View Vacancy - SIN - Senior Regional Manager, Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering, Southeast Asia, C5(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

Main purpose of the job:

Based in the British High Commission in Singapore and reporting to the Head of Territory (HOT) of Asia Pacific, the post-holder will be Invest Northern Ireland’s (Invest NI) sector lead of Advanced Manufacturing Materials & Engineering (AME) in Southeast Asia (SEA).

The primary focus of the position will be business development, to increase Northern Ireland exports in the AME sector by helping Northern Ireland companies with market access and market development in SEA. When carrying out their work, the post-holder will be required to forge effective working relationships with a wide range of businesses: Northern Ireland client companies and customers in SEA, stakeholders, senior officials and government representatives. Whilst AME is Northern Ireland’s most significant business sector in SEA and in Asia Pacific (APAC), the post holder will also be expected to support the wider Invest NI team to meet the collective goals and objectives of INI in SEA and APAC.

Linked to Invest NI’s International Business strategies and the strategies of Invest NI’s sector teams based in Northern Ireland, and working with our international partners and stakeholders, the post-holder will develop and agree an annual operating plan and objectives that support the growth of Northern Ireland exports in AME sector and ultimately economic growth for Northern Ireland.  

As well as one to one support for Northern Ireland businesses, 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 and prepare activity reports summarise information for the HOT. A significant part of the role is to undertake research, conduct business development work to identify sales opportunities for Northern Ireland companies and provide market access advice to new market entrants. 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 NI teams based in its Belfast headquarters, in Asia Pacific and other locations. The post-holder is also expected to undertake travel on a regular basis, either within SEA, to the UK and other countries.

Roles and responsibilities:

Trade and Business development 

  • Develop and implement specific national action plans for the AME sector in SEA to primarily increase the export value from Northern Ireland;
  • Proactively identify relevant business opportunities of AME sector for Northern Ireland companies in SEA through market intelligence, connections and research and promote the Northern Ireland capability to key decision makers;
  • Work with INI APAC Marcoms Director to develop marketing strategies for AME sector in SEA that aligns with business development activity to promote export and strengthen Northern Ireland’s impact in the SEA region;
  • Support Northern Ireland companies interested in SEA by providing information required to make informed business decisions by managing market research and assessment enquiries, conducting visits and arranging business development meetings and writing appropriate reports.  In this regard the post holder will be able to leverage the Invest NI’s appointed Trade Advisory Support providers in SEA in the delivery of support services to NI client companies and in relation to sector relevant market research;
  • Identify and articulate specific business opportunities to colleagues in Northern Ireland including International Trade Advisers and trade organisations and work with NI companies to help them respond to these opportunities;
  • Identify and attend sector trade exhibitions and conferences, deliver in-market physical events and virtual webinars to arrange and attend client and customer meetings, promote industry excellence from NI and to highlight key market opportunities for NI companies;
  • Co-ordinate VIP (including Ministerial delegations) visit programmes to SEA, prepare briefing and manage the necessary logistics and protocols.

Effective Strategic Relationship Management 

  • Develop strong C-level relationships with targeted companies, stakeholders and influencers in the region and enable Northern Ireland companies to engage with them;
  • Work effectively in partnership with wider teams based in Northern Ireland, Asia Pacific and other locations.
  • Build strong relationships in SEA within: the British Embassy network, the UK Department of International Trade (DIT),  the British Council, and other key stakeholders, and business and industry organisations and where appropriate work on joint planning and delivery of events;
  • Contribute to Invest NI’s development of a network of Northern Ireland diaspora working in the region and work with Northern Irish Connections to deliver economic returns to Northern Ireland

Database and Budget Management 

  • Manage relevant information sources and maintain accurate recording of customer and stakeholder information on Invest NI’s CRM and management systems .
  • Manage a pre-allocated budget appropriate to the agreed regional business sector plan.
  • Educated to degree level ideally in a business or related function;
  • 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;
  • A sound commercial knowledge of SEA and the business opportunities in AME sector, being aware of the issues and solutions relating to doing business in this region;
  • Over 7 years’ working experience in a private or public sector organisation, with at least three years’ relevant experience in SEA;
  • 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, SEA and other locations;
  • Excellent organisational and administrative skills;
  • Excellent IT skills (using Microsoft software including PowerPoint, Excel and Word)
  • 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;
  • Fluent in English – speaking and written
  • Knowledge of Northern Ireland
  • Working experience in a private or public sector organisation, with at least three years’ relevant experience in the in the AME sector in SEA
  • Familiar with the role of economic development agencies and how they collaborate successfully with UK National stakeholders internationally.
23 December 2021
Senior Executive Officer (SEO)
Full-time, Fixed term, with possibility of renewal
37.5
Asia Pacific
Singapore
Singapore
British High Commission
1
SGD
SGD 8,265
1 March 2022

We offer a competitive package, which includes basic salary of SGD 8,265 per month and annual wage supplement [an additional 2 months’ salary paid out in December each year], 23-day annual leave entitlement in pro rata and insurance plan.

BHC will consider applications from candidates in countries from which travel to Singapore is feasible under prevailing Covid related borders restrictions. Singapore will allow entry for fully vaccinated with vaccine approved under WHO EUL. Applicants should be aware that Singapore has mandated that from 1 January 2022 only employees who are fully vaccinated, or have recovered from COVID-19 within 270 days, can return to the workplace.  Singapore will require unvaccinated employees to have a negative Pre-Event Testing (PET) result at their own expense before coming to the office. 

We offer time and financial support for the successful candidate to take advantage of professional learning and development opportunities inside and outside of the organisation.

The BHC has an active Learning & Development Committee which works hard to provide a comprehensive L&D offer. There is a wide range of options available for personal development including training courses, coaching and mentoring, job-shadowing, presentations and learning sets. Staff have access to a wide variety of online resources through the International Academy and Civil Service Learning. Staff are strongly encouraged to take advantage of all available opportunities.

All new hires undertake a workplace induction and there are a number of mandatory e-learning courses that must be completed in order to pass probation.

Induction training will be provided at Invest Northern Ireland’s Head office subject to travel restrictions and locally in Singapore. The post-holder will be able to access learning and development opportunities afforded by the British High Commission in Singapore and by Invest Northern Ireland.

Normal working hours are 37.5 per week: 8.30am to 5.00pm from Monday to Friday. 

BHC Singapore supports and promotes flexible working as a crucial part of our inclusive offering.

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.

In addition to the duties which this job normally entails, you may from time to time be required to undertake additional or other duties as necessary to meet the needs of the High Commission, including playing a part in the corporate life of the mission and supporting any crisis response.

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

Staff recruited locally by the British High Commission are subject to terms and conditions of service according to local Singapore employment law.

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

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

Employees who are not liable to pay local income tax on their Mission salary may have their salaries reduced by the equivalent local income tax amount.

Please note that your application must be submitted before 23:55 on the day mentioned in the above field “Application deadline”.

Incomplete application forms will not be taken into consideration, so please ensure you provide the information requested. We regret to advise that we will only be contacting short-listed candidates. Applicants called for an interview will be assessed on the core competencies listed above.

To those applicants not short-listed, we extend our appreciation for considering the British Government as a potential employer.

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.

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.