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.

About you:

• Proven ability of building 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.