Job Specification

Purpose :

- To represent Ontario's trade, investment and general business interests in a specific international region, and to provide strategic advice and guidance to the Head of Mission and senior government and ministry officials on complex and politically sensitive economic development and trade issues.

Key Responsibilities :

International Trade
Serves as the economic development and trade representative for Ontario's business interests and objectives in the International Trade & Investment Office of a specific international region in order to develop and advance business opportunities, promote the business image of the province, and establish positive economic relations with the host government and commercial stakeholders.
Ensures achievement of Ministry priorities, objectives and strategies for trade and investment, through effective planning, leadership, and coordination with the Canadian Mission, and senior levels of the provincial government. Assesses and advises on geopolitical and economic trends and developments that potentially impact achievement of Ontario strategic priorities and interests.
Develops, proposes, and implements agreed to business and promotional marketing approaches to target the export of Ontario's products and services, attract investment, and foster commercial developments and technology transfers between the international host region and Ontario businesses and agencies.
Plans and delivers trade missions/shows to promote and showcase Ontario products and services, and conducts follow up consultations to support the efforts of Ontario companies, agencies and municipalities with interests or desire to establish partnerships in the host region.
Manages the human, physical and financial resources made available for representation of Ontario in the host region, and ensures the operational effectiveness of the provinces' host region office.

Strategic Advice and Expertise
Provides strategic advice and expertise to senior provincial government officials, other ministries and levels of government, and Canadian business leaders with respect to host region business directions and opportunities.
Chairs/leads business meetings, consults with host region authorities and business stakeholders, and identifies and manages arising issues that may have impact on business and relationships with the host region.
Obtains, evaluates, and forwards commercial intelligence and analysis related to the evolving political, economic, technological and socio-cultural landscape and arising geopolitical issues of the host region market.
Prepares high-level and strategic correspondence, briefing notes, status reports, and presentations for senior management, and resolves complex policy and program matters in line with Cabinet and ministry directions.

Partnerships/Stakeholder Relations
Works collaboratively with senior government officials, other levels of government, private sector companies and organizations, and academic institutions, to establish an economic and cultural relationship and business platform for the province in the host region, in order to capitalize on international economic development opportunities, and to leverage business and financing incentives for trade and the marketing of exports.
Establishes and maintains harmonious relationships with host region authorities, decision makers, media networks, and other stakeholders in the host region to represent Ontario's business image to the community and to advance provincial government objectives with respect to trade and investment.
Encourages participation by the province and by host region representatives in major events that would increase cooperation and promote understanding and exchanges between Ontario and the host region on matters of an extra-commercial nature in areas such as culture and education.

Knowledge / Skill :

Knowledge of and skills in:
- The Province's business and economic interests in the host region, and trade and development strategies and objectives, in combination with knowledge of host government economies, and decision making processes and business culture, to serve as a senior economic development expert in a specific international region.
- Economic development and business finance; international trade/affairs, business and investment and marketing theories, principles/practices; business management operations and requirements; and private business development processes/practices, and techniques, to provide strategic advice and expertise on trade and investment.
- Ministry, provincial, and Canadian international policies, programs, activities and protocols, to identify and interpret developments of significance to economic development and trade, to coordinate linkages with all levels of government, and to ensure that both domestic and international factors/trends and issues impacting international trade and the business/economic community are considered when planning and building partnerships with host countries.
- Political acuity and diplomacy to understand both domestic and host region socio-economic and political issues in order to identify and interpret developments/issues of significance to the Ministry/Ontario, and to consider the ethno-cultural practices and sensitivities that underlay the complexity of conducting business at the international level.
- Policies, strategies, programs and activities; policy development, decision making and program delivery processes, administrative and financial procedures and role of central agencies such as Management Board, Cabinet Office and the Premier's Office to attract investments to the Province and promote trade.
- Project management and strategic planning skills, to lead, plan and manage a range of trade shows, business meetings, and partnership building events, to plan and build networks, and to strategically develop and advance the provincial business and economic profile in the host country.
- Oral and written communication to chair and lead business consultations, to prepare high level correspondence, briefing notes, reports, provide advice, and make presentations on behalf of the government of Ontario.
- The language of the host region.
- Computer operations to use standard office software programs and tools to research and prepare own materials.

Interpersonal / Influencing Skill :

- Presentation, influencing, and marketing skills, to work with stakeholders, media, and other key partners in delivering trade missions/shows that will effectively promote and showcase Ontario products and services, and to conduct follow up consultations and meetings to maximize development and trade opportunities.
- Influencing and persuasion skills, to chair and lead sensitive consultation processes with stakeholders to support the efforts of Ontario companies, agencies and municipalities with interests or desire to establish partnerships in the region.
- Advisory, consultation, and persuasion skills to provide strategic advice and briefings to the Head of Mission and senior government and ministry officials on commercial intelligence, to explain/promote strategic business options and marketing approaches/proposals.
- Political acuity, diplomacy, negotiation and issues management skills, to discern and work with stakeholders in resolving issues that may be of a sensitive political and cultural nature, and that can affect business development opportunities and outcomes.

