SRJ - Invest Northern Ireland Regional Manager for Saudi Arabia and Levant Region (SEO)

Job Description (Roles and Responsibilities) 1

The British Embassy Riyadh has a vacancy for a Regional Manager for Saudi Arabia and Levant Region under Invest Northern Ireland on a fixed-term contract for two (2) years.

About Invest NI

Invest Northern Ireland (Invest NI) is part of the Department for the Economy in Northern Ireland, United Kingdom. It is Northern Ireland’s principal business development agency with responsibility for supporting the growth of the Northern Ireland economy through the development of its businesses locally and internationally, bringing greater economic benefit and prosperity to the people and this region of the UK.

Operating in 30 international cities, Invest NI’s overseas offices are responsible for supporting Northern Ireland companies in developing business overseas thus increasing export sales, developing collaborations, and marketing Northern Ireland as an inward investment location. Invest NI works closely with a wide range of clients including local businesses, multi-national companies, industry bodies, and universities and colleges. It also works closely with business associations and stakeholders such as the UK’s Department for Business and Trade (DBT), Chambers of Commerce, the British Council, and Tourism Ireland.

About the role

Invest NI is continuing its focus in a number of countries around the Middle East. To build on the successes already achieved, we wish to appoint a Regional Manager for Saudi Arabia and the Levant region.

The Regional Manager role is based in the British Embassy in Riyadh and will be Invest NI’s key representative for the Saudi Arabia market. Reporting to the Head of Territory for India, Middle East, and Africa (IMEA), the jobholder will be responsible for formulating and delivering a strategic plan which helps Northern Ireland companies to increase export sales and find new business in a number of sub-regions in Saudi Arabia and raise the profile of Northern Ireland as an inward investment location. The jobholder will also develop and lead on sector plans covering key business sectors in Northern Ireland, agree these with the management team and relevant stakeholders, deliver work for Northern Ireland companies, co-ordinate action, and execute them successfully. In the longer term, the jobholder will help assess the Levant region, identify potential export and inward investment opportunities, produce a market development plan, and deliver the agreed actions. In addition, the Regional Manager will develop and agree a strategic plan covering the education sector, working with stakeholders and key partners in Northern Ireland, Saudi Arabia, and ultimately Levant region to raise the profile of Northern Ireland colleges and universities, with the aim to find institutional partnerships for Northern Ireland educational institutions.

The Regional Manager will develop an operational plan for the next three years, covering activities in Saudi Arabia and the Levant region, outlining resources (budget, staffing / support) required, agree it with the management team, and manage the approved resources allocation; and report activities to the Head of IMEA and Invest NI head office on a timely manner.

In order to carry out their work effectively, the Regional Manager will be required to forge effective working relationships with a wide range of businesses, senior officials, industry leaders and influencers, stakeholders, Northern Ireland diaspora/ expat community, and government officials both in the target markets and in Northern Ireland. The jobholder will deliver activities such as VIP visits to the markets they are responsible, exhibitions/ events, and trade missions. They will represent Invest NI at relevant business functions and speak at them when required. They will also provide business advice to Northern Ireland companies (market research and analysis, sector reports, location reports or product reports) and produce these reports on a timely basis. In addition, the jobholder will be required to undertake travel on a regular basis, either within Saudi Arabia, Levant region, the wider IMEA region, or to the UK; and work or travel outside their normal working hours from time to time.

Duties and responsibilities:

