Sector Development Advisor

Department: Invest Vancouver
Employee Group: Exempt
Location: 4515 Central Boulevard, Burnaby
Salary Range/ Wage Rate: Professional / Technical, Level P2 ($96,861.28 - $113,884.36 annually)

Invest Vancouver is seeking a Sector Development Advisor. Targeting key sectors, the Sector Development Advisor is responsible for attracting foreign direct investment into the region, as well as supporting companies to remain and expand in the Metro Vancouver region.

You are: A proactive, curious, and strategic-thinking team player who takes pride in executing plans and delivering tangible results. You are available for occasional international business travel. You are also a service-oriented individual with strong communication and presentation skills and a superior ability to solve problems and influence others.

The Sector Development Advisor reports to the Vice President, Strategic Investment.

This role:

• Delivers Invest Vancouver’s investment attraction and promotion service within the Strategic Investment team. Works directly with prospective and existing business investors and ensures the development and maintenance of functional relationships with strategic partners. Provides consultation and guidance throughout all stages of an investment deal life cycle.
• Holds a strong knowledge of the region’s economy and provides foreign and non-BC business investor clients with local expertise and information on various topics, engaging appropriate resources and partners as required; employs superior relationship building abilities to effectively present the Metro Vancouver region as a preferred investment destination. Maintains support once clients have executed projects in the region and delivers business retention and expansion service in support of existing investor accounts.
• Develops and maintains robust relationships and partnerships with federal, provincial and local governments, industry associations, bilateral business associations, and organizations engaged in international investment, to align objectives and programs and to remain current on matters affecting international business development.
• Formulates strategic meeting objectives, develops curated business programs for clients visiting the Metro Vancouver region and prepares comprehensive information materials. Applies strategic thought to inform clients on key considerations and deliver intelligence pertaining to client-specific cases including government programs and policy, regulatory matters, industrial ecosystem insights, site selection requirements, and more. Handles highly confidential client information with tact and discretion and manages client information and engagement within designated Client Relationship Management (CRM) system.
• Coordinates with Invest Vancouver’s Global Marketing and Partnerships teams to develop and package client requested research and information materials, as well as develop presentations, collateral and other materials which highlight the region’s unique business advantages and value proposition. Identifies and makes recommendations regarding suitable programs and events for presentations, seminars and other outreach strategies to market and promote the Metro Vancouver advantage to targeted international business audiences.
• Collaborates with partners engaged in workforce development and immigration to inform and advise clients on matters related to skills development, economic immigration and skilled labour mobility.
• Performs other related duties as required.

To be successful, you have:

• 5 years of recent, related experience supplemented by a university degree in business administration, economics, public administration, international relations or other relevant discipline; or an equivalent combination of training and experience.
• Sound knowledge and understanding of relevant investment attraction protocols, processes and best practices. Strong knowledge of the region’s economy, its key industries and relevant partners and organizations.
• Professional business development experience, preferably in an international context. Strong and effective networking skills, committed to building long-term relationships.
• Demonstrated decision making ability with regards to the allocation of resources. Ability to apply sound cost-benefit analysis on budget recommendations and program delivery to ensure limited resources are deployed in the most cost effective manner to maximize return on investment and achieve organizational goals.
• Ability to develop and lead partnerships and networks with private and public agencies and member jurisdictions to enhance the delivery of critical services to investment prospects, including jointly implementing investment attraction initiatives, negotiating solutions and influencing investor decisions.
• Ability to work under general direction and use sound independent judgment in adapting and applying procedures to address and resolve unusual or problem situations; ability to analyze complex issues and provide strategic input.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, including effective presentation skills. Superior business writing skills including the ability to draft non-routine correspondence.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to build and maintain effective and respectful working relationships with internal and external contacts; applies team effectiveness skills and contributes to the achievement of team goals. Ability to work independently and demonstrates a high level of initiative.
• Ability to provide professional advice and guide clients on a range of issues pertaining to investment decisions; strong analytical, interpretation and research skills and demonstrates a high degree of autonomy and discretion.
• Ability to meet timelines and objectives and demonstrates persistence to overcome obstacles.
• Proficiency using Microsoft office programs, including Word, Excel, Outlook, CRM, and PowerPoint.