South Australian Regional Director, South East Asia
 

Job Information Pack

Classification: Austrade Overseas Perfomance Level A (AOPL A)

Total cash compensation: 172,073 SGD (including allowances)

Location: Singapore

Employment term: Fixed Term – 3 years

Reports to: Austrade Senior Trade Commissioner, Singapore, and
Director, International Markets, Department for Trade & Investment

Position number: TBC
 

The role

The Regional Director, South East Asia (Singapore) plays an important executive role in identifying and converting trade, export and investment opportunities in key South Australian industry sectors.

The position is locally based in Singapore, located within the Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade) office. The role has market coverage of the South East Asia region.

The position promotes South Australian expertise and industry capabilities, and supports South Australian businesses wanting to engage with the South East Asia region, by optimising and expanding government and business networks, to take advantage of collaborative trade and export opportunities whilst managing potential risks.

The position also promotes, develops and supports Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) opportunities into South Australia. 

The position reports to Austrade’s Senior Trade Commissioner in Singapore, with strategic and day to day reporting to the Director, International Markets, Department for Trade and Investment South Australia.

The Regional Director, South East Asia is responsible for the development and implementation of both virtual and in person ministerial and business mission programs to the region, designed to create opportunities for South Australian businesses, and contribute to the South Australian Government’s Growth Agenda. 

This role will have a close working relationship with DTI’s international markets, and sectoral trade and investment teams.
The principal sectoral areas of focus for this role currently include, but not limited to:

• Agribusiness, premium food and beverages (including wine)
• International education
• Health and medical industries
• Hi-tech

Duties include:

• In collaboration with DTI sector teams, apply strategic thought to identify, scope and secure possible trade and investment opportunities with the South East Asian region including assisting in the evaluation of and reporting on their commercial viability, economic costs and benefits to South Australia.
• Support South Australian businesses within priority sectors to achieve export outcomes for their products and services to the South East Asian region, through facilitation of targeted business introductions and provision of regional and local market intelligence and expertise.
• Proactively identify, target and work closely with potential corporate investors from across South East Asia to facilitate and realise investment opportunities in South Australia. This could involve client recruitment, research and presentation of tailored information on industry capability and the commercial benefits of investing in and exporting from South Australia, contributing to high level negotiations and discussions in a culturally appropriate manner.
• Promote South Australia by delivering presentations at virtual and in-person business events to clearly articulate the advantages of the State as a location for investment and as a highly valued trade partner.
• Manage and deliver in-market programs (client, ministerial and other visits, and the DTI business missions program — inbound and outbound) to develop new business and win major business opportunities in priority sectors, monitoring milestones and outcomes.
• Develop and maintain extensive senior level business and industry networks in the South East Asia region and in South Australia. This may include corporate, state, national and international entities, other Australian government agencies and officials, Australian jurisdictional agencies and allies such as State Territory Governments, industry associations, business councils, regional development groups and professional service providers.
• Provide timely analysis and commercial insight advice on the South East Asian region’s industry development issues, economic trends, and the effect of the region’s international trade and investment activity globally including current and proposed policies to key stakeholders.
• Preparation of discussion papers, Ministerial briefing notes, speech notes and Cabinet Submissions.
• Ensure strong working relationships with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Austrade and other Australian Government and industry bodies.
• Actively apply Austrade and DTI business practices and maintain accuracy of information in all Austrade and DTI Business Systems to deliver accurate and timely reporting and effective relationship management.
• Contribute to knowledge creation within DTI by adopting information practices, sharing knowledge and information and by embracing best practice and development opportunities.
• Report on progress against key performance indicators (KPIs) on a regular basis as stipulated by DTI.
• Work collaboratively within the DTI network to contribute to service delivery and achieve desired outcomes.

Key Challenges:

• The global business environment is changing rapidly in the face of trade and investment liberalisation, diminishing economic distance, sophisticated links between national and complex international value chains, increasing labour mobility and new forms of organisation and distribution practices.
• As a State, we must ensure that all our business sectors, are well-informed and positioned to take advantage of the investment, trade and labour availability opportunities raised by global developments, and establish competitive advantage in international markets. We must also ensure that South Australian businesses are informed of any emerging threats to trade and investment in a timely way so they can respond effectively.

