Main purpose of job:

Be part of the Department for Business and Trade’s (DBT) mission to drive more trade and investment between North America and the UK. With a mature, high spending consumer market and an open economy, world-class talent and a business-friendly regulatory environment, the UK is the leading destination for foreign investment in Europe, and the second highest investment destination in the world. The UK is also the world’s seventh largest exporter and the second largest services exporter.   
 
We employ over 150 people across North America, all united by our vision of a future where we champion open and fair global trading that drives growth, creates better jobs and higher wages, and improves living standards in the UK and around the world.  We seek talented team members with the passion and drive to help us in our mission to build a global appetite for British goods and services; drive investment; negotiate trade deals and open up markets; improve international trading standards and fight unfair trading practices. 

North America is the largest source of investible capital in the world and is home to the majority of the world’s leading investment firms. DBT’s mission is to attract high value, high impact capital from major North American investors to help deliver on the UK government’s overarching strategic priorities.  

The Director of Capital Investment and Financial Services, Canada will provide leadership of the Canadian sector team to ensure sector delivery of its strategy and objectives. The role sets and implements the UK’s strategy for optimising inward capital flow from Canadian institutional investors into strategically significant sectors of the UK economy, as well as transatlantic trade and investment in financial and professional business services, represents the UK Government in a range of high-profile settings, and is a valued contributor to the locally based Toronto team. 

Roles and responsibilities:

• Lead and develop an agile and effective sector team for the Capital Investment sector and across the Financial and Professional Business Services sector. This includes managing new and existing strategic relationships across multiple investor cohorts, including asset owners (pension funds, insurance investors, university endowments) and asset managers (real estate, private equity, venture capital) , as well as banks, insurers, legal and other professional business services. .
• Shape and deliver an ambitious integrated sector business plan in consultation with stakeholders and wider UK Government Departments for Canada in coordination with the US Sector lead.
• Successfully build and manage a pipeline of knowledge-driven investment opportunities and projects, with primary focus supporting Canadian institutional investors to increase their capital deployment and diversify their asset allocations to the UK.
• Using the reach of the UK Government, seek to influence effective trade policies in the UK and Canada as it relates to the Financial Services Industries.
• Regularly review progress against targets to ensure effective delivery by team.
• Using your expertise, drive strategic discussion and planning with UK-based counterparts and the UK Government.
• Proactively target investors with strategies and portfolios aligned with UK government priorities, including those with the propensity to increase their asset allocation and exposure to the UK.
• Support and build positive relationships at multiple levels with major Canadian-based institutional investors, coordinating closely with UK-based colleagues at DBT headquarters in London and the US based Capital Investment and Financial Services leads.
• Provide in-person support across Canada for major events, VIP/Ministerial visits, or high value investment and export deals.
• Key account management of existing and potential high value investors and trade partners, using business intelligence to influence business planning.
• Work with marketing team to develop digital campaigns and PR to highlight successful investments and UK export deals and showcase UK leadership and innovation.
• Line manages 2-4 team members in your sector team and across other sectors as needed.
• Work with partners on the UK Government’s broader priorities in Canada.
• Manage budget and make resource recommendations to senior leadership.
• Other duties as assigned.

Resources managed: 

• Line Management of 2-4 team members.
• Member of Canada Country Board, DBT North America Operational Leadership Team and the Trade, Investment and Economic Committee of the Country Board.
• Manages sector budgets
• Leads the development of the Canadian sector strategy

• Substantial professional experience, gained within a business development or economic development role, with in the Capital Investment, or related industry.
• In-depth knowledge of the Canadian Capital Investment and/or Financial Services Sector.
• Excellent management and leadership skills with the ability to deliver results through others
• Proven competence in leading strategy development and business planning
• Excellent stakeholder management abilities.
• Proven advisory and influencing skills at senior levels
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Excellent interpersonal, presentation and networking skills
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills
• An excellent existing network of industry contacts and the ability to develop new networks with senior business and industry leaders
• Ability to multitask and complete work while traveling.
• Excellent budget management skills
• Must be able to attend events outside of office hours and undertake travel in Canada and internationally up to 20% of your time.

Language requirements: 

Language: English 

Level of language required: Must be fluent in English, both written and verbal.