Sin - Head of Territory - Asia Pacific, Invest

Job Description (Roles and Responsibilities)
**Main purpose of job**:
Invest NI operates in 4 territories, Asia Pacific, India, Middle East & Africa (IMEA), GB & Europe and the Americas. With a presence in over 20 international cities, Invest NI’s overseas offices are responsible for supporting Northern Ireland companies in developing business overseas, increasing export sales and developing collaborations. They are also responsible for marketing and promoting Northern Ireland as an inward investment location.

Invest NI works closely with a wide range of clients including local businesses, multi-national companies, universities and colleges. Invest NI also works closely with business associations and stakeholders such as the UK’s Department for International Trade (DIT), Chambers of Commerce, the British Council, industry bodies, local councils in Northern Ireland, Tourism Northern Ireland and Ireland.

Reporting directly to the Executive Director of International and Skills Group in Invest NI’s Belfast HQ, the Head of Territory - Asia Pacific will lead all Invest NI’s operations in the Region.

The recently released “10X Economy” by DfE sets out the overall vision for the future of Northern Ireland’s economy. Achieving the vision requires a new approach to trade and investment which has been outlined in “Trade and Investment for a 10X Economy”. At its core our ambition is to harness trade and investment as a catalyst for inclusive, green growth in Northern Ireland to support our economic transformation over the next decade. We want to use trade and investment as a key driver to increase wealth, prosperity and living standards in Northern Ireland.

The Head of Territory will provide strategic direction to our business development staff to attract potential investors to Northern Ireland and support Northern Ireland companies to successfully find new opportunities across the region, ranging from New Zealand & Australia, to South East Asia, China & North East Asia. The post-holder will develop and successfully implement Invest NI’s corporate strategy to ensure the team deliver on export and inward investment targets from the Asia Pacific Region, taking into account two of the most current Global and European issues - EU Exit and the Covid-19 pandemic. The post-holder will have full autonomy to lead the in-market teams to deliver the targeted £1bn increase in export sales to the Asia Pacific Region over the course of the next 5 years. This represents a 91% increase in sales to the region from the 2020 baseline and will be a significant contribution to the organisation’s overall corporate target of increasing external sales by £5 bn post EU Exit and as part of the Northern Ireland Covid recovery plan.

This is a senior leadership role for Invest NI. The post holder will be a key member of the International’s Senior Management Team, who will be responsible for expanding Invest NI’s footprint in Asia Pacific and increasing staff in the coming years. They must possess previous extensive senior management level experience with responsibility for ensuring the successful delivery of high level and significant business development targets with a proven track record in dealing with senior level executives. They should have executed strategic forward thinking, innovative business solutions, with a detailed understanding of the Asia Pacific markets, the key business sectors, and the main economic drivers in Northern Ireland. They should also possess exceptional leadership skills and a successful track record of delivering through people.
**Overview of key responsibilities**:

- Leading and directing Invest NI’s operations in Asia Pacific to deliver export and investment targets, by working in tandem with Invest NI’s client relationship managers and the Trade & Investment team and colleagues in other international locations;
- Developing and overseeing the successful implementation of Invest NI’s operating strategy in Asia Pacific;
- Oversee Invest NI’s expansion plans for the Region;
- Leading the in-market teams to promote Northern Ireland’s key business sectors and find new markets and export opportunities for Northern Ireland companies, and raise the profile of Northern Ireland’s education sector;
- Providing strategic leadership and guidance to the in-market teams across the Region to successfully promote Northern Ireland’s capability to potential investors;
- Overseeing the development and execution of innovative investment and sales propositions which align the Northern Ireland product to customer requirements and negotiating with customers to achieve a successful conclusion;
- Be the trusted business partner to C Suite executives of Asia Pacific companies who have invested in Northern Ireland, providing them with regular briefings on the political and economic climate in Northern Ireland;
- Building a strong network of strategic relationships, particularly at senior level