - Healthcare & Life Sciences, Grade-HEO, Bengaluru or Chennai

Employer HM Government Location United Kingdom Salary Competitive Closing date 15 Jun 2025

View more categories View less categories Discipline Life Sciences ,Other Hours Full Time Result Type Jobs

View Vacancy - Senior Trade Advisor - Healthcare & Life Sciences, Grade-HEO, Bengaluru or Chennai

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 identity, religion, sexual orientation, age, veteran status or other category protected by law. We promote family-friendly flexible working opportunities, where operational and security needs allow. The FCDO operates an agile workforce and to facilitate this, you may be required to undertake other duties from time to time, as we may reasonably require.

Job Category

Other British Government Departments (Partners across Government, including UK Visas)

Job Subcategory

Department for Business and Trade (DBT)

Job Description (Roles and Responsibilities)

Note: All applicants are required to mandatorily fill the complete online application form including the employment, educational details, behavioural and technical/ professional skills questions. We will be thoroughly reviewing the application forms only with all the required details and the shortlisting is not basis CV/ cover letter. Forms that are incomplete in any respect will not be considered while shortlisting for the next stage.

Main purpose of job:

This role is a vital part of our Healthcare & Life Sciences Trade team, which supports the UK's Department for Business and Trade (DBT) at the British High Commission (BHC). DBT aims to promote British trade and investment globally, which is crucial for the UK's prosperity.

Our Healthcare & Life Sciences trade team is dedicated to helping UK exporters significantly increase trade with India. We do this through strategic export campaigns, addressing market access barriers, developing pipelines, and assisting UK companies in converting opportunities into export deals and partnerships. Our key focus areas in India include healthcare, bio-pharma, and medical technology. As part of our efforts, you will also tackle market access issues, such as non-tariff barriers, by lobbying or advocating with relevant government departments.

We are seeking a dynamic, high-calibre individual to enhance the UK-India trade relationship. As a senior team member, you will manage relationships with India's leading companies in bio-pharma, medical technology, and healthcare. Ideally, you should have an existing network in this sector or be able to quickly establish one. You should be a self-starter, highly organized, and capable of planning and managing your work while building productive relationships.

Experience and knowledge of the Healthcare and/or Life Sciences sector are essential. You will bring in-depth knowledge of the sector to develop a strategy for your region, targeting both current and long-term opportunities for UK businesses, with a focus on large or high-value deals where UK government support can make a significant impact.

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:

As a Senior Trade Advisor of the Healthcare & Life Sciences team for trade you will:

• Develop and execute sector strategy for your region, i.e. Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala , enabling UK exporters to dramatically grow the volume of trade. This will be done through developing a pipeline of opportunities for UK businesses, and by supporting UK companies to translate these opportunities into export deals.
• Support and scope opportunities in your region/State for the sector. As part of this you will be required to undertake travel within India (predominantly between Bangalore/Chennai/Kerala), as well as to the UK occasionally or on need basis. You would be the healthcare lead within India in terms of taking up leads, queries and having a great understanding of the healthcare market not just in your patch but in terms of understanding and delivering the needs all over India. The DBT HCLS team would eventually want to reach out to you for all healthcare based requests and queries.
• Use key account management principles to build and manage senior level relationships with Indian and UK businesses, government stakeholders and partners within Healthcare & Life Sciences.
• Work on market access issues which hinder trade e.g. non-tariff barriers and market access concerns from UK companies.
• Support UK companies looking to invest in India.
• Plan and deliver activities and events to connect UK business to opportunities. You will also be expected to provide support and inputs to Ministerial/VIP visits and deliverables across the wider network in India; and support colleagues in the team across India on specific projects, events and activities. Also, travel for certain events and networking opportunities in your 3 chosen patches

You will be supported with opportunities to get the right learning and development, career development and opportunities to travel. You will join a growing team of high-performing and supportive colleagues. It will be a challenging position, with significant rewards for the right candidate.

Learning and development opportunities:

The British High Commission Network in India provides ample L&D opportunities to its staff to grow in their professional journey. The 70/20/10 learning, and development model is applied, with both internal and formal opportunities readily available. In addition, the DBT team provides opportunity for sector specific 'developing skills & knowledge' training to increase understanding of the UK market or any specific trainings required for the role.

Essential qualifications, skills and experience

Essential on arrival:

• More than 5 years of experience in sales or marketing in the healthcare and pharmaceutical sector is essential with a bit of consulting background would be a good addition.
• An in-depth understanding of Healthcare and/or Life Sciences sector, and a strong consulting network in the sector are essential.
• Excellent communication skills especially written and verbal communication is a must
• Strong analytical and problem solving skills to search out significant opportunities for UK business.
• Tried and tested project management skills.
• Excellent interpersonal, team working skills.
• A solid track record of dealing with senior level decision makers in the business world.
• Marketing and presentational skills.
• IT competency, in standard MS Office tools, such as Word, Outlook, PowerPoint and Excel

Language Requirements:

• Language: English
• Level of Language: Proficient

Desirable qualifications, skills and experience

Desirable:

• International exposure through education or work experience would be desirable.
• Experience of working in/with UK companies; knowledge of the business environment and of UK business related practices.
• Experience of working as part of a dispersed team.
• Experience of working in trade/investment promotion.
• Experience of working with a renowned hospital group, or, multinational company doing business in similar sectors either in India or the UK.
• Skilled at using digital and social media to gather information efficiently
• Postgraduate / MBA degree with specialisation in pharmaceutical, healthcare or life sciences

Required behaviours

Communicating and Influencing, Delivering at Pace, Making Effective Decisions, Managing a Quality Service

Application deadline

22 June 2025

Grade

Higher Executive Officer (HEO)

Type of Position

Full-time, Permanent

Working hours per week

40

Region

South Asia & Afghanistan

Country/Territory

India

Location (City)

Bangalore, Chennai

Type of Post

British Deputy High Commission

Number of vacancies

1

Salary Currency

INR

Salary

INR 121,533 per month plus 12% Provident Fund and 6% Superannuation

Type of Salary

monthly

Start Date

4 August 2025

Other benefits and conditions of employment

For British High Commission candidates, the Country Based Staff BHC Terms & Conditions will apply.

