At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead Greater Manchester's global investment mission programme and develop a three-year strategy.
- Company: The Growth Company, promoting Manchester as a top destination for investment and growth.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, dynamic work environment, and opportunities for professional development.
- Other info: Collaborative culture with a focus on high standards and impactful outcomes.
- Why this job: Shape Manchester's global presence and drive economic growth in a pivotal leadership role.
- Qualifications: Experience in strategy building, international business development, and strong negotiation skills.
The Growth Company (GC) has an exciting new opportunity for a Head of International Engagement and Delivery to support both Marketing Manchester and Invest Manchester to lead Greater Manchester’s global inward investment mission programme.
This is a new and pivotal leadership role at the heart of the city-region’s international engagement activity. You will develop and deliver a three-year strategy for international missions, ensuring they are strategically aligned with Greater Manchester’s priority sectors, inward investment targets. The role needs someone who is able to build strategy, deliver operational excellence in market, bring various colleagues and partners together to deliver successful, multi‑faceted international missions. You will need to be able to influence at a senior level so you can engage civic leaders, government partners, and industry stakeholders. You will play an integral role in shaping how Greater Manchester presents itself on the global stage.
At Marketing Manchester, we promote Greater Manchester nationally and internationally as a leading place to visit, invest, meet, and study. Invest Manchester is the inward investment promotion agency, attracting new investment to the city region, to create and safeguard jobs.
Through everything we do, we aim to drive economic growth and enhance Manchester’s global reputation.
Key Responsibilities
- Develop and lead a three‑year strategy for international missions, working in close partnership with city leaders.
- Design compelling mission propositions, setting clear objectives and partner value exchange aligned to priority markets, sectors, and opportunities across culture, sport, and connectivity.
- Lead the end‑to‑end mission lifecycle, from initial scoping and programme design through to stakeholder mobilisation, communications, delivery and post‑mission follow‑up.
- Maintain robust programme management across all missions, including schedules, workplans, interdependencies and overall delivery readiness.
- Establish and embed a consistent operating model for missions, including governance, decision‑making frameworks, delivery standards, templates, and evaluation methodologies.
- Ensure the high‑quality execution of all mission activity, including roundtables, receptions, bilateral meetings, site visits and sector showcases.
- Lead through influence to coordinate cross‑functional teams and external partners, ensuring clarity of roles, responsibilities, deliverables and timelines.
- Convene and chair mission planning groups, driving pace, alignment, and accountability across all stakeholders.
- Build and maintain senior relationships across GMCA, local authorities, UK Government, embassies and consulates, business leaders, universities, cultural institutions, diaspora networks and international partners.
- Lead and manage the events team (4 FTE), overseeing delivery of international missions and other strategically significant events.
About you
- Proven ability to build strategy utilising evidence.
- Provide guidance on protocol, cultural norms and diplomatic context risk management.
- Ability to navigate complexity and sensitivities with discretion, tact and professionalism.
- Experience of setting managing and reporting outcomes and impacts.
- Experience in the economic/international business development/inward investment arena.
- Skilled negotiator, influencing a wide range of public and private organisations at senior levels.
- Understanding of public sector with a commercially focused approach.
- Creating and managing large‑scale B2B promotion/marketing campaigns.
Skills required
- Demonstrates a strong understanding of target audiences and markets, placing insight at the heart of planning and decision‑making.
- Conceptual thinking – ability to interpret, connect and apply abstract concepts to real‑world challenges and strategic outcomes.
- Engages clearly and persuasively to build understanding, confidence and buy‑in from colleagues and stakeholders.
- Builds and maintains effective relationships, creating strong networks across key partners and influencers.
- Maintains a consistent focus on high standards, ensuring outputs are delivered with accuracy, rigour and excellence.
- Fosters a high‑performing environment, strengthening team capability and driving effective delivery.
- Shows appropriate perseverance, navigating obstacles constructively to achieve outcomes.