Analyzing / Problem Solving Skill :

Analytical and problem solving skills to:
- Monitor the geopolitical and economic climate of the host region, and analyze, assess, and evaluate trends, developments that potentially impact achievement of Ontario strategic priorities and interests.
- Conceptualize and develop strategies and marketing approaches to target the export of Ontario's products and services, attract investment, and foster commercial developments and technology transfers between the international host region and Ontario businesses and agencies.
- Plan, manage and deliver a range of consultations, events, and trade shows aimed at promoting Ontario goods and services to stakeholders in the host region.
- Identify and manage emerging issues that have potential implications for trade and business development in the host region, working in cooperation with senior government and business stakeholders.
- Evaluate the competing interests of key stakeholders in the region and conceptualize/develop strategies/solutions that support investment and trade initiatives and mitigate concerns.

Decision Making / Responsibility :

Responsible for:
- Officially representing the province in a specific international region as the senior economic advisor of an International Trade & Investment Office in a geographic region established to promote Ontario's business and economic interests.
- Providing strategic advice and expertise to senior provincial government officials, other ministries and levels of government, and Canadian business leaders with respect to host region business directions and opportunities.
- Advancing Ontario government trade, investment and general business interests, through implementation of business and marketing approaches such as trade shows, to target the export of Ontario's products and services, attract investment, and foster commercial developments and technology transfer.
- Providing high level business, economic, and financial intelligence for the Minister, ministry senior officials, Head of Mission, and other government officials to support strategic business decision-making.
- Managing the human, physical and financial resources of the host region office.

Has latitude to: represent the provincial business position to key stakeholders in the host region; identify and analyze international and host region country issues, trends, developments and risks that could impact business interests and relationships, and recommend options/approaches for resolution or mitigation; develop relationships with a network of key stakeholders in the host region in political, business, media and cultural arenas; conceptualize and recommend strategic economic development and marketing approaches to advance Ontario's business interests and objectives in the host region; propose to senior management, priorities, objectives and strategies for trade investment and general business relations with host
region; consult as appropriate with stakeholders to establish concerns and needs, resolve issues; and promote Ontario's products and services.
Decisions are guided by: international and host region protocols; the broad framework of provincial and ministry strategic directions for trade and business development; existing legislative/regulatory/ policy/fiscal framework governing investment and trade in Ontario, and government directives, procedures and best practices.

Contacts / Stakeholder :

- The Offices of the Minister, Deputy Minister, Assistant Deputy Minister, and ministry senior management, to provide strategic advice and commercial intelligence, briefings, analysis, and recommendations regarding trends, developments and issues in the host region; and to tender recommendations investment/trade initiatives.
- Senior management of other ministries, senior officials of the Premier's office, Cabinet Office, and Management Board, to consult on international business matters; to discuss/clarify policy and business strategies, and to work collaboratively on joint ventures in the host region.
- Counterparts in the federal government, senior representatives of other provincial governments, and stakeholders in the business community, to consult on investment and trade initiatives, and on available business development and financial programs and incentives; to collaborate on issues resolution; to represent the provincial government interests; and to develop joint recommendations/ventures.
- Authorities, decision makers, media and other stakeholders in host region to build and establish relationships and encourage the participation of Ontario's and the host region's representatives in major events that are likely to increase cooperation and partnerships and foster commercial developments.

Guidance / Supervision :

- Provides advice, expertise, and counsel to senior management, the Deputy Minister, other Ministers, the Premier's Office, the Head of Mission, regarding the business climate in the host region, complex and sensitive economic development and trade issues, and strategies for business development.
- Provides expertise and advice to senior management and counterparts across the Government on business development issues of mutual interest in the host region.
- Provides leadership and supervision to host office staff by assigning and tracking work, explaining work assignments, monitoring performance, and ensuring timelines and project requirements are met.

Demands / Pressures :

Work Demands :

- Frequently required to respond to information requests within short deadlines where time pressures result in the need to work beyond normal hours, and to provide briefings on short notice.
- Regularly required to meet deadlines which are subject to change, priorities that are not anticipated and/or contentious issues which arise unexpectedly and require quick turnaround for issues management.
- Frequent travel in the host region and between the region and the province.

Mental / Sensory :

- Frequent requirement to concentrate when reading materials, analyzing documents, drafting reports, briefing notes and related materials.
- Frequent requirement to listen intently when attending meetings, consultations, trade shows, and seeking input from stakeholders.

Conditions / Environment :

Work is performed in a typical office environment.