For other than BHC Candidates, salary will be all-inclusive of INR 121,533 per month plus 12% Provident Fund and 6% Superannuation.

Additionally, the BHC offers a great benefits package that includes annual domiciliary medical cover, plus a Group Hospitalisation Scheme with INR 500,000 floater cover for your immediate family which includes self, spouse/partner and children up to an age of 23 years and irrespective of age, only if with, physical or mental disability.

No relocation or any other related costs or assistance will be provided. FCDO does not pay for any travelling, accommodation & relocation expenses incurred and/or accept any financial risk, including cancellation or reschedule costs

Please note - BHC does not deduct tax at source and employees are required to ensure that any requirements of local income-tax law are complied with in full. Employees who are not liable to pay local income tax on their Mission salary, e.g., some non-local national staff and some spouses or partners of UK diplomatic staff, will have their salaries abated by an equivalent amount.

FCDO operates an agile workforce. To facilitate this, you may be required to undertake other duties from time to time as we may reasonably require. The BHC is recognised as a good employer, with a robust, fair and transparent performance management & appraisal system linked to increments and staff bonuses. We have a 5-day working week, plus annual leave, public holidays, maternity leave provision, special leave, paid sick leave provision; ample development opportunities, travel opportunities, a good organisational culture, and excellent work/life balance.

Around half of our work forces are women. We treat people with respect and equality and have a policy of zero tolerance for any form of discrimination, bullying, or harassment.

This is a good opportunity to be part of a strong, diverse team, working in the biggest network that FCDO has anywhere across the globe. We are aiming to make it the best.

Additional information

Note: All applicants are required to mandatorily fill the complete online application form including the employment, educational details, behavioural and technical/ professional skills questions. We will be thoroughly reviewing the application forms only with all the required details and the shortlisting is not basis CV/ cover letter. Forms that are incomplete in any respect will not be considered while shortlisting for the next stage

Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card holders will need have, or be able to obtain, a valid special work permit issued from Government of India (GOI) to work in the British High Commission (BHC). BHC will not be able to sponsor work visas or obtain/ assist with the special work permit from GOI. Offers of employment made to OCI card holders will be conditional upon candidates obtaining a special work permit.

Note: For requisite special permission to take up employment in any foreign Diplomatic Missions in India, OCI Cardholder must visit

Please note - successful applicants will be offered employment on Country Based Staff (CBS) terms and conditions. This is not a permanent UK Civil Service position and does not attract diplomatic immunities and privileges (other than what an individual may already hold if they are a recognised partner/family member of a serving diplomat).

To Apply:Please note applications without (a) and (b) will not be considered. Point (c) to be adhere strictly.

a) Complete the Online Application Form
b) Complete the Experience, Professional Skills and Behaviour based Segments in the Online Application Form
c) Applicants need to answer the questions based on your professional experience. Refrain from use of AI based tools to avoid application from getting rejected/disqualified.

To ensure a successful application it is important that you explain how you demonstrate behaviours and technical / professional skills, basis your experience. You are strongly advised to read the which provides a detailed guidance on how these behaviours are defined for each position.

Applicants are encouraged to use the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) technique to prepare specific examples of when and how you have demonstrated these behaviours in your application, by evidencing a structured response, including your skills and experiences. You briefly describe the situation in which you demonstrated the behaviour, and then explain your task in addressing the situation, what action you took and the result of this.

Internal candidates applying for this position need to inform their current line managers, else the applications will not be considered.

We will accept only online applications by 22nd June 2025 (latest by 23:55 hours IST).

Please note that all the applicants will be required to strictly adhere to the security guidelines for British High Commission.

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.

Please note - "Provident Fund Transfer in and out from EPFO is not possible as BHC PF is managed by a private PF trust governed by Indian Income Tax Act, 1961. The staff still has the option to transfer out and in from a privately held PF trust which are not governed by EPFO. Any tax deduction on EPF will be in compliance with local income-tax law and must be complied with in full."

Applicants who do not have the required qualification & experience should kindly abstain from applying, as their applications will not be considered.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted, and no telephone enquires will be dealt with. Basis the scores, the candidate/s who did not score as highly as the successful candidate, might be placed on the reserve list. If during the reserve period of 12 months, the same or largely similar role becomes available, the role may be offered to the second or subsequent appointable candidates.

The start date mentioned in the job advert is a tentative and he appointment will be subject to successful clearance of police Verification and other checks including references, medical, educational, and professional.

We welcome all applications irrespective of age, race, colour, gender, disability, sexual orientation, religion, belief, or creed. We are also open to applications from people who want to work flexibly.

Please be aware that you will only be able to apply to vacancies for Country Based Staff roles with the British Government through this official tal.net site (operated by Oleeo). Jobs may be advertised on third party websites, however our adverts will always link back to the official tal.net site. If you complete and send an application through any other site, we will not receive it.

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