Director – Basque Trade and Investment Canada

Tasks

• Strategic Leadership
• Develop and implement the agency’s strategic vision for trade promotion and FDI attraction.
• Formulate frameworks, and incentives that enhance the Basque country’s competitiveness in the Canadian markets.
• Provide advice to government officials on trade agreements, investment policies, and market trends.
• Market Research and Analysis:
• Design the country´s strategy and develop and implement strategies to foster trade and attract investment, focusing on specific sectors and regions.
• Analyze Canadian investment trends and assess how they align with the region's economic priorities.
• Transfer Canadian market trends and knowledge to the headquarters in order to design and implement strategy for Basque companies interested in the Canadian market.
• Proactively develop business and seeking opportunities for Basque companies.
• Promotional Activities:
• Position the “Basque Country” in Canada, both at institutional and business levels.
• Foster partnerships with multinational corporations, industry associations, and trade bodies.
• Build relationships with businesses, government agencies, and international partners to promote investment opportunities, overseeing investment promotion campaigns, trade missions, and investor summits.
• Design and lead promotional campaigns to showcase the region as an attractive trade and investment destination.
• Proactively searching for opportunities in the Canadian markets for Basque companies and introduce those opportunities to the companies.
• Focus on the delivery of high-profile and high-quality inward investment projects.
• Design and execute initiatives to attract and retain foreign investors in key economic sectors.
• Strengthen bilateral and multilateral trade relations to expand market access for local businesses.
• Collaboration with Local Entities:
• Work closely with local government, chambers of commerce, and business organisations to create a cohesive strategy.
• Develop strong relations with key Canadian players, both at institutional and business levels.
• Ensure alignment between local infrastructure development and the needs of incoming investors.
• Organize and participate in international trade fairs, investment summits, and networking events to build visibility.
• Work closely with Basque institutions, economic development agencies, and business networks to ensure a coordinated approach to FDI attraction.
• Office General Management
• Mentor and train the team to achieve established goals and leading teams responsible for business support, trade, and investment initiatives.
• Manage budgets and finances.

Advantages

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Job requirements

• Bachelor’s degree. A Master’s degree is desirable.
• Fluency in French and English is mandatory and necessary for daily interaction both internationally and within the organization.
• Minimum 5 years in investment promotion, business development, international trade, or economic development.
• Experience in working for a government agency in an investment or trade-related role is desirable.
• Experience managing events and/or working on high-level visits.
• Extensive client service experience.
• Availability to travel.
• Knowledge of Spanish and Basque is desirable, as they are the official languages of the Basque Country and are used in internal communications and with local institutions.
• Must be a Canadian citizen or hold a valid residency permit in Canada.

Desired profile

• Teamwork.
• Customer focus.
• Organization and planning.
• Sense of responsibility.
• Ability to adapt to the environment.
• Leadership.
• Global and strategic vision.