View Vacancy - Regional Manager - India, Grade- Senior Executive Officer (SEO), Mumbai

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

Note : All applicants are required to mandatorily fill the complete online application form including the employment and educational details, motivational segment and the competency based questions. We will be thoroughly reviewing the application forms only for all the required details. Forms that are incomplete in any respect will not be considered while shortlisting for the next stage.’’

This is a Fixed Term position until 31st March 2024.

Main purpose of job:

Invest Northern Ireland (Invest NI) (www.investni.com) is part of the Department for the Economy in Northern Ireland, United Kingdom (UK). It is Northern Ireland’s principal business development agency with responsibility for supporting the growth of the Northern Ireland economy through the development of its businesses locally and internationally, bringing greater economic benefit and prosperity to the people and this region of the UK.

Operating in over 24 international cities, Invest NI’s overseas offices are responsible for supporting Northern Ireland companies in developing business overseas thus increasing export sales, developing collaborations and marketing Northern Ireland as an inward investment location. Invest NI works closely with a wide range of clients including local businesses, multi-national companies, industry bodies, universities and colleges.  It also works closely with business associations and stakeholders such as the UK’s Department for International Trade (DIT), Chambers of Commerce, the British Council and Tourism Ireland.

Invest NI is renewing its focus in a number of countries around the IMEA region. To build on the successes already achieved, we wish to appoint a Regional Manager, Trade and Investment for India.

The Regional Manager role, based in the British Deputy High Commission in Mumbai, will be Invest NI’s key representative for the India market. Reporting to the Head of Territory for India, Middle East and Africa (IMEA), the post-holder will be responsible for formulating and delivering a strategic plan which helps Northern Ireland companies to increase export sales and find new business in a number of sub-regions in India, and raise the profile of Northern Ireland as an inward investment location. The post holder will also be developing and leading on Sector plans covering key business sectors in Northern Ireland, agree these with the management team and relevant stakeholders, deliver work for Northern Ireland companies, co-ordinate action and execute them successfully. In the longer term, the post-holder will help assess the Levant region, identify potential export and inward investment opportunities, produce a market development plan and deliver the agreed actions. In addition, the Regional Manager will develop and agree a strategic plan covering the education sector, work with stakeholders and key partners in Northern Ireland, India, to raise the profile of Northern Ireland colleges and universities, with the aim to attract more students to study in Northern Ireland and also help universities build partnerships in country.

The Regional Manager will develop an operational plan till March 2024, covering activities in India, outlining resources (budget, staffing/ support) required, agree it with the management team and manage the approved resources allocation; and report activities to the Head of IMEA and Invest NI head office on a timely manner. The post holder will also manage the Trade Advisory Services contract with the local contractor based in India.

In order to carry out their work effectively, the post-holder will be required to forge effective working relationships with a wide range of businesses, senior officials, industry leaders and influencers, stakeholders, Northern Ireland diaspora / ex patriot community and government officials both in the target markets and Northern Ireland. The post-holder will deliver activities such as VIP visits to India, exhibitions / events and trade missions. They will represent Invest NI at relevant business functions and speak at them when required. They will also provide business advice to Northern Ireland companies (market research, location reports or product reports) and produce these reports on a timely basis. In addition, the post-holder will be required to undertake travel on a regular basis, either within India, the wider IMEA region or the UK; and work or travel outside their normal working hours from time to time.

Roles and responsibilities:

  • Formulate and deliver a market development strategy for India to promote Northern Ireland capability, covering export and inward investment, that contributes to the overall goals and performance targets of the territory;
  • Develop, agree and deliver sector plans covering a number of key Northern Ireland business sectors, promote the business opportunities identified in the target markets to Northern Ireland companies through social media, roadshows and face to face meetings, attract them to visit India and export more; 
  • Develop and deliver a market development plan covering Northern Ireland Education sector in India;
  • Proactively provide business advice and identify relevant business opportunities in the target markets for Northern Ireland companies through market intelligence, connections and research and promote Northern Ireland capability to key decision makers;
  • Co-ordinate and manage in-market support for VIP (such as Ministerial delegation) and company visits, trade missions, events and exhibitions in the target markets;
  • Develop strong relationships with senior officials / C-level executives within the targeted companies, influencers and stakeholders including  British Embassy, UK Department for International Trade (DIT) and ex-pats living/ working in the region to deliver action plans and enable Northern Ireland companies to engage with them;
  • Develop a strong FDI pipeline of companies from India;
  • Promote Northern Ireland as a key destination at relevant events focused on inward investment;
  • Prepare an operating plan for the target market, including activities, budgets and resources, and deliver them effectively and successfully;
  • Work closely with the Sector Lead for Engineering based in Dubai to promote NI companies in the said region;
  • Engage effectively with colleagues and stakeholders based in the wider IMEA region (Dubai, Doha, Cairo, Johannesburg) and Northern Ireland to provide market and sector briefings and to ensure that activities in the market align with corporate plans;
  • Appoint and manage third party contractors in India, including projects for clients, sector reports, lead generation for FDI;
  • Manage relevant information sources and maintain accurate recording of customer and stakeholder information on Invest Northern Ireland’s Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and internal management systems.

