View Vacancy - Business Development Manager, Invest Northern Ireland Benelux (BEL19.504)

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.
Other British Government Departments (Partners across Government, including UK Visas)
Northern Ireland Bureau / Northern Ireland Group / Invest Northern Ireland

This is a new post, based in Invest Northern Ireland’s office in Brussels (which is co-located with the Northern Ireland Executive Office).

This is a business development role, based in the Invest Northern Ireland (Invest NI) office in Brussels (co-located with the Office of the Northern Ireland Executive in Brussels) and reporting to the Regional Director, Benelux.  The post-holder will support the delivery of Invest NI’s market strategy with the ultimate goal to secure trade and investment wins for Northern Ireland.  The post-holder will be assigned specific business sectors in which he/she will be responsible for delivering.

The post-holder will work under the direction of the Regional Director, arrange, support and attend business meetings where required, in order to assist with the identification of business opportunities for Northern Ireland. The post-holder will undertake market research for Northern Ireland companies, meet with them, prepare meeting schedules, assist them in formulating a strategy to export to the Benelux markets and help them to resolve issues.  In addition, the post-holder will support the delivery of business events (including procurement and completion of internal processes), attend conferences/expos, arrange meetings for Northern Ireland clients, manage logistics plans (including Trade missions, VIP visits, senior official visits from Northern Ireland) and work in partnerships with other stakeholders. 

In summary, the anticipated breakdown of role: 60% trade, 40% FDI.  In further detail, for trade this would involve 30% market research to include the delivery of Trade Advisory Service (TAS), 20% in-market support to NI companies to include visits and briefings and 10% event management and attendance.  For FDI, 40% of the time should be spent on lead generation and meeting support. 

The post-holder will be required to develop positive working relationships with the UK Department for International Trade (DIT), Northern Ireland government representatives and a wide range of business organisations and stakeholders, work with others to gather market intelligence and insights, and communicate them. The post-holder will also work on social medial campaigns. 

The post-holder will maintain data on the internal CRM system, prepare monthly returns and activity reports, and submit them on a timely basis. 

The post-holder is expected to undertake travel occasionally, within the Benelux countries, to the UK and also to other countries as required by the management team.

Main Roles and Responsibilities:

  • Identify relevant business opportunities for Northern Ireland companies through market intelligence, connections and research;

  • Undertake market research, prepare sector briefings and assist Northern Ireland companies to increase export sales and help to secure investment wins for Northern Ireland;

  • Assist with the delivery of the in-market trade and investment strategies to promote Northern Ireland capability which contributes to the overall goals of the European territory;

  • The post-holder will be assigned specific business sectors in which he/she will be responsible for delivering;

  • Provide in-market support for company visits, trade missions, events and exhibitions, including the arrangement / procurement and management of the necessary logistics and protocols;

  • Develop and maintain effective working relationships within the British Embassy, DIT, Northern Ireland government representatives, a wide range of stakeholders and businesses;

  • Manage relevant information sources and maintain accurate recording of customer and stakeholder information on Invest NI’s CRM and management systems. Prepare reports (including activity / performance / market reports) accurately and timely for management and clients;  

  • Work effectively and in partnership with wider teams based in Europe and Northern Ireland and other locations.

  • Educated to University degree or equivalent;
  • Over 3 years’ work experience in a private or public sector organisation;

  • Experience in undertaking market research, analysing market data, preparing reports, presenting information to team / clients and helping them to achieve positive commercial outcomes;

  • Fluency in English (both oral and written);

  • Business level of French and/or Dutch (both oral and written);
  • A sound commercial knowledge and business sector knowledge and the key business drivers in the Benelux region;

  • Good networking skills, experience in building and maintaining effective working relationships across all levels of businesses;

  • Attention to detail, excellent organisational, IT and administrative skills;

  • Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office (Word/Excel/PowerPoint);
  • Ability to work at pace and independently as part of a remote team.

  • Knowledge of UK / Northern Ireland’s key sectors and business drivers;
  • Business knowledge and experience in one of the following sectors: technology, advanced manufacturing & engineering, financial services and food & drink.
9 October 2019
Executive Officer (EO)
Full-time, Permanent
36.25
Europe, Eastern Europe & Central Asia
Belgium
Brussels
Political Office
1
EUR
4,058.62 gross
2 January 2020

This is a permanent full-time contract for 5 working days (36.25 hours net) per week. Although the appointment is for an indefinite period of time, it is expected that the overall period of service will most probably not exceed three years. This point will be addressed during the recruitment process.

The monthly gross salary for this position is € 4,058.62 B3(L) level.

Please note that Belgian nationals will be paid their salary gross and are expected to comply with their tax obligations through completion of a tax return to the Belgian authorities. Non-Belgian nationals will receive their salary net, minus the deduction of an equivalent level of Belgian tax retained at source. Further information on this will be given to candidates during the recruitment process.

The successful candidates will be subject to professional background checks and security clearance.

Staff recruited locally by the British Diplomatic Missions in Belgium are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local Belgian employment law.

Visa / Passport requirements: Candidates must currently hold the independent right to live and work in Belgium and be prepared to ensure that right remains throughout the scope of the contract. Additional requirements may become necessary pending EU Exit. If requirements change additional eligibility information will be shared during the recruitment process.

Please note that the deadline for applications is 23:55 on the day mentioned in the above field “Application deadline”.

We advise you to allow enough time to complete and submit your full application, since only applications completed and submitted before the deadline will be considered. Please be aware that the deadline for submitting applications is considered to be the time zone for the country where the vacancy has arisen.

Please be advised that the British Diplomatic Missions will not be able to meet the travel costs incurred when travelling to the interview, nor the costs connected with relocation if offered a job.

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.

This opportunity is closed to applications.