Market Development Director of Global Trade & Investment

Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation

Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation

Position Description

POSITION TITLE: MARKET DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
DEPARTMENT: GLOBAL TRADE & INVESTMENT
REPORTS TO: VICE PRESIDENT OF GLOBAL TRADE & INVESTMENT
POSITION(S) SUPERVISED: N/A
FLSA STATUS: EXEMPT

*WEDC is a Wisconsin-based organization, with a remote-work first environment. Remote work is intended to be performed in the State of Wisconsin.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Market Development Director (MDD) promotes Wisconsin's economic growth by increasing exports and attracting foreign direct investment. This position will develop and implement initiatives for companies entering Wisconsin and export acceleration programs for companies expanding globally. The MDD manages select Authorized Trade Representatives (ATR) in the high volume and high growth markets matching Wisconsin industry sectors, in assigned geographic portfolio areas.

RESPONSIBILITIES

The Market Development Manager will spend a majority of their time on these activities:

• Support an increase in Wisconsin exports.
  • Counsel Wisconsin businesses on exporting into multiple geographies with an emphasis on Europe, documentation, logistics, payment methods and compliance.
  • Propose, lead and coordinate WEDC's participation in foreign trade events and in-country market development activities.
  • Field requests from Wisconsin businesses on country specific import requirements and regulations.
  • Recruit businesses to participate in export related training, services and missions.

• Educate Wisconsin companies new to export.
  • Respond to requests from Wisconsin businesses on how to get started in exporting.
  • Leverage, expand, and promote export assistance resources located within Wisconsin.
  • Write reports, articles and other marketing material to promote exporting.
  • Serve as a trainer on topics related to exporting.

• Provide on-going updates to Wisconsin businesses, government leaders and WEDC leadership on foreign trade issues within their geographic responsibility.
  • Mentor local/regional economic development organizations on trade and exporting.
  • Research and analyze trade policies and data to provide technical advice.
  • Anticipate, research and report on future changes in import/export laws, trade agreements, issues and opportunities for portfolio responsibility area, and ensure it is built into WEDC's planning.

• Collaborate and coordinate with external and internal customers.
  • Identify foreign direct investment (FDI) opportunities and hand-off to international business attraction team.
  • Maintain contact and an ongoing relationship with the trade commissions of geographic focus.
  • Represent WEDC in related organizations/partnerships.

• Develop an export strategy and an implementation plan for his/her assigned portfolio area.
  • Participate in annual division planning process and ensure that one's portfolio strategy is coordinated with the divisional and state level strategies.
  • Identify and justify recommended strategy revisions when required.
  • Analyze trade potential for new and existing international markets and build and expand the international network to increase Wisconsin's exposure in priority markets.

• Other key responsibilities include: review and delivery of a regular cadence of market intelligence and trade reports, market and trade data analysis, and business relationship development and management.

• Other duties as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Management, Economics, Foreign Language or Cultural Studies or any equivalent combination of education, experience and training that provides the required knowledge and skills.
• Minimum of five years of experience related to exporting and international business in the areas of business development, export operations, investment, sales, marketing, promotion, or in a state, US federal or overseas trade promotion agency.

Skills and Talents:

• Knowledge Areas
  • Extensive knowledge of exporting, export regulations and practices and trade policy.
  • Considerable knowledge of export development strategies including the ability to identify target markets, develop market entry strategies and identify investment opportunities in the state.
  • Deep knowledge of economics and business management principles and practices.
  • International sales

• Technical Skill Areas
  • Demonstrated strong project management experience in a leadership role.
  • Superior research and analysis skills: proven ability to rapidly compile, analyze and leverage highly varied data to optimize current business and to identify new opportunities.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills to deal effectively with C-Level and senior executives as well as diverse groups of customers internal and external to the organization.
  • Experience in strategic planning.

• Soft Skill Areas
  • Ability to develop relationships with industry, government officials, and other state agency staff.
  • Ability to work under pressure with competing demands and varied priorities.
  • Demonstrated intercultural fluency and sensitivity through experience in extended travel to, doing business with, and/or living outside the US.
  • Demonstrated ability to partner and influence at all levels in the business and to be viewed as a credible, valuable source of information and integral part of management team.

• Bilingual ability is highly preferred.

Other Requirements

• International, national, and state-wide travel will occur on a frequent basis, more than 30% of the time. Travel is anticipated to include day and overnight travel.
• This position is eligible for reimbursement according to the Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) program. This position requires the employee to provide a mobile device that allows for phone, text, and email access.
• Based on the responsibilities of this position, this position may need to lift and/or move up to 10 pounds.

WEDC DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION & BELONGING STATEMENT

WEDC must be a diverse and inclusive organization reflective of the businesses, communities, and people in Wisconsin and beyond. We believe that diversity drives innovation and commit to create an inclusive, equitable and diverse workplace where our differences are celebrated as drivers of our organization's performance.

TO SUPPORT A DIVERSE AND INCLUSIVE WORKFORCE AT WEDC, WE WILL WORK TO ACHIEVE THE FOLLOWING GOALS:

• Increase WEDC's racial diversity, specifically with Black/African American, Native American and Latinx populations;
• Increase LGBTQ representation across WEDC; and
• Increase the diversity of WEDC's leadership.

TO MEET OUR DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION GOALS, WEDC WILL TAKE THE FOLLOWING ACTIONS:

• Create an intentional approach to recruit minority candidates by using targeted media channels to promote open positions;
• Ensure formal offers are made only after a diverse pool of candidates have been considered at each hiring stage;
• Identify and develop a variety of employee resource groups, including groups for African Americans, Hispanics and Latinos, LGBTQ+ and more;
• Post signage to highlight WEDC's commitment to diversity and inclusion; and
• Revisit EEO disclosures in our application process to highlight statements regarding WEDC's commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation is an Equal Opportunity Educational Institution and EEO/Affirmative Action Employer committed to excellence through diversity. Employment offers are made on the basis of qualifications, and without regard to race, sex, religion, national or ethnic origin, disability, age, veteran status, or sexual orientation.

Veteran Declaration

Applicants for employment are invited to participate in affirmative action program by reporting their status as a protected veteran or other minority. In extending this invitation, we advise you that: (a) workers (applicants) are under no obligation to respond but may do so in the future if they choose; (b) responses will remain confidential within the human resource department; and (c) responses will be used only for the necessary information. Refusal to provide this information will have no bearing on your application and will not subject you to any adverse treatment.
** PROTECTED VETERAN DEFINITION

Protected veteran means a veteran who may be classified as an active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran, disabled veteran, Armed Forces service medal veteran or recently separated veteran.

Active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

Armed Forces service medal veteran means any veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985 (61 FR 1209, 3 CFR, 1996 Comp., p. 159).

Disabled veteran means (1) a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, or (2) a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

Recently separated veteran means a veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service.

* EEOC RACE/ETHNIC IDENTIFICATION CATEGORIES

Hispanic or Latino - A person of Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, South or Central American, or other Spanish culture or origin regardless of race.

White (not Hispanic or Latino) - A person having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East or North Africa.

Black or African American (not Hispanic or Latino) - A person having origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa.

Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander (not Hispanic or Latino) - A person having origins in any of the peoples of Hawaii, Guam, Samoa or other Pacific Islands.

Asian (not Hispanic or Latino) - A person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia or the Indian Subcontinent, including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippine Islands, Thailand and Vietnam.

American Indian or Alaska Native (not Hispanic or Latino) - A person having origins in any of the original peoples of North and South America (including Central America) and who maintain tribal affiliation or community attachment.

Two or more races (not Hispanic or Latino) - All persons who identify with more than one of the above races.