Director, Trade Development, Agri-Value – Saskatchewan Trade and Export Partnership (STEP)

Company: Saskatchewan Trade and Export Partnership (STEP)

Position: Director, Trade Development, Agri-Value

Location: Regina, SK

Description: Reporting to the Executive Director, Trade Development, the Director, Trade Development, Agri-Value will develop and implement strategies and initiatives that promote, encourage and facilitate growth in trade and international business development within the key Saskatchewan agriculture sector.  Your role will be to work with Saskatchewan agri-value companies including the areas of processed food products, food ingredients, natural and organic products, commodities, livestock, etc.  The Director will initiate and implement strategies and processes to expand networks, contacts and business opportunities to enhance the trade potential of STEP member companies.  In cooperation with senior officials of exporting companies, the Director will initiate and develop strategic plans for market penetration and development through analysis, market intelligence gathering and initiatives aimed at successfully winning sales, contracts and projects by STEP members. This is a management level position with two direct reports.

Key Responsibilities:

General

• Develop an annual business plan and propose budget requirements for that plan to be delivered within the designated sector(s) of responsibility, and manage the implementation of that business plan within the parameters of the approved program and budget.
• Manage and coordinate activities of assigned staff.
• Conduct annual performance reviews and provide development feedback with each person in a direct reporting relationship.
• Provide input into the development of a database of marketable Saskatchewan products and services within the designated sector(s) of responsibility.
• Thorough analysis of current market conditions, develop strategies and work with industry and specialists throughout the Government of Saskatchewan and other jurisdictions to enhance Saskatchewan exports.
• Prospect and communicate with senior officials within the private sector and government, economic development related strategies and opportunities within the designated sector(s) of responsibility.
• Establish, develop and maintain senior executive relationships and communication with Saskatchewan business and government leaders, Canadian government officials, international business and government officials in designated sectors and markets, and with senior level personnel within the International Financial Institutions and Aid organizations where appropriate.
• Identify trade opportunities and recommend/implement strategies to assist STEP members to increase their export business within the designated sector(s).
• Identify barriers to increasing Saskatchewan exports and propose solutions to minimize or eliminate the impediments, and communicate these within the organization and to senior officials within the private sector and government.
• Assemble and analyze information, both independently and with industry, regarding new external market opportunities for existing and new Saskatchewan exports.
• Establish and maintain a high awareness of Saskatchewan’s export potential for goods, services and technologies within the designated sector(s) of responsibility.
• Identify and initiate discussion with foreign clients on investment opportunities in Saskatchewan which have the potential to enhance trade with priority markets.
• Recommend market/product priorities and develop initiatives with industry to achieve prioritized objectives within the designated sector(s) of responsibility.
• Member recruitment and continuing member development.
• Through regular contact with members, ensure that their needs are met relating to the services offered by the Trade Development and Export Services Division.
• Develop and deliver export related presentations to members and/or other audiences as appropriate, both domestic and foreign.
• As designated, assume responsibilities of the Executive Director in his absence.
• Participate in or lead activities to interact with representatives of foreign governments (Ambassadors, Consuls etc.)
• Represent the corporation provincially, nationally and internationally on trade development initiatives, as appropriate.
• Prepare monthly/periodic reports related to missions, initiatives undertaken and/or accomplishments as required.
• In a secondary role, assume trade development and market intelligence responsibilities of a general nature for the geographical region of Caribbean countries, Central America, South America, Japan and the Australasia region.
• Other duties as required.

Trade Development

• Manage the planning and implementation of a program of trade missions to priority markets.
• Introduce members and their products/services to prospective international buyers.
• Negotiate sales/marketing contracts with international buyers as directed by a member.
• In consultation with members, develop marketing strategies for positioning members in new geographic markets.
• Assist members as required with advice on export/trade contract negotiation.
• Manage the attraction, planning and implementation of incoming buyers’ missions and outreach programs by foreign dignitaries and Canadian Trade Commissioners to Saskatchewan from priority markets within the designated sector(s) of responsibility.
• Recommend events/mission requiring senior government participation.
• Participate in missions/negotiations with the senior officials of the International Financial institutions (e.g. World Bank, European Bank of Reconstruction), in conjunction with Export Services Division.
• Represent the corporation provincially, nationally and internationally on trade development initiatives, as appropriate.

Market Intelligence

• Review and provide input to market intelligence activities within the designated sector(s) of responsibility.
• Provide information support and market analysis to STEP members and co-ordinate activities with the other functional areas of STEP.
• Identify and acquire periodicals, magazines and other materials that match the priority areas and activities of member companies and STEP staff.
• Assemble and analyze information, both independently and with industry, regarding new external market opportunities for existing and new Saskatchewan exports.
• Consult directly with clients to put forward and tailor the information requests to best meet their market intelligence needs.
• Provide input into market research studies and projects.
• Provide input to Market intelligence Specialist on sources of market intelligence.
• Assist with the development of procedures to ensure timeliness and quality of information.
• Secondary to the Manager, Market intelligence, review market intelligence reports and provide input for member reports.

Skills and Qualifications:

• University graduation in commerce or business administration with a focus on international marketing, or an equivalent combination of education and experience in the areas of marketing, research and analysis or information technology. Masters degree is desirable.
• Managerial experience with marketing and technical staff.
• Project management skills.
• Strong organizational, interpersonal and presentation skills.
• Foreign language skills desirable.
• Several years experience in hands on marketing and trade development activities.
• Extensive knowledge of marketing in an international environment and the international trading system and international financial institution programs and policies.
• Knowledge of cultural sensitivities and protocol for.
• Thorough knowledge of the economic base and the exporting capabilities and potential of Saskatchewan companies, particularly in the designated sector(s).
• Thorough knowledge of federal and provincial policies and programs addressing trade development.
• Experience in building relationships with senior executives of private companies and dealing with the highest levels of governments – locally, provincially, federally and internationally.
• Strong organizational, interpersonal and presentation skills.
• The ability to act with the highest business ethics, display good judgment, cope with ambiguity and make the tough decisions in a timely manner and sustain a high level of energy, drive and personal commitment to the task.
  

For this employment opportunity please forward all responses to ngrande@sasktrade.sk.ca. Deadline for submissions is February 13, 2015.

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