The Country Head’s mandate is to partner with Singapore companies on their internationalisation journey, whether it’s helping them take the first step overseas, advising on the latest developments and sectoral opportunities in the overseas markets, facilitating their businesses to enlarge their global footprint, providing assistance in strengthening their foothold in foreign markets. Together with a team led by the Director, the Country Head designs and executes activities and events for companies to learn about trade and investment opportunities, land with in-market partners, and localise for long-term sustainability and success. He / She will be given a portfolio of geographic markets to oversee. Additionally, he/she is also expected to undertake secretariat duties and participate in organisation-wide and/or department projects. He/she will also provide guidance and direction to the designated regional team.
Job Responsibilities
1. Leadership
- Lead, train and guide regional team members to achieve KPIs
- Initiate and plan research on markets, and identify key findings that have implications for companies, industries, or the Singapore business community in general. Research may include secondary (e.g. desktop reviews) or primary (e.g. in-market studies) research methods
2. Relationship management. This includes but is not limited to:
- Forming and maintaining connections with companies and political officeholders
- Gain in-depth knowledge of assigned regions
- Resolve complaints effectively and quickly
- Upselling and cross-selling other SBF activities and departments
3. Support SBF Global AEMEA to organise and deliver events for excellent customer experience. This includes but is not limited to:
- Facilitating discussions with internal departments to understand requirements and details of SBF Global events, providing professional input as appropriate
- Planning and organising SBF Global events with attention to resource constraints and budgetary controls
- Collate, compile and report data relating to event participation for reporting and analysis
- Manage relations with external vendors to ensure timely delivery of the service
- Initiate and conduct research on markets, and identify key findings that have implications for companies, industries, or the Singapore business community in general. Research may include secondary (e.g. desktop reviews) or primary (e.g. in-market studies) research methods
- Operationalise activities aimed at building awareness of portfolio markets, and/or motivating action by member companies; activities include, but are not limited to: Symposiums, Business Forums, Roundtables, Seminars/Webinars, Workshops, and outgoing Business Missions
- Contact potential Singapore companies to speak on their international growth plans and assist in making appropriate introductions to potential overseas counterparts and facilitating their discussions
- Identify and cultivate relationships with local and overseas market entry partners to build SBF’s eco-system to strengthen our capabilities and knowledge in the overseas markets and access to local network
- Provide market advisory, B2B matching and following up on leads to achieving optimal outcome of closure of Project facilitations
- Curate and plan activities to drive up market awareness and sectoral opportunities for Singapore companies in the overseas markets
4. Provide operation and logistics support to SBF Global events to ensure that the events are organised smoothly which will include the following responsibilities but not limited to:
- Pre and post event, virtual and physical, processes such as booking and setting up of event venue, logistics, event enquiries and registration, event marketing, managing vendors
- Perform proper financial and non-financial documentation, as well as billing tasks
- Collation of companies’ information, participant forms, visas, flight tickets, and working with external vendors for mission brochure printing and art layout
- Manage Electronic Direct Mailing (EDM) of the events
5. Secretariat
This includes but not limited to:
- Write country briefs and talking points for internal stakeholders
- Hosting of political office holders and attending events
- Maintain and build positive relationships with key stakeholders; and provide administrative support where required. Identified stakeholders include, but are not limited to: Business Councils, Business Groups, Trade Associations and Chambers in Singapore/overseas and SBF members
Job Responsibilities
- A minimum of 8 years relevant work experience as of which 4 years in management
- At least 3 years overseas experience and posting is preferred
- Good understanding of business processes and organisational disciplines
- Ability to research and understand factors impacting the international business environment
- Ability to handle cross cultural differences in a respectful manner and can communicate effectively with internal and external stakeholders
- Inquisitive, open to new ideas, a self-starter who is adaptable to new situations and able to multitask
- Good organisational and coordinating abilities, and good interpersonal skills
- Self-motivated and a good team player who can take lead in assigned portfolio and support other colleagues in the respective work streams
- Strong verbal and written communication skills in English
