Associate Director, Northern Ireland in Belfast

This is an exciting opportunity to get involved with the Northern Ireland office of the CBI, the UK’s leading business membership organisation. The Associate Regional Director is the commercial lead for Northern Ireland and reports to the NI Director to support CBI members, grow the membership base and raise the profile of the CBI in the region. This role would be of interest to an individual that is commercially minded and driven in helping the region’s businesses navigate the changing political and economic landscape.

If you are interested in current affairs, have experience in generating new business and account management and have the commercial acumen to work with the region’s leading business leaders, this is a great opportunity to join the UK’s leading business membership organisation. This role is a payband 4, with a salary of £45K-£50k + £5.5K car allowance.

To apply for the role, please send your CV and a short covering letter setting out your suitability for the role to recruit@cbi.org.uk by 9am on 05 January.

Key Responsibilities

• Grow the membership base in the region to achieve individual and team financial targets through focussed recruitment strategies and proactive business development.
• Manage the relationship with a portfolio of member companies to ensure that CBI supports their business to grow.
• Understand and articulate the needs of specific sectors of relevance to the regional economy and create solutions to support the development of these sectors.
• Utilise your understanding of the political and economic environment to attract and recruit new members to engage in CBI activity.
• Develop networks within the Northern Ireland business community to enhance the profile of the CBI.
• Deputise for the Director when required.
• Work with the wider regional team to provide a compelling membership offer to existing and potential CBI members.
• Support policy colleagues with case studies from the membership that demonstrate how policy impacts competitiveness, helping CBI influence the debate.
• Work with colleagues across the UK and internationally to identify business trends and to alert policy makers of the implications of these changes in the business environment.
• Support delivery of the business plan of CBI activities in Northern Ireland.
• Support events/roundtables/lunches/briefings focused on regional policy issues of relevance to CBI members and effectively advocate the CBI position.

Internal Contacts: all areas of the organisation; Head Office teams and the regional office network.
External Contacts: Senior regional business leaders, regional stakeholders such as Local Enterprise Partnerships.
Knowledge & Experience

• Experience of new business development and account management from a business-to-business context, ideally in a professional service or not for profit environment.
• Comfortable using marketing tools to promote the regional activities for the benefit of members but also to attract interest from non-members.
• IT literate and willingness to learn new systems – adept on CRM platforms.
• Willingness to perform your own administrative work.
• Relevant business background demonstrating commercial awareness.
• Good knowledge of the regional, national and international economic and political climate.
• Understanding of the business and political makeup of Northern Ireland.

Role specific skills

• Credible with an ability to develop good working relationships at a senior level.
• Demonstrate and deploy innovative sales techniques.
• Must be curious and enjoy learning about new businesses and sectors.
• Enthusiastic ‘can do’ attitude with an ability to sell an intangible product.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Excellent planning and organisational skills.
• Self-motivated and proactive.
• First class networking skills.
• Full driving license holder.