Managing Director, Europe, Foreign Direct Investment

Managing Director, Europe

The State of Virginia Europe Office GmbH (SVEO), based in Munich, Germany, is seeking an experienced economic development and business attraction professional to lead its Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) efforts throughout Europe. The ideal candidate will bring significant leadership experience, a proven track record in business development and lead generation, and the ability to build and maintain relationships with senior corporate executives, site selection consultants, industry leaders, and strategic partners across multiple European markets. The Managing Director will be responsible for overseeing the State of Virginia Europe Office (SVEO) in Munich, Germany, leading a high-performing team, and executing strategies that generate foreign direct investment opportunities resulting in job creation and capital investment in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

The Managing Director will promote Virginia as the preferred U.S. location for international business investment and expansion. This individual will lead VEDP's Europe team, which is responsible for developing and implementing lead generation strategies, cultivating qualified investment opportunities, managing stakeholder relationships, and supporting the Commonwealth's economic development objectives throughout Europe

This position reports to the Vice President, Foreign Direct Investment.

Responsibilities:

· Lead and manage the State of Virginia Europe Office and its staff to achieve VEDP's foreign direct investment goals and performance metrics.

· Develop and execute comprehensive lead generation strategies targeting prospective European investors across all industry sectors.

· Contribute to VEDP's annual lead generation calendar by identifying and recommending strategic missions, trade shows, conferences, events, and outreach initiatives.

· Proven ability to identify, engage, and cultivate relationships with senior corporate executives, site selection consultants, industry associations, and other key business influencers.

· Lead outreach efforts through executive meetings, marketing missions, conferences, and strategic business development activities.

· Build and maintain a robust pipeline of foreign direct investment opportunities

· Monitor project activity, pipeline progression, lead conversion performance, and office metrics, and provide regular updates to leadership.

· Prepare and deliver executive briefings, presentations, investment proposals, and marketing materials that effectively communicate Virginia's value proposition.

· Foster collaboration across VEDP divisions and leverage agency resources to support successful project development and client engagement.

· Build and maintain strong working relationships with economic development organizations, government agencies, higher education institutions, industry associations, consultants, and other key stakeholders throughout Europe and Virginia.

· Take a leading role in planning and executing Governor-led missions to Europe

· Communicate market intelligence, industry trends, and investment opportunities to support VEDP's foreign direct investment strategies and priorities.

Skills

· Demonstrated leadership ability and experience managing high-performing teams in a professional environment.

· Strong strategic thinking skills with the ability to develop and execute successful lead generation and business attraction strategies.

· Ability to quickly understand industry trends, business drivers, investment considerations, and competitive location factors influencing corporate expansion decisions.

· Proven ability to build, maintain, and leverage relationships with senior executives, consultants, and key stakeholders.

· Excellent written and verbal communication, presentation, negotiation, and interpersonal skills.

· Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines simultaneously.

· Ability to work independently while fostering collaboration across teams, partners, and stakeholders.

· Sound judgment, analytical thinking, and problem-solving capabilities.

· Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite required.

· Salesforce experience preferred.

· Fluency in English and one European language is required; additional European language skills strongly preferred.

· Ability to travel extensively throughout Europe (at least one trip per month) and periodically to the United States.

Experience

· Minimum of ten years of progressively responsible experience in economic development, foreign direct investment, business development, sales, marketing, international business, site selection, consulting, or a related field.

· Demonstrated experience developing and executing lead generation, sales, account management, or market development strategies that produce measurable results.

· Prior leadership experience managing teams, operations, budgets, and performance objectives is strongly preferred.

· Comprehensive knowledge of economic development, foreign direct investment, corporate expansion, business attraction, or site selection processes is highly desirable.

· Experience working with senior corporate executives and managing complex stakeholder relationships across multiple countries and cultures is strongly preferred.

· Valid driver's license, passport, and authorization to work within the European Union required.

Compensation & Application

The State of Virginia Europe Office offers a competitive compensation package commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Interested candidates should submit their application to:

Antje Abshoff, Vice President, Foreign Direct Investment, aabshoff@vedp.org