- Takes initiative, raises issues proactively, and demonstrates accountability for delivery and outcomes.
Head of International Engagement and Delivery in Manchester employer: The Growth Company
The Growth Company is an exceptional employer, offering a collaborative culture that prioritises practical impact and employee development. As a Leadership Development Architect & Coach, you will have the opportunity to shape the future of leadership within the organisation while enjoying a flexible part-time schedule that supports work-life balance. With a commitment to fostering growth and providing meaningful learning experiences, this role is perfect for those seeking to make a significant difference in leadership development.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of International Engagement and Delivery in Manchester
✨Dive Into Corporate Strategy Communities
Get yourself involved in online communities or forums focused on corporate strategy. Places like LinkedIn groups or specific Slack channels can hook you up with industry insights, trends, and many potential job leads. Don't hesitate to share your thoughts or ask questions; it’ll boost your visibility!
✨Attend Industry Conferences and Events
Keep an eye out for corporate strategy conferences or networking events in your area (or online!). These gatherings are gold mines for meeting hiring managers and making impactful connections. Plus, having a few good conversations can lead to job referrals at companies like The Growth Company!
✨Showcase Your Strategy Skills
Create content that showcases your knowledge of corporate strategy—think reports, blogs, or even video discussions. Sharing these on platforms like LinkedIn or Medium can demonstrate your expertise and make you stand out to employers looking for fresh talent.
✨Apply Directly Through Our Website
Don’t forget to apply for the Head of International Engagement and Delivery position at The Growth Company via our website! This shows your genuine interest, and who knows, you might just land that interview in a matter of days. Keep your application focused on how you can add value to their strategy team.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of International Engagement and Delivery in Manchester
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Us Your Strategic Thinking:When crafting your CV and cover letter, highlight your strategic analysis skills. Focus on past experiences where you've effectively assessed market trends or made impactful recommendations. Evidence-based achievements, like improving processes or contributing to significant projects, will help us see your potential for driving corporate strategy at The Growth Company.
Tailor Your Narrative:Don’t just send us a generic application! Personalise your cover letter by connecting your experiences and aspirations to The Growth Company’s mission and goals. We love seeing candidates who genuinely understand what we do; share how your vision aligns with ours and what you can bring to the table.
Highlight Relevant Academic Credentials:In your CV, make sure to showcase your academic background, especially if you have qualifications in business, economics, or analytics. We appreciate candidates who can back up their skills with relevant degrees or certifications, so don’t be shy about flaunting those achievements!
Utilise Professional Language:While we want you to be yourself, remember that corporate strategy roles demand a level of professionalism in communication. Use clear and concise language in your application materials, ensuring that your ideas come across as well-structured and sophisticated. It’s all about making a great impression right from the written application stage!
How to prepare for a job interview at The Growth Company
✨Master the Numbers
Corporate strategy often involves data analysis and financial forecasting. Brush up on your quantitative skills, and be prepared to handle case studies or numerical problems during the interview. We might get questions about how to approach market trends or assess the performance of a hypothetical company — so practice these scenarios!
✨Know Your Frameworks
Familiarity with strategic frameworks like SWOT, PESTLE, or Porter’s Five Forces can set you apart. We should be ready to discuss how we’d apply these tools to real-world business situations — maybe even relating them to The Growth Company. This shows we’re not just theory-happy but can articulate our practical application.
✨Engage in Strategic Conversations
In a full-time role like this, it’s crucial to show that we're engaged and informed about current trends in the industry. Keep up with major news and prepare to discuss how recent developments could impact strategic decisions at The Growth Company. This will demonstrate our passion and proactive approach to the field.
✨Showcase Relevant Experience
Whether through internships or projects, we should highlight any experience that relates to corporate strategy. Have specific examples ready to talk about how we’ve contributed to strategic growth or improvements. It's about showcasing our unique journey and how it will bring value to The Growth Company.
