Senior Director, Global Investment & Trade

The Senior Director will serve as an intermediary leadership layer between the Directors of the International Trade Department (ITD) and Business Development (BD) and the VP of Recruitment, providing management, strategic vision, and support to the Directors of ITD and BD. In addition, the Senior Director will oversee the strategic initiative of grouping of these divisions, increasing collaboration, performance enhancement, and synergy between EDPNC’s international-facing efforts.

OUR MISSION:

The Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina (EDPNC) is focused on recruiting new businesses to the state, supporting the needs of existing businesses, connecting exporters to global customers, helping small business owners get their start, and attracting tourists and visitors from all over the world.

· Support International Trade and Business Development teams’ strategies – including the identification of high-impact inbound investments, as well as fruitful global trade opportunities for NC companies to grow their footprint in NC.

· Support strategic planning for the units and areas of major focus to include: cultivating generative domestic and international relationships resulting in pipeline activity, continued training in consultative selling methods, and managing and promoting NC’s global reputation.

· Serve as subject-matter expert for EDPNC, developing strategies to polish the units’ market-facing operations, and evolving the units’ reputation as the statewide thought leader for all aspects of international commerce and relationships.

· Drive best-in-class processes to enhance efficiencies within business unit, including cross-functional activities or initiatives with other EDPNC units.

· Develop a focused value proposition to proactively promote private EDPNC investor opportunities with ITD and BD.

· Provide support for either unit’s Ad-Hoc needs, including client visits (due to vacancy or absenteeism), trade show attendance, or shepherding of international state leadership travel.

· Support respective Directors with the drafting, justification, and monitoring of their unit’s budget and financial responsibilities.

· Provide key support for BD/ITD Directors in matters of personnel, whether hiring, disciplinary, or adjustment.

· Work closely with respective Directors to plan and implement the units’ outreach and marketing operations to outside partners and allies, industry specific conferences and events.

· Provide Director support by providing recommendations for unit’s annual/mid-year performance and develop professional development plans.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

· Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent experience) required, preferably in related fields such as business, marketing, economics, city/regional planning, finance, real estate, public policy, etc.

· Post-graduate educational experience or degree preferred in related fields such as business, marketing, public policy, real estate, finance, etc.

· Minimum 5 years’ experience in state or regional business recruitment, preferably involving state/local incentives and corporate site selection; similar private-sector experience in site-selection or incentives advisory work, or sales, is also substitutable

· Strongly prefer minimum 2 years’ experience managing multiple direct reports in an economic development agency or similar organization

KEY COMPETENCIES

· Ability to interface professionally with senior-level business executives and government officials at all levels and across different cultures.

· Strong verbal and written communication skills, including presentations to outside audiences

· Strong organizational skills and thorough follow up.

· Strategic thinking

· Focus on attaining performance results

· Ability to collaborate with multiple stakeholders, both internal and external to the organization

· Customer service-focused attitude and behavior

PHYSICAL AND MENTAL REQUIREMENTS

o Sitting and standing for long periods of time

o Driving a vehicle (employee or company-leased/company-rented)

o Domestic and international travel via commercial or charter aircraft

o Presenting to, and communicating with, high-level business executives and government officials

o Managing multiple, competing demands on time and resources

o Organizing schedules to be responsive to multiple stakeholders, including clients, customers, partners, and colleagues

OUR COMMITTMENT TO DIVERSITY:

At the EDPNC, we embrace the differences of people living in, working in, and visiting our socially, environmentally, and economically diverse state, as well as those who plan to come.

We know that our greatest strengths come from the people who make up our team, and we strive to be both ambassadors and catalysts for preserving the beauty of the cultural patchwork that makes North Carolina a welcoming place for all.