Resources managed (staff and expenditure):

The post-holder be located in the British Deputy High Commission in Mumbai.

The post-holder will be managing an agreed budget and resource framework to deliver the regional strategy, market development plan and business sector plans. The post-holder will be required to make decisions delegated to them by the Head of IMEA, and act within Invest NI policies and guidelines.

The post-holder will be required to liaise actively and regularly with the Invest Northern Ireland – IMEA and other Invest NI offices. At this moment, as we are re-launching our presence in this market, the post-holder will have the immediate responsibility to manage one member of staff, but this could change in the future in line with the regional strategy that will be formulated by the post-holder and following agreement by the Head of IMEA.

Learning and development opportunities:

Induction training will be provided at Invest NI offices in Dubai, UAE and in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The post-holder will be able to access learning and development opportunities afforded by the British Deputy High Commission in Mumbai.

Other information:

  • The post-holder must be prepared to undertake regular travel either within the India or to other countries, to work or travel outside their normal working hours from time to time to attend events or meetings, conduct conference calls or manage the team to deliver assignments within deadlines.
  • Recent experience is defined as being in the last eight years.
  • This job is subject to security/visa clearance in India.

Language requirements:

English 

  • Spoken: Excellent/Highly Proficient                                                          
  • Written:  Excellent/Highly Proficient   

Other skills / experience / qualifications:

  • A University degree or equivalent;
  • A minimum of five years’ recent successful business development experience in India, including experience of undertaking market research, analysing market data, preparing reports, presenting information and providing advice to clients;
  • A sound knowledge of the current business opportunities across the key business sectors and business environment in India, including issues and solutions relating to doing business in and exporting to India;
  • Recent successful track record in developing and maintaining relationships with senior executives and government officials to achieve significant business outcomes in India;
  • Excellent communication skills; an ability to work collaboratively and effectively with business contacts and colleagues;
  • The ability to work at pace and independently as part of a remote team; and prioritise, managing and delivering an often heavy workload;
  • Strong IT computer skills using Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Office and Internet.
  • Recent successful record of promoting inward investment into any European country;
  • Knowledge of Northern Ireland, particularly an understanding of its key sectors and economic drivers.
Managing a Quality Service, Delivering at Pace, Leadership, Working Together
23 May 2022
Senior Executive Officer (SEO)
Fixed Term, Full-time
40
18 months
South Asia & Afghanistan
India
Mumbai
British Deputy High Commission
1
INR
INR 157,741 per month plus 12% Provident Fund and 6% Special allowance
1 August 2022
31 March 2024

For BHC candidates, the Local BHC Terms & Conditions will apply.

For other than BHC candidates, Basic Salary will be INR 157,741 per month together with a 12% provident fund and 6% Special allowance.

Additionally the BHC offers a great benefits package that includes annual domiciliary medical cover, plus a Group Hospitalisation Scheme with INR 500,000 floater cover for your immediate family.

No relocation or any other related costs or assistance will be provided.

Please note - BHC does not deduct tax at source and employees are required to ensure that any requirements of local income-tax law are complied with in full. Employees who are not liable to pay local income tax on their Mission salary, eg. some non-local national staff and some spouses or partners of UK diplomatic staff, will have their salaries abated by an equivalent amount.    

The BHC is recognised as a good employer, with a robust, fair and transparent performance management & appraisal system linked to increments and staff bonuses. We have a 5-day working week, plus annual leave, public holidays, maternity leave provision, special leave, paid sick leave provision; ample development opportunities, travel opportunities, a good organisational culture, and excellent work/life balance. 

Around half of our work forces are women.  We treat people with respect and equality and have a policy of zero tolerance for any form of discrimination, bullying, or harassment. 

This is a good opportunity to be part of a strong, diverse team, working in the biggest network that FCO has anywhere across the globe.  We are aiming to make it the best.

To Apply: 

Please note applications without (a) and (b) will not be considered.

A. Complete the Online Application Form

B. Complete the Motivation and Competency Segment in the Online Application Form

Internal candidates applying for this position need to upload their appraisal forms for the previous 2 years (if applicable) and also inform their current line managers, else the applications will not be considered.

We will accept only online applications by 23rd May 2022 till 23:55 IST.  

Please note that all the applicants will be required to strictly adhere to the security guidelines for British High Commission.

Please note - Provident Fund Transfer in and out from EPFO is not possible as BHC PF is managed by a private PF trust governed by Indian Income Tax Act, 1961. The staff still has the option to transfer out and in from a privately held PF trust which are not governed by EPFO.

Applicants who do not have the required qualification & experience should kindly abstain from applying, as their applications will not be considered.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and no telephone enquires will be dealt with.

The appointment will be subject to Police Verification and other checks including references, medical, educational and professional.

We welcome all applications irrespective of age, race, colour, gender, disability, sexual orientation, religion, belief or creed. We are also open to applications from people who want to work flexibly.

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.