Sector Director: Healthcare and Life Sciences (DBT) at Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office

Main purpose of job:

This is an exciting time to join the Department for Business and Trade’s (DBT) Africa network. DBT brings together sector, policy, promotion and financial expertise to break down barriers to trade and investment in markets across the world to help businesses succeed. We have over 3,000 staff across the globe in over 100 countries.  

You will join DBT Africa, a dynamic workforce of around 120 staff in 20 countries, led by John Humphrey, HM Trade Commissioner, who is based in Johannesburg, South Africa. Africa is exciting and energising, with many of the fastest changing and growing markets on earth. The UK has a depth of historical relationships on the continent and is Africa’s largest inward investor.  

This is a great opportunity to take a leadership role, operating with a high level of autonomy, shaping our work in Africa in a very important sector for the UK. The UK offer is comprehensive and includes world-class capability in healthcare service provision, healthcare system design, consulting and project development, in skills and training, medtech and the supply of equipment and consumables, with high levels of innovation across the sectors, and excellence in biotech and pharma. Africa’s healthcare needs are huge and the continent is in need of reliable partners like the UK who can deliver sustainable solutions.

Your job will be to work independently with senior level African buyers and key UK companies. You will help UK firms to create new, and expand existing business, and build up investments in Africa. This includes identifying the very best opportunities in Africa and the right strategies and markets together with UK companies, informing, challenging and helping UK companies at board level to create plans that support new effective market entry, and successful engagements with major projects. You will guide DBT country teams to understand the UK offer, and help them to evaluate projects in terms of their best alignment to deliver outcomes that match UK interests, and to work effectively in support of UK business interests in their countries. You will be leading DBT’s work with the key UK businesses in HCLS in Africa. You will develop a strong understanding of the current state of HCLS development in Africa, the greatest opportunities for the UK, identifying new projects on the horizon as well as driving existing projects forward. You will learn to understand the key barriers to UK trade and investment, and ensure that our work in this area is prioritised effectively, and that adequate action is taken to resolve these barriers. You will engage UK companies early on when opportunities start to arise in Africa. You will liaise with key buyers, increase their understanding of UK expertise, and help key buyers to engage with UK companies. You will create and lead a small number of very high quality events that reflect the unique quality of the UK offer in HCLS, and that advance our interests with key buyers.

Essential qualifications, skills and experience 

• Undergraduate degree or other relevant professional qualification relevant to healthcare and life sciences
• Knowledge of healthcare projects, having worked in the private sector to develop healthcare projects, with at least ten years of experience working on healthcare, preferably in Africa.
• At least 5 years’ experience in leading teams at a senior level within a private sector business, operating with autonomy to deliver success and project impact
• Experience of working with government departments in Africa at a senior level to secure progress on healthcare and life sciences projects
• At least 5 years of leading the development of new areas of business in Africa for international companies, or at one of Africa’s most successful private sector firms
• Proven track record of cross-team collaboration
• A positive, resilient, flexible and adaptable “can-do” attitude that can see a way through challenge