Key Relationships:
The Regional Director, South East Asia:

• Reports to Austrade’s Senior Trade and Investment Commissioner, Singapore.
• Reports strategic and day to day operations to the Director, International Markets, DTI.
• Works closely with DTI’s international markets, sectoral trade and investment teams, and other South Australian Government agencies with an economic development interest in the South East Asian region.
• Builds and fosters an effective working relationship with the DTI Adelaide Office, and the Office of the Minister for Trade and Investment.

Special Conditions:

• The position will be offered as a fixed-term contract appointment of 3 years.
• The position is an executive and senior business development role that identifies  trade and investment opportunities in key South Australian industry sectors.
• The Regional Director, South East Asia will operate with high levels of independence, be responsible for decisions involving significant risk, show personal courage and accept responsibility for and manage the consequences of those decisions and actions.
• The incumbent will be required to work hours outside of the traditional business day in order to work across time zones with Australian colleagues.
• Frequent regional travel across South East Asia will be required.
• Relevant business, economics and related tertiary qualifications will be looked upon favourably.
• Private sector experience is also valued and welcomed.
• An effective working relationship with Austrade’s Senior Trade and Investment Commissioner and the broader Austrade team is essential.
• Prior to engagement, the selected candidate will be required to undergo an Australian Government security clearance.

Eligibility
To be eligible for consideration and appointment you must have:

• Work Authorisation - to be eligible for employment with Austrade in Singapore, candidates must be legally authorised to live and work in Singapore at the time of appointment, noting Austrade are unable to sponsor a work pass application.
• Language - the successful candidate must be a highly motivated team member, fluent in written and spoken English.
• Security Clearance - the successful applicant must be willing to complete an Entry Level Screening Pack and be confirmed as a suitable person to access Government resources prior to commencement in the role.

Contacts
After reading this ‘Information Pack’ should you require additional information you are encouraged to contact Todd Miller at Todd.Miller@sa.gov.au

For assistance with the online recruitment system please contact the Corporate Support Team on +61 (2) 9392 2222.

Applications will only be considered when submitted through Austrade’s online recruitment system. All applications received before the closing date will be reviewed, however, the selection panel holds complete discretion to close a position prior to the listed closing date if deemed necessary. The selection panel also has the discretion to consider further applications after the closing date.

Application closing date
Applications close Sunday, 24 January 2021 at 11:30pm (Singapore local time).

Key Selection Criteria

• Extensive understanding of South East Asian region industry sectors aligned with South Australian key industry sector targets.
• Deep high-level networks of representatives from both government and industry across the South East Asian region.
• Sound knowledge of Australian and South East Asian business and management practices.
• Senior experience in export facilitation and/or investment attraction activity.
• Understanding of issues relating to business competitiveness and growth in a global and national context.
• Knowledge of the issues involved in provision of Commonwealth and State government assistance to private business organisations.
• Understanding of relevant State, Commonwealth and Local Government relationships.
• Delegates responsibilities effectively, establishing clear roles and feedback mechanisms.
• Demonstrated managerial experience and advanced communication skills.
• Awareness of the digital environment and how to engage with clients in a digital first manner.
• Confidently use digital workplace tools to solve problems, be productive, connect and collaborate with others.

What we need from you
Tell us in less than 800 words why you are the right person, what you can offer, and how your skills, knowledge, experience and qualification are relevant to the role.

Try not to duplicate information that can already be found in your resume, but do highlight any specific examples or achievements that will demonstrate your ability to perform the role.

Please attach a concise resume to your application which clearly outlines your work experience, educational qualifications and relevant skills. 

In the application form you will need to provide the details of two referees who can attest and validate your credentials and suitability for the role.

Strength in diversity
Austrade is committed to providing a work environment where staff can confidently bring their full selves to work. A truly diverse agency is one that is capable of retaining a broad talent base while best serving its clients and connecting to its global network of employees.

The Diversity and Inclusion Strategy sets out how Austrade will continue to build a space where everyone can bring their perspectives, creativity, and skills to the work of the agency. It is the roadmap for how Austrade will strengthen its position as an employer of choice.

Given our commitment to diversity and inclusion, Austrade actively encourages applications from people with disabilities, LGBTIQ people, women, and people with diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds.

We also recognise the richness of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and the unique knowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employees bring to our workplace. As such, we welcome and encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people for vacancies in the agency.

Benefits of working for Austrade

Feedback from our staff tells us that Austrade is great place to work, benefits include:

•    Embedded diversity and inclusion employee networks
•    A high performance culture
•    Global, flexible and diverse organisation
•    Generous leave provisions
•    Supportive working environment.

Want to know more about working at Austrade?  Click here.