Sdi In-market Trade Specialist, Consumer Lifestyle

Job Description (Roles and Responsibilities)

The British Embassy is part of a world-wide network, representing British political, economic and consular interests overseas.

Scottish Development International (SDI) is Scotland’s trade and inward investment agency responsible for delivering on the Scottish Government’s ambitious international trade strategies. We are looking for an In-Market Trade Specialist to join our EMEA team to further develop our trade activities within the Consumer Lifestyle sector.

The purpose of the job is to help a broad range of Scottish companies, across a number of consumer lifestyle categories, to export their products into European markets and to identify new opportunities and trends from the region and communicate these to Scottish consumer lifestyle companies.

Companies operating within the ‘consumer lifestyle’ sector include têxtiles manufacturers and suppliers (knitwear, weaving, apparel and technical), tourism companies with export potential, beauty, skincare and cosmetics manufacturers, premium fashion & accessories, sport and leisure goods and home interiors & lifestyle products.

Companies vary by size and level of international experience; some are veteran exporters while some are scaling up and getting ready to export for the first time.

The role is based SDI’s Paris office, and the jobholder will be responsible for servicing the following priority markets:
1. France & Germany (priority markets for focused, proactive outreach)
2. Italy & Spain (secondary priority markets)
3. Other European markets / activities (as appropriate on a reactive basis).

You will work as part of the SDI field team and will have high-end, ‘premium’ buyer contacts. You will build close relationships with colleagues in SDI, Visit Scotland, Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and the South of Scotland Enterprise Agency. You will also work closely with the wider EMEA team, with colleagues, stakeholders and partners in Scotland, enhancing existing relationships with key trade associations and industry bodies.

Based at the SDI office in Paris, you will also be collaborating with colleagues from across UK Government including the UK’s Department for International Trade (DIT), the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), as well as national / regional governmental entities.

You will be expected to deliver and also attend key activities including webinars, conferences, roadshows, trade missions and speaking opportunities and support the wider SDI team in Paris to host visits into the region by Scottish Ministers.

Whilst the job is based in Paris, there is an expectation of some travel across Europe and within the wider EMEA region as per work demands.

**Roles and responsibilities**:

- Customer Relationships - you will be expected to develop and maintain market-specific relationships and networks with key industry organisations, buyers and networks relevant to the retail, interiors and hospitality sectors in the region.
- 1-2-1 company support - you will support Scottish companies with their market entry and growth strategies, providing trade advice and guidance to help them access markets across Europe.
- Market insights - you will be responsible for fully researching and understanding the supply chain, gathering market intelligence and data and reporting back insights, opportunities, trends and findings to sector teams, companies, and partners as appropriate
- Scotland’s international brand and reputation - as part of team Scotland, you will be a strong ambassador for Scottish companies and use your networks and connections to communicate Scotland’s strengths and assets in the consumer lifestyle sector.
- Partnership working - you will be work closely and collaboratively with colleagues, customers, key partners and organisations, stakeholder networks, trade press, and business contacts throughout key European markets and in Scotland.
- International market events - you will represent Scotland and Scottish companies at events, exhibitions and missions, hosting virtual activities where appropriate and supporting Scottish companies on the ground in your markets, per the strategic activities outlined in the operating plan.
- Market plans - you will lead in the development of market plans, feeding into the sector operating plan, and participate/ lead (as appropriate) in the project teams for all international market events (physical and virtual) taking place in EMEA.
- Team working - you will work with colleagues in Scotland to identify and deliver specific in-market trade opportunities.
- Cross-sector collaboration - you will work alongside in-market trade specialists for the food & drink sector, to uncover opportunities for collaboration across the full Consumer Industries portfolio (= food & drink + consumer lifestyle).

The above list is not exhaustive and the jobholder will be required to be flexible and take on other ad hoc tasks as required