Country Manager/Trade Commissioner USA

Do you have a strong drive for delivering value to clients within market expansion and growth in a highly international context? Would you like to work in the intersection of business and diplomacy, interacting with executives and public officials while helping Swedish companies reach their full international potential? Business Sweden is now looking for a Country Manager to lead our US team, strengthen key partnerships, and drive operations in one of our largest markets.

Placement: The role is based at one of Business Sweden's offices in New York, Chicago or San Francisco.

At Business Sweden, we do management consulting with a higher purpose: to contribute to the welfare of society by accelerating the growth of Swedish companies abroad and by helping international companies to invest and expand in Sweden. Our clients are all over the world, so it’s by design that Business Sweden has offices and employees all around the world, too.

About the market

Our US operation consists of 45 people spread across 4 locations which are New York, Chicago, San Francisco and Washington D.C. Together, we make up one of the most successful, progressive, and dynamic business units in Business Sweden in the largest economy in the world.

We help Swedish companies enter and grow in the US market, understand market dynamics, identify local partners, appreciate the regulatory landscape, and build out their services or product offering. We support several industries spanning across Energy and Transport, Industry, Healthcare and Life Science, Digital Technologies as well as Retail and Consumer Goods.

What do we expect from you?

As Country Manager USA you have overall responsibility for Business Sweden’s operations, people and results in one of our key international markets. You combine strategic leadership with hands on business development, ensuring that our services are successfully sold and delivered to clients in both Sweden and the United States. In your role, you act as the key representative of Swedish business and Business Sweden in the US, building strong relationships with clients and stakeholders and enabling Swedish companies to grow in the market.

You are responsible for sales, delivery and profitability, and you lead an engaging, collaborative and positive high-performance culture. You identify new opportunities, develop our service offering locally and contribute to Business Sweden’s global agenda. You work closely with Team Sweden partners, including the Swedish Embassy and other governmental institutions.

You will report to VP Americas. The role can be based in New York City, San Francisco or Chicago and includes regular travel.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop Business Sweden’s US operations, with full responsibility for results and profitability
• Drive business development by selling, marketing and delivering Business Sweden’s services to existing and potential clients in Sweden and in the US
• Build and maintain strong, long-term relationships with clients, partners and stakeholders across the market
• Manage and participate in the delivery of consulting and internationalization projects, ensuring high quality and impact
• Lead, inspire and develop the US team, fostering an engaging, collaborative and high performing culture
• Represent Swedish business interests and promote Swedish industry and companies in a Team Sweden context

Background & Experience

• Academic degree in Engineering, Business Administration or a related field
• At least 15 years of relevant professional experience, preferably within Management Consulting
• Proven track record of successfully selling and delivering professional services assignments
• Extensive experience in leadership and in coaching senior leaders
• Experience of leading a distributed team is an advantage
• Demonstrated ability to engage and align teams around a clear vision and to execute on strategy from a senior leadership role
• Experience of working in or with the North American market is considered an advantage
• Experience of working in an international environment
• Excellent communication skills in English and Swedish, both spoken and written
• Swedish citizenship is required.

As a person, you are curious, business oriented and a skilled problem solver. You are a results oriented and proactive leader with the ability to create engagement and build strong relationships with your team and other stakeholders. You have a humble attitude, are a team player and a strong communicator. You thrive in fast-paced and changing environments where no day is like the other.

If this sounds like your kind of challenge, apply today by submitting your CV and cover letter before the 12th of May! 

In this recruitment process Business Sweden is collaborating with Novare Executive Search. For more information about the position or the process, please contact Viktor Karlsson, viktor.karlsson@novare.se. Please note that we do not accept applications through e-mail.