View Vacancy – AUS (Melbourne) – Senior Investment Manager, HEO (MATL Cover)

Main purpose of job:

The purpose of this exciting job is to attract investment into the UK, covering a 12 month period of maternity leave. 

The role will support the UK Government’s objectives in Australia by leading, developing and delivering investment services for high growth and globally scalable companies from the states of Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania. You will provide expansion strategy support and account management to Australian companies entering and expanding in the UK. These companies may include all sectors and sizes, ranging from tech startups to large superannuation funds and institutional investors.

This is an exciting time to join the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) and promote UK trade and investment in Australia. The UK – Australia Free Trade and AUKUS agreements offer unprecedented opportunities to strengthen economic ties between our countries. DBT brings together policy, promotion and financial expertise to break down barriers to trade and investment and help businesses succeed across the world. You will join a high performing team of 40 trade and investment experts, working across five diplomatic missions in Australia. You will also be an integral part of DBT’s wider APAC region of over 200 people in 22 locations and the UK Government’s Australia Network of over 130 people. You will have the opportunity to collaborate across our networks on a range of trade and investment campaigns, soft power initiatives, trade missions and VIP visits. You will work with colleagues from diverse backgrounds whose professional experience is the foundation of our shared capability. We deliver as one team. 

DBT and the Australia Network are inclusive and equal-opportunity employers. We are committed to building a supportive workplace that offers continuous learning and development opportunities for all our team. We embrace flexible and remote working and have a zero-tolerance policy towards bulling, harassment and discrimination.   

The job holder will report to the Director for Strategic Inward Investment 

Roles and responsibilities / what will the jobholder be expected to achieve?:

This exciting and engaging role requires identification and provision of strategic support for innovative Australian companies with globally scalable products or services. It involves formulating and executing activity aimed at generating leads for Australian leading technology businesses, financial and professional services and other SME’s, from Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania seeking to expand into the UK. 

You will have expertise in strategy, marketing, planning and execution. This will include building capability, identifying and providing strategic introductions, market analysis, and sometimes commissioning research. The role is focused on identifying growth and new market opportunities. The role will require liaising effectively with HQ London, marketing and communications team and other colleagues in Australia and the wider regional Asia Pacific team  to enable you to communicate the right information and materials to each company to persuade them to invest in the UK.

The role will also require attendance and some presentations at events, relationship building at industry forums and require the ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing. A proven ability to network and establish strong relations with growth companies and other industry multipliers to achieve results will be an advantage, as would some knowledge of tech start- and scale-ups.  

Keen business acumen is critical, as is the ability to work alongside CEOs and their senior staff. You will have to work with a variety of businesses from start-ups to institutional investors. You will have superior communication, business consulting and relationship management skills with the ability to build rapport quickly.  This role requires working with each potential investor to support their internal decision-making on their overseas investment and influence them in favour of setting up in the UK. This will be achieved through effective account management, project management, relationship management, and administration of the Department’s data needs. 

Also essential is effective collaboration through a virtual team structure in Australia and New Zealand, with colleagues located in Perth, Melbourne, Canberra, Sydney, Brisbane, Wellington and Auckland), with UK based sector team colleagues, UK regional team colleagues, and a centralised investment services team, whom the jobholder will need to draw on for information, introductions, economic data and research 

This role involves the management of one direct line-report in Melbourne whom contributes to the overall target. The jobholder will need to administer a budget, including accurate budget forecasting and acquitting expenses in line with UK Government policy and expectations relating to the use of public funds. 

The role will include some support and assistance to the broader DBT team (including with the UK trade exports colleagues), the British Consulate-General staff in Melbourne and the wider Australia network.  

The role will include an element of travel to visit companies as well as for learning and development.  Job specific training will be provided.

Resources managed (staff and expenditure):

The job holder may have a small budget for business activity and travel and will work with marketing colleagues on managing relevant activities.

• Bachelors degree (or equivalent) in an appropriate field
• Substantial work experience in business, ideally in an international & B2B context, or in business development.
• Ability to develop and maintain networks with senior decision makers
• Strong inter-personal, networking, presentation and communication skills
• Good knowledge of the Australian business environment
• Ability to deliver to ambitious targets and outcomes
• Strong research and analytical skills
• IT literate
• Ability to work collaboratively within a team
• High level organisational skills and ability to work at pace under pressure to achieve results 

Language requirements: 

Language: English 

Level of language required: Fluent