View Vacancy - SH - Regional Trade and Investment Manager, East China (InvestNI)

Based in the British Consul General Office in Shanghai, the post-holder will lead a small team and represent Invest Northern Ireland in Eastern China (territory map to be determined).

Reporting to the Head of Asia Pacific, the post-holder will be Invest Northern Ireland’s key representative in the East China region, responsible for developing and delivering an agreed market strategy.

The post-holder will take the national lead on one of the following business sectors: Advance Manufacturing & Engineering, Life & Health Sciences, Technology or Education, all of which are key priority sectors for the economic growth of Northern Ireland; and they will also be expected, as required, to work across multiple sectors as part of a small team representing Northern Ireland, fully embedded within the UK Department for International Trade (DIT) network across China.

The primary focuses of the position will be trade development across the key business sectors, helping Northern Ireland companies to increase export sales to China, and to promote Northern Ireland as a location for inward investment and infrastructure investment. When carrying out their work, the post-holder will be required to forge effective working relationships with a wide range of businesses, stakeholders, senior officials and government representatives.

The post-holder will lead and co-ordinate activities such as marketing events and conferences, represent Invest Northern Ireland at business conferences and speak at events, prepare activity reports summarise information for the Head of Asia Pacific, and prepare reports for Northern Ireland companies (market research, location reports, product reports, market access and mode of entry etc.) and provide advice to them. The post holder will also be required to monitor expenditure and deliver activities within a pre-allocated budget.

The post holder will work closely with the wider Invest Northern Ireland teams based in its Belfast headquarters, China, Asia Pacific and other locations. The post-holder is also expected to undertake travel on a regular basis, either within China, to the UK and other countries

Roles and responsibilities / what will the jobholder be expected to achieve?:

-       Contribute to an overall China strategy and develop a multi-sector regional market strategy for East China and a national sector strategy for one of the following business sectors: Advance Manufacturing & Engineering, Life & Health Sciences, Technology or Education;

-       Implement an agreed market strategy covering the East China region to promote Northern Ireland, help Northern Ireland companies to increase export sales and secure investment wins, and promote Northern Ireland as a study location;

-       Proactively identify relevant business opportunities across all business sectors for Northern Ireland companies through market intelligence, connections and research and promote the Northern Ireland capability to key decision makers;

-       Develop strong C-level relationships with targeted companies, stakeholders and influencers in the region and enable Northern Ireland companies to engage with them;

-       Build strong relationships within the British Consul General office in Shanghai, the UK Department of International Trade (DIT), British Council, Northern Ireland government representatives and other key stakeholders / business organisations and where appropriate work on joint planning and delivery of events;

-       Engage effectively with colleagues and stakeholders based in Northern Ireland to provide market and sector briefings and to ensure that activity in the market aligns with corporate plans;

-       Support Northern Ireland companies interested in the region by providing information they require to make informed business decisions by handling market research and assessment enquiries, conducting visits and setting up appointments and writing appropriate reports;

-       Manage in-market support for company visits, trade missions, events and exhibitions;

-       Co-ordinate VIP (including Ministerial delegations) visit programmes to Shanghai / East China, prepare briefing and manage the necessary logistics and protocols;

-       Support business delegations by providing English / Chinese translations in an effective manner as required;

-       Develop a network of NI ex-pats living / working in the region and work with Northern Irish Connections to lever economic returns to Northern Ireland;

-       Manage relevant information sources and maintain accurate recording of customer and stakeholder information on Invest NI’s CRM and management systems.

-       Lead a small team in Shanghai and work effectively in partnership with wider teams based in Northern Ireland, China, Asia Pacific and other locations. Prepare reports (including activity / performance / market reports) accurately and timely for management and clients.   

-       Educated to degree level ideally in a business or related function;

-       Over 7 years’ working experience in a private or public sector organisation, with relevant experience in one of the following business sectors: Advance Manufacturing & Engineering, Life & Health Sciences, Technology or Education;

-       A sound commercial knowledge of China and the business opportunities across business sectors outlined above, being aware of the issues and solutions relating to doing business in this region;

-       A significant and successful track record in Business Development, including market research, analysing market data, preparing reports, presenting information to clients and securing sales / commercial outputs;

-       Experience in developing and maintaining effective working relationships at senior levels with excellent; communication skills and an ability to work collaboratively with business contacts and colleagues in the UK, China and other locations;

-       Excellent organisational, IT and administrative skills;

-       Successful team management experience, an effective and responsible leader;

-       Ability to work at pace and independently as part of a remote team; and to prioritise and manage an often heavy workload in a multi-location environment and liaising with team members in these locations.