Main Purpose of Job:

This role will have a major impact on the achievement of Scotland’s Global Inward Investment Team objectives and will support the development of business and organisational strategies.

Working globally in partnership at a regional, national and international level the international inward investment team leader, leading, managing and shaping Asia’s response to Scotland’s identified inward investment goals, policy delivery and providing support to the Global Head of Inward Investment in a way that makes best use of people and financial resources to produce better outcomes (and continuous improvement) as a critical contribution to SDI’s business plan.  

The primary geography role is focused on delivering inward investment for Scotland from across the Asia Pacific region (Including India and China). The International inward investment team leader will be accountable for all inward investment activity across this geography and delivery of the SDI Geography Inward Investment Plan.

Furthermore, the Head of Japan, South Korea, Australia and Inward Investment Asia Pacific will be the primary and principal representative of SDI in these countries and is accountable for the effective and efficient running of SDI’s operations and office(s), including stakeholder and partner engagement.

Managing the operating plan is a complex process, requiring rapid decision-making, a strong strategic focus and the ability to prioritise resources. There are high expectations from potential Investors that the specialist support will help them enter Scotland and meet potential partners / customers to justify their investment decision. Inward investment is a fast-paced environment, with high demands from stakeholders and customers and requirement to drive improvement initiatives within own team and across SDI.

The role will have people management responsibility for all the SDI Inward Investment staff located in multiple markets around Asia Pacific. This will also provide pastoral care for Trade colleagues in Japan, South Korea & Australia who will be line – managed by the corresponding Asia- based Trade Team leaders.

It is therefore essential for the successful candidate to have experience of working in or managing a matrix structure, with a demonstrable record of leading and collaborating among multiple reporting lines, cultures and time zones. Furthermore, the post holder will be both a meticulous planner and effective communicator who has the ability to simultaneously manage multiple complex projects and priorities

What the Jobholder will be Expected to Achieve:

Ensure the creation of ambitious, credible and deliverable operating plans to achieve inward investment into Scotland.  This should be done by exercising critical thinking and sound judgement, using an evidence-based approach and through collaboration with global counterparts.

The postholder will be required to give advice, persuade and negotiate with Geography Ambassadors, Scottish and UK Government Ministers, senior employees in the organisation and external organisations which may have conflicting views. They may also provide briefings for Ministers on specific policy proposals, policy implementations and delivery and policy/operational decisions. They will be required to influence internal and external stakeholders, reconciling different priorities and representing the organisation on major issues. Additionally, they will build and maintaining constructive relationships, leading cross-government and external networks and understanding, responding to and satisfying the needs of diverse audiences and groups. 

• Delivery of an outstanding contribution towards SE and SDI business plan measures and targets through a focus on execution, prioritising activities and deploying resources in-line with operating plans.
• Development of a motivated, engaged and highly skilled team embedding organisational vision, values and culture. They will also be responsible for delivering team objectives.
• Development of a strong and supportive strategic and delivery partnership at a regional, national and international level through personal credibility and pragmatism to create win-win scenarios.
• Support and embed a culture that enables the global regional approach to inward investment through personal leadership – displaying exemplary resonant behaviours.
• Responsible for leading, managing and shaping approaches and activities that makes best use of people and financial resources to produce investment outcomes from across the geography.

Inward Investment Responsibilities:

• Ensuring that there is a robust, geographically relevant, operating plan(s) or equivalent and managing performance against that plan(s), alongside SE / SDI / HIE / SOSE colleagues and partners, including DBT.
• SRO for any specific events taking place within  Japan, South Korea  & Australia and managing senior-level relationships to ‘champion’ FDI opportunities and the work of SDI to clients, partners and stakeholders.
• Providing specific market insight relating to the geography, providing guidance to colleagues and partners.
• Identifying and progressing (via team members) major opportunities and shaping FDI development activity in the geography.

People Management:

• People management responsibility for SDI’s Asia team across the region.
• Directly supporting team members with more complex or challenging company/customer work, involving company visits.
• Ensuring the team culture is strongly focused on performance and customers (internal and external) and that accurate, up-to-date management information is maintained on internal systems.
• Establishing personal credibility and demonstrate valuable contribution to Scotland’s economy through managing senior level partner and stakeholder relationships.
• Handle the management of their teams with a high level of autonomy.

Regional Management:

• Accountability for the effective, efficient and compliant operations of SDI’s Inward investment delivery across Asia Pacific including people and financial resources, key relationships and operational delivery.
• SRO for Senior level visits to Japan, Korea and Australia, ensuring all delivered activities support the delivery of SDI’s trade & investment objectives.
• ‘Local’ partnership development especially with UK Government (FCDO / DBT) as well as many intermediaries from across the region.

Other:

• Travelling within the Geography (Asia Pacific) and at times to Scotland, with attendance at evening and other events whilst paying attention to the post holders wellbeing.

This role provides an opportunity for stretch by:

• Leading on particular global projects around improving SDI’s performance and taking members through a change process as we embedded the new missions based approach.

Resources Managed (Staff and Expenditure): 

• Budget management of circa £250-400k
• Delegated authority as per Grade in SE scheme of delegated authority
• C5, C4, B3, A2 Lead generation and business development staff across Asia Pacific
• Direct D6, 2xC5, 6xC4, A1

• Senior level leadership skills and the ability to achieve strong influence at the most senior of levels (Chairman / CEO / Ambassador, etc)
• The ability to lead complex teams in challenging environments (e.g. across multiple cultures, economic systems, administrative jurisdictions etc)
• High degree of sensitivity in working with people from different backgrounds, cultures etc and doing so to achieve results
• Highly skilled communicator and negotiator, able to develop relationships with senior colleagues and stakeholders within a complex and challenging environment  
• Diagnostic, strategic challenger, influencer and strong facilitation skills
• An ability to quickly analyse complex situations and take creative and innovative approaches to staying ahead of the competition
• People management and resonant leadership, with the ability to successfully manage a team to meet challenging targets and achieve high levels of performance, within a supportive coaching environment
• Managing team budgets
• Development of and execution of operating plans

Language Requirements: 

• Japanese: Business level spoken
• English: Fluent spoken and written