View Vacancy - Relationship Project Manager for Foreign Direct Investment (ITA19.692)
Our GREAT team:
The Department for International Trade (DIT) is responsible for promoting British trade across the world. DIT Europe works to help UK-based businesses export to the EU and to encourage the best European businesses to invest in the UK. This is an exciting time to join DIT, as you will have the opportunity to shape the UK’s international trade agenda and foster UK growth.
How can you contribute?
DIT Europe has a GREAT opportunity for a confident, motivated and experienced Relationship Management Project Manager to support our Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) team based in Milan.
The GREATEST candidate will strengthen and reinforce our Foreign Direct Investment team in Italy, overseeing the in-market Strategic Relationship Management (SRM) approach. This would include the identification and classification of companies in Italy that require a SRM effort to initiate FDI into the UK, or to maintain their current levels of FDI in the UK. The role-holder would form part of the existing FDI team and work in collaboration with Headquarters and Foreign Direct Investment teams in the UK, ensuring local SRM priorities align with the larger organisational context. The role-holder would look after the coordination and briefing in advance of VIP engagement at Post working with the relevant colleagues in London. They would capture and analyse strategic company data in order to track previous account activities, and to identify and ensure appropriate follow-up.
The successful candidate will report to the Head of FDI Italy team in Milan and he/she will line manage two members of the team. The role will require occasional travel within Italy, to the UK and within DIT Europe Region.
What will be your key responsibilities?
- Delivery: Introduction and implementation of a GREAT strategic relationship management methodology in Italy, build on the overall SRM practice outlined by DIT Headquarters and working in parallel with similar procedures established in other UK government organisations
- Resources: Propose, discuss, agree and implement the SRM plans for each selected company in close cooperation with the existing Foreign Direct Investment team at British Consulate General in Milan taking personal initiative, securing buy-in and ensuring cooperation with all relevant colleagues
- Capture: Ensuring local SRM knowledge, activities and plans are captured and presented using our templates, while sharing those with the relevant account team and key stakeholders (and keep updates at any time)
- Strategy: Successfully deliver GREAT FDI projects including cooperation with Ambassadors, VIP contacts, key stakeholders, Headquarters/Consulate colleagues and policy teams for efficient account management. Identify, suggest, plan and deliver strategic activities engaging the client throughout the ‘life’ of the account plan. Establish procedures for agreement of selection criteria for SRM in Italy including when SRM accounts should be closed
- Communication: Building GREAT rapport with key clients in order to increase their interest in information about UK market solutions, policy and regulatory changes. Create a thorough understanding of the local team’s client requirements; enabling anticipation of some client requests and establishment of trust and loyalty in the relationship
- Synergies: Aligning with overall DIT SRM Strategy & regional European initiates and actions where cross border cooperation can maximise opportunities & results for the UK economy. Active and constructive engagement in regional activities to identify best SRM practice and increase synergies for UK promotional activity and impact
- Personal: Demonstrate GREAT personal ambition for DIT’s Foreign Direct Investment team including the ability to maximise resource, introduce innovative ideas, demonstrate creative thinking and enhance capabilities leading to increased performance and effectiveness
- Corporate: Contribute to working groups within the wider FCO network such as e.g. Diversity Champions Group, Women & Girl's Policy Group, Think Green Group
You are a GREAT candidate if:
- You have excellent Italian and English language skills (C1 level or above under the CEFRL or equivalent)
- You are a proven enthusiastic project manager/SRM expert who likes to work in an international environment
- You are a vibrant networker who brings excellent understanding of Italian business dynamics, preferably with a knowledge of the main priority sectors in Italy, with a focus on Technology and Innovation across value chains
- You are able to build rapport at all levels internally and externally
- You are a passionate customer relationship management expert
- You are an energetic analyst with a vision of the bigger picture and strategic thinking
- You have analytical skills, including effective use of Excel and CRM tools
It may be a plus if you:
- Are knowledgeable about the UK strengths at country and regional level
- Have experience with and awareness of the FDI sales cycle
- Have a high aptitude and understanding of technology
This is a full-time temporary position for 12 months contract with possibilty of renewal, graded B3(L) according to the FCO grading structure. The monthly gross salary is Euro 2928.57. The salary is paid monthly 14 times per year including € 10.33 EDR paid 13 times per year, with double salary payments in June and December. If working less than a full calendar year, the additional salary payments will be pro-rata.
Working hours are 35 hours per week.
The appointment is subject to security clearance and the successful completion of a 4 months probationary period.
All staff employed by the British Consulate-General are subject to Italian income tax rate deductions (IRPEF). However the administration of these tax payments will vary depending on nationality.
The successful candidate will be enrolled in the Italian State Social Security Scheme. Staff recruited locally by the British Consulate-General in Milan are subject to terms and conditions of service according to local Italian employment law.
Visa / Passport requirements: Candidates must currently hold the independent right to live and work in Italy 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.
Learning and Development Opportunities:
- Formal and informal Learning & Development sit at the Core of DIT's strategic vision and people plan. A particuliar focus is currently on building and enabling DIT's cross-European team and effort
- More broadly, this is an exiting role at the heart of the Government's agenda. The right candidate can help shape the dialogue between the UK and investors at a pivotal point in trade relations.
- Good learning and development offer available to staff.
Please note, Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, Teaching, Assessment indicates Level C1 as Mastery or proficiency Level which comprehends that a person can understand with ease virtually everything heard or read; can summarize information from different spoken and written sources, reconstructing arguments and accounts in a coherent presentation; can express themselves spontaneously, very fluently and precisely, differentiating finer shades of meaning even in the most complex situations. For more information please click on the following link CEFR. Please bear in mind in case you are invited for an interview your languages skills are going to be assessed.
Please be advised 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 also 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.
This opportunity is closed to applications.
