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Job Specification
Position Title: MANAGER, INTERNATIONAL MARKETING CENTRES
Job Code: MCP - Institutional Management AM-23, AIM23
Job ID: 20084

Purpose of Position:
Manages Ontarios Senior Economic Officers (SEOs) and international representation offices, known as International Marketing Centres (IMCs), located in Canadian foreign missions around the world. Ensures that Ontarios trade, investment and general business interests in key geographic regions are effectively advanced by Ontarios Senior Economic Officers in those regions. Ensures program consistency and quality control across Ontarios network of offices. Ensures the financial integrity of all aspects of the IMC program area, including compliance with all relevant provincial policies and practices as well as careful management and monitoring of the financial aspects of co-location with the federal government.

Duties/Responsibilities:
Ensures that the programming of all Ontario IMCs is consistent with Division, Ministry and government-wide priorities and objectives.

Ensures that the IMC Program is internally coherent across the entire network of IMCs, so that all SEOs are, with appropriate allowances made for local business realities and cultural differences, pursuing broadly similar programs to promote Ontarios broad economic interests and raise its economic profile.

Compiles a comprehensive business plan each fiscal year (including a comprehensive list of proposed activities, budgetary allocations and performance measures) with substantial input from each IMC, and proposes same to the Division. Subsequently monitors all IMCs to ensure that all programming approved by the Ministry is implemented in accordance with established objectives, timetables and budgets and in such a way as to further Ontarios trade, investment and general economic interests.

Represents the interests of the IMC Program within the Ministry and the OPS. Promotes knowledge of the IMCs throughout the Ministrys stakeholder communities (including media, municipal governments, and business). Acts as the “face” of Ontario with those officials at Foreign Affairs Canada (FAC) assigned to interface with Ontario concerning its international programming and activities.

Provides guidance and advice to SEOs as required with respect to the ongoing delivery of their program of activities, including, inter alia: the establishment and maintenance of harmonious relationships with authorities, decision-makers, media and other stakeholders in their host regions, as well as with Canadian officials; the preparation and delivery of trade missions/shows and the conducting of follow-up consultations to support the efforts of Ontario companies, agencies and municipalities that have interests in the host region; the hosting and delivery of seminars and presentations designed both to maximize Ontarios economic profile and to convey positive messages to key economic decision-makers; and official visits to IMCs of the Premier, Members of Provincial Cabinet, and other senior-level provincial officials.

Provides supervision, motivation and evaluation of staff in a client-focused, team environment where employees are empowered to develop and use their expertise. Resolve internal administrative problems, determine IMC Unit priorities, assign staff and allocate resources within the IMC Unit.

Ensures that senior management of MEDT and other provincial officials as appropriate are kept abreast of all relevant commercial, political, sociological, technological trends and developments in those regions where Ontario maintains IMCs, and, where appropriate, provides them with strategic and tactical advice on a timely basis so as to minimize any potential risks and maximize any potential opportunities confronting Ontario.

Coordinates the orientation of all new SEOs and their introduction to key stakeholders and partners prior to their postings.

Plans and executes bi-annual meetings for all SEOs in Toronto to collectively address program-related issues, share “best practices”, review individual performance measures and targets, and engage Ministry colleagues and stakeholders in a review of IMC activities.

Knowledge:
Sound knowledge of international economic opportunities and challenges facing Ontario in key world markets. Extensive knowledge of Ontarios (trade, investment) objectives and broad interests in those markets where Ontario IMCs are located. Knowledge of Ontarios policies, strategies, programs and activities. Knowledge of and familiarity with Ministry/Ontario policy development, decision-making and program delivery processes. Knowledge of and familiarity with Ministry/Ontario financial procedures, including role and function of central agencies such as Management Board, Cabinet Office and Premiers Office. Sound knowledge of federal policies and objectives with respect to, inter alia, international representation, co-location and national trade and investment priorities.

High degree of political acuity to understand both domestic and global economic and political issues and to identify and interpret developments/issues of significance to Ministry/Ontario. Analytical and problem-solving skills to synthesize complex and sensitive material, and handle a wide range of issues and situations. Ability to provide high-level consultation, advice and recommendation. Oral communication skills to give presentations chair meetings, represent Ministry. Written communication skills to write high-level correspondence, briefing notes, reports, business plans, etc. Interpersonal skills to work with staff across Ministry, other Ministries, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada, and other provincial governments. Negotiation skills to work with staff/contacts at all levels, and to
influence and coordinate the efforts of others even without a reporting relationship, in own Ministry, other Ministries and federal government.

Leadership, project management and issues management skills. Strong “remote people management” skills to manage other managers and officials at a distance and oftentimes in different time zones. Expertise in performance measurement and program evaluation, including an ability to ensure program coherence is attained and maintained across a global network of offices. Ability to effectively juggle competing priorities.



Judgement:
Position is one imbued with all the responsibilities of senior management in the OPS. Accordingly, incumbent must exercise considerable judgment, discretion and initiative to manage both people and issues in a timely, efficient and constructive manner. Must also: provide high-level analysis, consultation, advice and recommendation on a wide range of complex and sensitive issues; identify politically sensitive and emerging issues as they arise, and keep Ministry and other stakeholders well-briefed about them; resolve complex policy and programme matters; ensure the accuracy and timeliness of information exchanges and their relationship to current provincial policies and priorities; keep informed on Cabinet decisions, Ministry directives, new programmes and activities, etc; represent the Ministry and/or the IMC Unit to other Ministries, federal government, external stakeholders, etc.

Accountability - Programs:

Ensuring that Ontarios global network of IMCs significantly promote and further Ontarios trade and general business interests in their host regions/countries through the provision of high-quality information, market intelligence, and advice on those interests;

Further ensuring that there is coherence and consistency across Ontarios global network of offices in terms of their management, their messaging, their level of activity, their collaboration with other parts of MEDT and with the OPS writ large;

Further ensuring that both the outputs and the outcomes of the activities of each of Ontarios IMCs are properly tracked and measured, and that these results either correspond to the economic priorities of MEDT and/or the Government of Ontario writ large or that appropriate adjustments are made to the activities and/or performance targets for each IMC so that such correspondence will be demonstrated in the future.

Accountability - Personnel:
Position is responsible for: delivering on the objectives of the Ministry and other ministries, as directed by the Director, International Marketing Centres & Strategic Intelligence; directly managing up to four (4) home-based staff and up to ten (10) Senior Economic Officers in offices around the world, as well as monitoring the performance of up to ten (10) locally-engaged employees of Canada working within Ontarios IMCs

Accountability - Finance & Material:
Manages the financial, physical and human resources of both the home office and the global network of Ontarios IMC program.

Accountability - Impact of Errors:
Errors in monitoring the plans and activities of individual IMCs to ensure their consistency with the Provinces economic priorities, misjudgement in giving advice and recommendations to senior decision-makers, delays in responses and/or action can seriously impact on Ministry/Ontarios credibility, cause embarrassment and have serious financial, economic and/or political repercussions. Ineffective management of Ontario representatives abroad could result in Ministry/Ontario perpetuating or adopting incorrect options and positions. Poor planning, administration and coordination can impede Ministry/Ontarios achievement of its economic priorities and objectives

Contact - Internal:
Contact with Offices of Minister, Deputy Minister and Assistant Deputy Ministers, senior managers and other key personnel of Ministry.

Contact - External:
Regular contact with senior officials of Foreign Affairs Canada and other federal government departments and agencies, managers in other provincial Ministries, senior officials of the Premiers Office, Cabinet Office, Management Board, stakeholders in the business community and general public, senior representatives of the foreign diplomatic community and representatives of other provincial governments.