Head of Investment Promotion, North America

Lead Business Sweden’s investment promotion work in North America - attracting investments and expansions by North American companies to Sweden. Business Sweden is commissioned by the Swedish government to attract and facilitate international investments to Sweden that strengthen economic growth and competitiveness. We are now looking for a Head of Investment Promotion, North America, to lead this work primarily across the United States and, to some extent, Canada. The primary target group is North American companies—from fast-growing scale-ups to major global corporations—considering new establishments, expansions, reinvestments or strategic partnerships in Sweden. These may include R&D and innovation activities, manufacturing, strategic infrastructure, and sales and service operations. Within selected capital-attraction initiatives, the role will also engage institutional and financial investors. This role combines market leadership, proactive business development and key account management with leading and developing Business Sweden’s North American Investment Promotion team, currently consisting of two Senior Investment Advisors. The role reports to the Country Manager US and operates in a matrix, with functional accountability to Business Sweden’s central Investment Promotion function and the relevant industry teams in Sweden. Priorities, targets, activities and results are agreed and followed up jointly. You will collaborate closely with industry teams in Sweden, regional investment promotion organizations and Team Sweden partners, including Swedish embassies, consulates general and other Swedish actors in the United States and Canada. Current priority sectors include Digital Technologies and AI, Mobility, Life Science and Energy, with an increasing focus on Defense and Dual Use, as well as Advanced Manufacturing. The role may be based in New York, Washington, D.C., Chicago or San Francisco, depending on sector focus and individual preference. You will also be expected to work with our teams and clients around the world, as required. In this role, you will identify and bring investment opportunities from US and Canada to Sweden, by: Translate Business Sweden’s industry strategies and priorities into focused North American market plans. Working closely with the industry teams in Sweden, adapt Sweden’s value propositions to North American market conditions and corporate needs, and jointly define priority segments, target companies, outreach approaches, activities and expected results. Engage priority companies and, within selected initiatives, institutional and financial investors. Build long-term relationships with senior decision-makers, uncover investment plans and growth strategies, and generate and qualify leads in collaboration with the relevant industry teams in Sweden. Develop relationships with key multipliers including site selection consultants, chambers of commerce, industry associations, advisers and clusters to strengthen market intelligence, extend Business Sweden’s reach and generate leads. Support priority cases in collaboration with industry teams and delivery resources in Sweden. Coordinate corporate visits, stakeholder engagement and early-stage dialogue, while balancing new lead generation with active portfolio management. Represent Sweden and Business Sweden in senior meetings, industry events and ecosystem forums, positioning Sweden as a leading destination for investment, innovation and growth. Coordinate Team Sweden partners and Swedish regional investment promotion organisations to ensure aligned outreach, clear ownership and effective use of the wider promotion network. Create shared priorities and clear ownership across the team, coach colleagues, promote collaboration, and ensure structured planning, budgeting and performance follow-up. Bring North American market intelligence and corporate perspectives into industry priorities and target portfolios. Ensure a focused pipeline and consistent qualification, progression and documentation in Salesforce. What success looks like Success means a focused pipeline of qualified leads, measurable progress in priority corporate and investor dialogues, and realized establishments, expansions and capital commitments in Sweden. You create clarity, focus and momentum across the team, enabling colleagues to deliver strong individual and collective results. Performance is followed through agreed indicators covering pipeline quality and progression, realized results, strategic engagement, team delivery and CRM discipline. We apply probationary employment in all applicable positions. Core competencies and collaborative skills Demonstrate commitment, honesty, and accountability in tasks. Provide support and take ownership to ensure high quality delivery on time. Collaborate effectively to achieve good results with a positive can-do attitude. Contribute to team spirit and transparent communication. A problem solver who easily adapts to new ways of working. Voice your own ideas and share opinions. Show appreciation for different perspectives. Formal requirements BSc. /MSc. in Engineering, Business, Economics, Finance, International Relations, Management or a related field - or equivalent professional experience. Significant experience, including a minimum of 10 years in a consultancy firm or equivalent environment, within international business development, consultative sales, investment promotion, economic development, corporate strategy, or related fields. A strong track record of proactively opening doors, engaging senior decision-makers and generating new business or investment leads. Strong understanding of North American business, innovation, technology and investment ecosystems and international location decisions. Experience managing complex stakeholders and long decision processes, and leading or coordinating teams in an international or matrix organisation. A strong commercial mindset and genuine enjoyment of proactiv