View Vacancy – SH – Food and Drink Specialist C4 (L)

Main purpose of job:

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.

This is a Business Development position – reporting to Regional Director of East and West China. The post-holder will be based in the British Consulate General Office in Shanghai, and embedded with the sector team of the UK’s Department of International Trade. She/he will be required to grow Northern Ireland Food & Drink exports to China by proactively identifying trade opportunities for Northern Ireland companies with key buyers and importers/distributors in the retail and foodservice sectors as well as leading the delivery of complex specialist support to Northern Ireland Food & Drink companies looking to significantly grow their international exports.

The primary focus of the position will be business development and to increase Northern Ireland Food & Drink exports by helping Northern Ireland companies with market access and market development in China. When carrying out their work, the post-holder will be required to forge effective working relationships with a wide range of businesses, stakeholders, senior officials and government representatives.

The post-holder will be the China lead in the Food & Drink sector. Linked to Invest NI’s International and 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 the Food & Drink sector and ultimately economic growth for Northern Ireland.  She/he will also be expected to be flexible, and, as required, work across other sectors as part of a small team representing Northern Ireland.

As well as one to one support for Northern Ireland businesses, the post-holder will lead and co-ordinate activities such as exhibitions, marketing events and conferences, represent Invest Northern Ireland at business conferences and speak at events, prepare activity reports summary information for senior line management and Invest NI’s International Group.  A significant part of the role is to undertake research, prepare reports for Northern Ireland companies (market research, location reports, product reports, market access and mode of entry) that educate the Food & Drink sector in Northern Ireland on the opportunities and market access to China. 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, China, Asia Pacific and other locations. The post-holder is also expected to undertake travel on a regular basis, either within China, to the UK and other countries.

Roles and responsibilities:

Trade Development & Strategy Delivery

• Develop and implement specific national action plans for the Food & Drink sector in China;
• Identify key customers operating in the retail, distribution and foodservice sectors in China and take a strategic account management role, understanding any specific procurement and supply chain requirements whilst looking to identify potential opportunities for NI companies.
• Develop strong C-level partnerships with stakeholders and trade associations – both in Northern Ireland and in-market to identify platforms for collaborative or strategic engagement in the Food & Drink sector (Distributors and importers, Chief Associations; restaurant/hotel industry groups etc.).
• Identify and attend sector-specific trade shows, exhibitions and conferences in the market/region to promote Northern Ireland Food & Drink; expand your network of contacts; and identify opportunities for Northern Ireland companies
• Produce data driven insights from market intelligence to scope/explore new opportunities for Northern Ireland companies.
• Report trends to the Trade Division Food & Drink International Trade Adviser, the Food & Drink team in HQ and to trade organisations.
• 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.
• Support Northern Ireland companies interested in China by providing information they require to make informed business decisions by handling market research and assessment enquiries, conducting visits and setting up appointments and writing appropriate reports. This can be achieved through working with the designated INI Trade Advisory Support provider or through the jobholders’ own research.
• Develop and deliver in conjunction with Invest NI’s Food &Drink sector team, and our team a regular update bulletin on Food &Drink news, opportunities and market access issues and resolutions in China.
• Develop in conjunction with our APAC Marcoms Director a marketing and communication strategy that will support the business development strategy and tactics used in that strategy.
• Deliver physical events and virtual webinars and use social media, including LinkedIn, Weibo and Wechat (Invest NI’s social media channels in China) to raise awareness of key market opportunities for Northern Ireland companies. Conversely, deliver webinars and use China’s social media to make potential China customers aware of Northern Ireland Food &Drink sector.

Trade support

• Act as the overseas lead within a wider account team approach working to provide trade advice and guidance to Northern Ireland companies looking to access opportunities in market within the sector.
• Take a creative approach to trade development work, supporting colleagues by looking for innovative ways to create demand for Northern Ireland Food & Drink in other APAC regions.  Be the sector leader in APAC and assist APAC colleagues in responding to requests from Food &Drink clients in regions outside of China.
• Support Northern Ireland companies with market entry and growth strategies and develop a deep understanding of routes to market, business environment and regulatory framework
• Work with colleagues in Northern Ireland to deliver visit programmes, trade missions and learning journeys for Northern Ireland companies, providing added value for participating companies by introducing them to your network of contacts and setting up 1-2-1 meetings for them while in market
• Develop close working relationships with other partners including Department of International Trade (DIT), British Chambers of Commerce and other in-market industry trade bodies who can add value to Invest NI’s work with Northern Ireland companies’ in-market and where appropriate work on joint planning and delivery of events.
• Co-ordinate VIP (including Ministerial delegations) visit programmes to China, prepare briefings and manage the necessary logistics and protocols;

Resources managed (staff and expenditure): The post-holder will be responsible for managing a pre-allocated budget appropriate to the agreed regional plan and national business sector plan. The post-holder will be required to liaise actively and regularly with the China, Asia Pacific and other Invest NI offices. There are currently no direct reports.

• Excellent spoken and written English and Mandarin
• A strong commercial knowledge of China and the business opportunities in Food & Drink sector, being aware of the issues and solutions related to doing business in this region
• A significant and successful track record in the Business Development of overseas Food and Drink companies exporting to China: including market research, analysing market data, preparing reports, presenting information to clients and securing sales / commercial outputs;
• Over 5 years’ working experience in a private or public sector organisation, with relevant and current experience in Food & Drink sector including current knowledge of market access issues, regulatory issues and Food and Drink sector approval process (with China regulatory and approval authorities)
• Diagnostic, strategic challenger, influencer and facilitation skills
• Ability to apply analytical skills in complex situations
• 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;
• Ability to work on own initiative
• Excellent written skills, IT literate and comfortable using Microsoft packages such as PowerPoint, Excel and Word.
• A relevant degree level qualification (or equivalent level of experience)
• Language requirement: English and Chinese (Excellent/Highly Proficient in Spoken and Written)