• Formulate and deliver a market development strategy for Saudi Arabia and the Levant region to promote Northern Ireland capability, covering export and inward investment, that contributes to the overall goals and performance targets of the territory;
• Develop, agree, and deliver sector plans covering a number of key Northern Ireland business sectors, promote the business opportunities identified in the target markets to Northern Ireland companies through social media, roadshows, and face-to-face meetings, attract them to visit markets and export more;
• Develop and deliver a market development plan covering Northern Ireland education sector in Saudi Arabia and the Levant region;
• Proactively provide business advice and identify relevant business opportunities in the target markets for Northern Ireland companies through market intelligence, connections, and research, and promote Northern Ireland capability to key decision makers;
• Promote the region’s business and sector opportunities to NI based companies in order to attract them to pursue Saudi Arabia as a location to export;
• Co-ordinate and manage in-market support for VIP (such as Ministerial delegation) and company visits, trade missions, events, and exhibitions in the target markets;
• Develop strong relationships with senior officials/ C-level executives within the targeted companies, influencers, and stakeholders including British Embassy, UK Department for Business and Trade (DBT), Irish Embassy, Business Networks – both Irish and British and expats living/ working in the region to deliver action plans and enable Northern Ireland companies to engage with them;
• Prepare an operating plan for the target markets, including activities, budgets, and resources, and deliver them effectively and successfully. The jobholder will manage an agreed budget and resource framework to deliver the regional strategy, market development plan, and business sector plans. They will be required to make decisions delegated to them by the Head of IMEA and act within Invest NI policies and guidelines;
• Engage effectively with colleagues and stakeholders based in the wider IMEA region (Dubai, Cairo, Mumbai, Johannesburg), other Invest NI offices, and in Northern Ireland, especially the Sector Leads based in Dubai and the International Trade Advisors (ITAs) based in the headquarters, to provide market and sector briefings and to ensure that activities in the market align with corporate plans;
• Manage relevant information sources and maintain accurate recording of customer and stakeholder information on Invest NI’s Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and internal management systems.

The above list is not exhaustive, and the jobholder will be required to be flexible as specific responsibilities could change in the future and this would be at the discretion of the line manager or head of section. The job description may be reviewed to meet changes in business needs. The jobholder may also take on other ad hoc tasks as required, including participating in the Embassy’s emergency planning and any other response to a crisis.

Key behaviours required:

• Seeing the Big Picture - Understand how your role fits with and supports organisational objectives. Recognise the wider priorities and ensure work is in the national interest.
• Working Together - Form effective partnerships and relationships with people both internally and externally, from a range of diverse backgrounds, sharing information, resources, and support.
• Managing a Quality Service - Deliver service objectives with professional excellence, expertise, and efficiency, taking account of diverse customer needs.
• Delivering at Pace - Taking responsibility for delivering timely and quality results with focus and drive.
• Communicating and Influencing - Communicate purpose and direction with clarity, integrity, and enthusiasm. Respect the needs, responses, and opinions of others.

Eligibility:

• The successful candidate must be able to secure a local residence and work permit in Saudi (iqama) OR already have the right to work and reside in Saudi.
• The British Embassy provides visa sponsorship. The successful candidate will be required to transfer their visa under the Embassys sponsorship.

Essential qualifications, skills and experience 1

• Recent successful business development experience in Saudi Arabia, ideally for at least five (5) years, including experience of undertaking market research, analysing market data, preparing reports, presenting information, and providing advice to clients;
• A sound knowledge of the current business opportunities across the key business sectors and business environment in Saudi Arabia, including issues and solutions relating to doing business in and exporting to Saudi Arabia;
• A general knowledge on the key business sectors, business practices, and trading standards in the Levant region;
• Recent successful track record in developing and maintaining relationships with senior executives and government officials to achieve significant business outcomes in the Middle East;
• Excellent communication skills in English and Arabic, both written and spoken. Able to express ideas and messages clearly and concisely, both orally and in written communication.
• An ability to work collaboratively and effectively with business contacts and colleagues. Experience of developing relationships and building influence with multiple stakeholders in public and private sectors and recognises the importance of developing a strong professional network.
• Ability to work at pace and independently as part of a remote team; and prioritise, manage, and deliver an often heavy workload;
• Flexible, resilient, decisive, and calm under pressure. With a proven track record of delivering results to a high standard within tight deadlines.
• Holds at least a university degree or equivalent professional experience;
• Strong IT computer skills using Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams) and web-based applications.

