Head of Business Engagement, Latin America

The Head of Business Engagement, Latin America leads the Forum's engagement with the region's leading companies and shapes its partnership strategy and commercial growth. This leadership role drives new partner acquisition and long-term success of the existing partner portfolio while leading a high-performing regional team and delivering against ambitious commercial and organizational objectives.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Forum's partnership strategy and commercial growth across Latin America, defining and executing a regional plan aligned with institutional priorities and long-term objectives.
• Lead and develop a high-performing regional business team, ensuring delivery against key performance indicators, including partner acquisition (sales), retention and portfolio expansion.
• Build and sustain trusted relationships with CEOs, Chairs and other senior executives across Latin America, serving as a strategic advisor and helping organizations maximize the value of their engagement with the Forum.
• Drive business development across industries by cultivating a robust pipeline, engaging senior decision-makers and converting high-potential opportunities into long-term Forum partnerships.
• Drive the long-term success of the regional partner portfolio through proactive partnership stewardship, early risk identification, and the design and execution of targeted mitigation and growth strategies.
• Collaborate closely with Heads of Industry, Heads of Centres, and other senior colleagues to coordinate strategic engagement efforts and deploy the Forum’s expertise effectively across partner development and retention activities.
• Shape and articulate the Forum's strategic narrative on Latin America's future, working in close collaboration with the Centre for Regions, Trade and Geopolitics and other internal stakeholders.
• Oversee regional business planning, portfolio performance and resource allocation, ensuring disciplined execution, strong governance and effective cross-functional coordination.

Requirements

• Advanced degree and 10+ years of experience in business development, strategic engagement or stakeholder management, with deep knowledge of the Latin America region and its business landscape.
• Demonstrated success in building trusted relationships with senior executives, including CEOs, Chairs and C-suite leaders, and translating strategic business priorities into tailored engagement strategies.
• Strong track record in business development, with a consultative approach and a proven ability to identify, develop and convert high-potential opportunities.
• Demonstrated leadership and people management experience, with a collaborative, inclusive and results-oriented leadership style.
• Excellent cross-sectoral, cross-cultural communication and influencing skills, with the ability to build trusted relationships across diverse stakeholders; fluency in English required, with Portuguese and/or Spanish considered strong assets.
• Strong strategic, operational and financial acumen, with experience in budget management, resource allocation and performance oversight.
• Comfortable in a fast-paced, international environment; willing and able to travel up to 40%.

Skills

• Business Development
• Strategic Engagements
• Stakeholder Management
• Latin America Business Knowledge
• Senior Executive Relationship Building
• Engagement Strategies
• Consultative Sales
• Opportunity identification
• Leadership
• People Management
• Cross-Sector Communication
• Cross-Cultural Communication
• Influencing Skills
• Budget Management
• Resource Allocation
• Performance Oversight
• Strategic Planning
• Operational Management
• Financial Acumen
• Travel readiness

Languages

English, Portuguese, Spanish