View Vacancy - SH - Regional Director, Trade and Investment China, D6(L)

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

Invest Northern Ireland (Invest NI) is part of the Department for the Economy in Northern Ireland (NI) and provides support for Northern Ireland business by effectively delivering the Northern Ireland Government’s economic development strategies. We help new and existing Northern Ireland businesses to compete internationally and attract new investment to Northern Ireland.

Main purpose of job:

Based in the British Consulate in Shanghai, the Regional Director, Trade and Investment, China (the ‘China RD’ or Appointee) will lead a team and represent Invest Northern Ireland (Invest NI) in China. Reporting to the Head of Territory, Asia Pacific (the ‘HoT’) (which is based in Singapore), the Appointee will be Invest NI’s key representative in China, responsible for developing and delivering an agreed market strategy with the ultimate goal of securing trade and investment wins for Northern Ireland. The primary focus of the position will be:

  • Trade development across all key business sectors, helping Northern Ireland companies to increase export sales to the region,
  • Promotion of Northern Ireland as a location for inward investment and infrastructure investment, and
  • To raise Northern Ireland’s profile for business and education purposes.

The Appointee will be required to forge effective working relationships with a wide range of businesses, our partners, the Northern Ireland Bureau, the Department for International Trade (DIT), the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), the British Council and other UK stakeholders, senior officials and government and business representative organisations across China and Northern Ireland.

The Appointee will develop and co-ordinate targeted activities such as marketing, promotional events and exhibitions and represent Invest Northern Ireland at business conferences and speak at events as needed. Outputs and outcomes activity reports will be submitted monthly to the HoT. Invest NI clients are primarily businesses and education establishments and the Appointee will undertake research and prepare reports and meeting programmes and provide advice to them about doing business in China. The Appointee will be required to monitor expenditure and deliver activities within a pre-allocated budget. The Appointee will also work closely with the wider Invest NI teams based in its Belfast headquarters, in Asia Pacific and other locations.

The Appointee is expected to undertake travel on a regular basis, either within China, Asia Pacific or to the UK and other countries as required. 

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

  • Develop a market strategy for China to promote Northern Ireland’s trade and investment capabilities which contributes to the overall goals of the Asia Pacific territory and Invest NI’s International Business strategy;
  • Work with our INI in-market Marketing and Communications Director to develop a Marcoms strategy that is complementary to our in-market business development activity;
  • Implement an agreed market strategy in China to promote Northern Ireland, help Northern Ireland companies to increase export sales and to secure investment wins;
  • Proactively identify relevant business opportunities 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 Embassies, DIT, British Council, Northern Ireland government representatives and other key stakeholders / business organisations and where appropriate work on the joint planning and delivery of events;
  • Engage effectively with colleagues and stakeholders based in the APAC region and 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 China by providing the information they require to make informed business decisions by liaising with the China in-market Trade Advisory provider and were appropriate handling market research and assessment enquiries, conducting visits and setting up appointments and writing appropriate reports;
  • Oversee and manage in-market support for company visits, trade missions, events and exhibitions;
  • Co-ordinate VIP (including Northern Ireland Government Ministerial delegations) visit programmes to China, prepare briefings and manage the necessary logistics and protocols;
  • Support business delegations and individual business visitors by providing access to effective English/Chinese translation services
  • Develop a network of Northern Ireland ex-patriots that are living/working in China and work with Northern Irish Connections to lever economic returns for Northern Ireland;
  • Manage relevant information sources and maintain accurate records of customer and stakeholder information on Invest NI’s CRM and management systems;
  • Manage the direct report business development staff based in China and work effectively in partnership with wider teams based in Asia Pacific, Northern Ireland and other locations;
  • Prepare reports (including activity / performance / market reports) accurately and timely for management and clients.

Resources managed (staff and expenditure):

This position currently will has direct reports relating to Trade and Foreign Direct Investment.

The post-holder will be responsible for managing a pre-allocated budget appropriate to the agreed APAC and China plan.

Essential on arrival:

  • Educated to degree level ideally in a business or related function
  • Excellent spoken and written English and basic spoken Mandarin; written Mandarin is not required.
  • A strong commercial knowledge of China and business opportunities across sectors, being aware of the issues and solutions related to doing business in this region
  • Over 10 years’ working experience in a private or public sector organisation. At least 3 years working experience in China within the last 5 years.
  • A significant and successful track record in business development, including market research, analysing market data, preparing reports, presenting information to clients and securing contracts / sales
  • Diagnostic, strategic challenger, influencer and facilitation skills, successful team management experience and a good leader
  • 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 written skills, IT literate and comfortable using Microsoft packages such as PowerPoint, Excel and Word.
  • Familiar with the role of economic development agencies and how they collaborate successfully with UK National stakeholders internationally.
  • Knowledge of Northern Ireland, key sectors and economic drivers
  • Commercial and business experience of working the private sector for at least two of the last 5 years is preferable.
15 April 2021
Grade 7 (G7)
Full-time, Fixed term, with possibility of renewal
35
Asia Pacific
China
Shanghai
British Consulate General
1
CNY
British: RMB 51,981
23 August 2021
22 August 2023

We offer a competitive package, which includes basic salary, good leave entitlement, and insurance plan, etc. The gross starting salary (before all deductions) for this position is RMB 41,198/ month for Mainland China Nationals and an abated monthly salary of RMB 51,981/ month for British Nationals and spouses/ partners (all nationalities) of diplomats who are ‘W’ (diplomatic) visa holders and meet passport criteria.

We also offer excellent development opportunities and a 22-day annual leave entitlement in pro rata. Conditioned working hours is 35 hours/ week from Monday to Friday and flexible working can be arranged upon personal needs. For more details on our Total Rewards Package, please visit our website http://www.gov.uk/government/world/china.

Learning and development opportunities(and any specific training courses to be completed):

Induction training will be provided at Invest NI Head office (subject to travel restrictions) and locally in Shanghai / China. The post-holder will be able to access learning and development opportunities afforded by the British Consul General Office in Shanghai and by Invest NI.

Any other information (or specific local Post requirements):

No accommodation or relocation expenses are payable in connection with this position. You must have or be able to obtain a local work permit

Staff recruited locally by the British Consulate General are subject to terms and conditions of service according to local employment law. 

Employment offers are subject to successful clearance of pre-employment checks. Only short-listed applications will be called for personal interviews.

The Embassy is an equal opportunities employer and does not discriminate on grounds of ethnic origin, race, religious beliefs, age, disability, gender or sexual orientation.

Due to time difference with the UK, the post-holder may be required to work some evenings in order to meet deadlines or attend conference calls.

This position is being advertised as a 24 months fixed-term position in Shanghai, and will be extended subject to performance and availability of funding. 

For external advertisement, if hiring manager look for external expats:

External Non-Chinese National Candidates

Due to local Government measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19, including strict entry restrictions, applicants who are non-Chinese nationals are likely to face significant obstacles when seeking residence permits, or travel into China. Please familiarise yourself with the latest restrictions and processes before applying. The British Embassy and Consulates General cannot cover the cost of transport, quarantine or accommodation for applicants who require work permits. 

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.

The start date mentioned in the job advert is a tentative start date and the successful candidate will be required to undergo security vetting procedures. Any offer of employment will be subject to the candidate achieving suitable clearances.

REMINDER: 

Applicants are required to fill out the online application form completely including the employment and educational details, motivational segment and the competency based questions. Forms that are incomplete in any respect will not be considered while shortlisting for the next stage so please ensure you provide information requested. We regret to advise that we will only be contacting shortlisted candidates. Applicants called for an interview will be assessed on the core competencies listed above.

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.