Desirable qualifications, skills and experience 1

• Knowledge of Northern Ireland, particularly an understanding of its key sectors and economic drivers.

Required behaviours 1 Communicating and Influencing, Delivering at Pace, Managing a Quality Service, Seeing the Big Picture, Working Together Application deadline 1 21 May 2024 Grade 1 Senior Executive Officer (SEO) Type of Position 1 Full-time, Fixed Term Working hours per week 1 35 Duration of Post 1 24 months Region 1 Middle East & North Africa Country/Territory 1 Saudi Arabia Location (City) 1 Riyadh Type of Post 1 British Embassy Number of vacancies 1 1 Salary Currency 1 SAR Salary 1 29,213 Start Date 1 14 July 2024 Other benefits and conditions of employment 1

The Embassy aims to offer an attractive working environment and remuneration package for this role.

Monthly salary details:

• Base Salary - SAR 22,971
• Housing Allowance - SAR 5,743 (subject to eligibility)*
• Travel Allowance - SAR 500 (subject to eligibility)*
• Total - SAR 29,213

• Allowances are not payable to staff who receive official provision for such expenditure in some other form. Spouses/ Dependents of UKBS officers working at the Embassy are not eligible to Housing or Travel Allowance.

No accommodation nor relocation expenses are payable in connection with this position.

This position is full-time, based on 35 hours per week. Normal working hours for the Embassy are from 08:00 to 15:00 from Sunday to Thursday, with core working hours from 10:00-15:00. Core working hours is the period of the day that employees are required to be at work. The working day outside of the core hours is a flexible period, which allows employees to choose when they work, subject to operational needs.

The jobholder will be required to be flexible in their approach to hours worked as these will be dictated by operational needs and may involve working out of hours (evening and weekend) to attend events or meetings, conduct conference calls, or manage the team to deliver assignments within deadlines. Flexible working arrangements may be considered based on operational requirements and agreement with the line manager, and in line with FCDO and Embassy policies.

The jobholder must also be prepared to undertake regular travel either within Saudi and/or the region (and possibly further afield) for business purposes.

The successful candidate will be subject to a 90-day probationary period.

The successful candidate will be required to transfer their iqama under the Embassys sponsorship.

Additional information 1

How to apply:

Interested candidates must include with their online application form

1) an updated Curriculum Vitae (CV);

2) a covering letter/ motivation essay stating how you meet the requirements of the role; and

3) specific examples, in the relevant sections of the online application form, of how you meet the key behaviours required.

Applications that do not include these information will not be considered.

The closing date for applications is at 23:55 KSA local time on 21 May 2024.

Applications received after the stated deadline will not be considered.

Internal candidates (i.e., those who are currently employed by the British Embassy Riyadh/ British Consulate General Jeddah) applying for this position should consider informing their current line manager upon submission of their application.

Due to the large number of applications we receive, only those shortlisted for the next step in the recruitment process will be contacted.

Appointable candidates who were unsuccessful at interview may be placed on a ‘reserve list’. If during the reserve period of six (6) months the same or a largely similar role becomes available, that role may be offered to the second or subsequent candidate.

The start date mentioned in the advert is a tentative start date and the successful candidate will be required to undergo security-vetting procedures. Any offer of employment will be subject to the candidate achieving suitable clearances and reference checks.

The recruitment process, including security clearance, is expected to take around 2-3 months. The security clearance process includes checks available in country and in the UK, dependant on the security level required for the role and the candidate’s profile and UK footprint. You may experience some delay in the progress of this recruitment campaign, and we are working hard to minimise any disruption.

The British Embassy Riyadh is an equal opportunities employer, dedicated to inclusivity, a diverse workforce and valuing difference. Staff recruited locally by the British Embassy is subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local Saudi Arabia employment law.

Please be aware that you will only be able to apply to vacancies for Country Based Staff roles with the British Government through this official tal.net site (operated by Oleeo). Jobs may be advertised on third party websites, however our adverts will always link back to the official tal.net site. If you complete and send an application through any other site, we will not receive it.