Associate, International Trade & Development

Job description

The Business Council for International Understanding (BCIU) was formed in 1955 by President Eisenhower to "encourage a broader international understanding of the principles of private enterprise and political democracy essential to prosperity and freedom."

BCIU has pursued this mission by (1) training thousands of U.S. Ambassadors to promote American business around the world; (2) hosting foreign leaders (e.g. Presidents, Finance Ministers, etc.) with U.S. prospective investors to promote opportunities in their countries; and (3) advise executives and government officials on facilitating trade and investment.

BCIU is fully integrated into the business and diplomatic circles in New York and Washington. BCIU also delivers meetings, events and activities throughout the U.S. and in cities around the world and is becoming an increasingly global organization. BCIU is a pragmatic, high- touch institution that provides tangible results to business executives and government officials at the highest levels, as well as specifically tailored services upon request.

BCIU is in a period of rapid growth and expansion and is interested in interviewing highly ethical, customer-oriented professionals who have exceptional project management experience, communications skills, intercultural sensitivity, understanding of business, and success in working in small, high-pressure teams facing inflexible deadlines. BCIU is always looking for extraordinary people to help us support our mission and our members. The skills and responsibilities required include:

* Assisting in proposal and report writing for government contracts related to international trade and investment.

* Traveling, interacting and supporting international government officials, business executives and the project implementation team.

* Performing research on trade, technical and economic trends in a specific region.

* Performing research associated with the development of international trade opportunities.

* Conducting due diligence and country and industry research on potential new projects within various regions.

* Managing activities to ensure adherence to timelines and contract compliance.

* Monitoring and reporting the progress of work performed during all contract phases

* Identify and cultivate new customers and assist in business development of new contract services/products.

* Organizing executive programs, seminars, training and special events for government and business executives to discuss policy, regulatory and investment trends.

* Secure venue; manage on-site logistics (e.g. manage photographers, interpreters, venue staff, etc.)

DESIRED SKILLS & EXPERIENCE

* Bachelor's degree required, Master's degree preferred.

* 2-4 years of region or sector specific experience (in one or more of the following areas: infrastructure, energy, smart grid, telecommunications, transportation, agriculture and/or financial services).

* Strong familiarity with a variety of government agencies' operations and supporting information platforms

* Excellent verbal and written communication skills

* Ability to handle multiple competing priorities in a fast-paced environment, ensuring timely delivery to clients

* Strong project management and event planning experience

* Strong presentation, writing, interpersonal, and teamwork skills

* Motivated self-starter with strict attention to detail and deadlines, outstanding organizational skills, and the ability to multi-task while monitoring and documenting progress

* Business association or U.S. government work experience preferred.

* Ability to work both independently and collaboratively within a team

* Must be willing to travel frequently domestically and internationally

* Competitive, driven, meticulous and results oriented.

* Interest in promoting U.S. exports, international trade and investment

* Research, budgeting and proposal writing experience

* Foreign language capabilities.

* Must be authorized to work in the US (no immigration sponsorship offered) and meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information

Qualities that are important to us

• A mission-focused professional with an understanding of and commitment to helping solve global challenges through engagement with the private sector, governments, multilaterals and other stakeholders, and exuding that passion
• A strong international perspective with personal experience in cross-cultural communication is highly valued
• Articulate and persuasive communicator, both in speaking and writing
• Active listening and strategizing; comfortable receiving input from many sources, and able to act on information to develop increased support
• Detail-oriented, able to maintain systems, track progress, and follow-up in a timely fashion
• Receptive to, and able to respectfully communicate, constructive criticism
• Self-motivated professional who takes initiative and has the ability to work independently
• Gravitas and professionalism appropriate for interacting with government officials and C-level staff

Location

Hybrid work can be accommodated from any location within convenient travel to BCIU's headquarters in New York.

**Please note that this position requires long hours often in a high-pressure environment. Given the international nature of the business, applicants must be willing to engage in work across multiple time zones.**

Please send resume via LinkedIn or to Nina Kundra at with "Associate, International Trade & Development" as the subject.