Grade 10 | Policy and Strategy | International Team
Greater Manchester Combined Authority
Greater Manchester is a city-region with global reach and ambition. We are looking for an experienced and strategic leader to help shape and deliver Greater Manchester’s international growth agenda, strengthening our position as a globally connected, outward-looking city-region.
As Principal International Growth, you will play a senior leadership role within GMCA’s International Team, working across the Economy, Innovation, Culture and International Directorate. You will lead the development and delivery of key priorities within Greater Manchester’s International Strategy and related economic growth work, with a particular focus on trade, investment, economic diplomacy, sector collaboration and international knowledge exchange.
This is a high-profile role at the heart of Greater Manchester’s international activity. You will provide strategic advice to senior leaders, including the Mayor, Chief Executive and CA Leaders, while working closely with local authorities, universities, businesses, government departments and delivery partners to ensure international activity supports measurable economic outcomes for the city-region.
You will lead and coordinate activity that helps Greater Manchester build strong international relationships, respond to global growth opportunities and strengthen its influence nationally and internationally. This will include oversight of international market activity, senior stakeholder engagement, missions and delegations, policy development, programme management and governance.
You will act as GMCA’s principal lead for international growth opportunities, helping to align trade, investment, business growth, knowledge exchange and sector collaboration with Greater Manchester’s wider economic priorities. You will also play an important role in shaping Greater Manchester’s relationship with national government on international policy, trade agreements and investment priorities.
The role will involve working in a complex partnership environment, influencing senior stakeholders, providing strategic challenge, managing budgets and resources, and ensuring delivery is well-governed, evidence-led and aligned with the Greater Manchester Strategy, International Strategy and Local Industrial Strategy.
In this role, you will:
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Provide senior leadership within the International Team, including line management responsibilities.
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Lead the design, development and delivery of policies, programmes and initiatives that support Greater Manchester’s international and economic growth priorities.
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Act as the principal GMCA lead for international growth, spanning trade, investment, economic diplomacy, sector collaboration and knowledge exchange.
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Build and maintain senior relationships with national government, local authorities, universities, business organisations, delivery partners and international stakeholders.
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Provide strategic advice, briefings and presentations to senior officers and political leaders.
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Lead and coordinate international missions and market activity that support growth opportunities for Greater Manchester.
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Provide programme management oversight, including governance, risk management, budget oversight and reporting to senior boards.
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Support Greater Manchester’s work with government departments on Free Trade Agreements and international trade policy.
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Commission and manage external contracts and work with partners to secure resources for delivery.
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Represent GMCA locally, nationally and internationally, acting as an ambassador for Greater Manchester.
