Senior Director

Forward Global is an international risk and reputation management advisory firm delivering tailored solutions to clients worldwide. Our clients include global corporations, trade associations, law firms, private equity and venture capital firms, foreign governments and sovereign wealth funds, international organisations and NGOs, and family offices.

Our Critical Issues Practice advises clients facing complex international, political and economic challenges where geopolitics, government policy, trade, sanctions and reputation increasingly intersect.

As part of the continued development of the Practice, we are looking for a Director / Senior Manager with a strong international profile and the ability to work across issues, sectors and geographies.

This is not a sector specific role. We are looking for someone who can connect the dots.

Main Responsibilities

• Advise international clients on complex and sensitive matters involving sanctions, geopolitics, economic security, trade disputes, international relations and government affairs.
• Analyse political and geopolitical developments and translate them into clear implications, risks and strategic options for clients.
• Work across different countries, institutions and policy areas, identifying connections between political, economic, regulatory and reputational developments.
• Develop strategies for complex international mandates involving governments, companies, international organisations and other senior stakeholders.
• Support clients on sanctions related matters, including the political and economic implications of restrictive measures, third country exposure, circumvention risks and evolving international sanctions frameworks.
• Advise on international trade and economic security issues, including trade disputes, tariffs, market access challenges, supply chain risks and changing geopolitical relationships.
• Support sensitive government and diplomatic engagement, including the preparation of engagement strategies, senior level briefings and positioning.
• Produce high quality strategic documents for senior audiences, including CEOs, Boards, governments and senior decision makers. This includes strategic assessments, briefing notes, position papers, geopolitical analysis and recommendations.
• Bring together information from different sources and disciplines, identify what matters and provide clear strategic judgement rather than simply reporting developments.
• Work closely with colleagues across Forward Global offices and practices, bringing together expertise when mandates require a multidisciplinary or international approach.
• Manage client relationships and contribute to the development and delivery of complex mandates.
• Support and mentor more junior colleagues, ensuring consistently high analytical and written standards across the Practice.

Profile

• 8 to 12+ years of relevant professional experience in international affairs, government, diplomacy, international organisations, strategic advisory, geopolitical risk, sanctions, trade or a related field.
• Previous experience working in, or closely with, a multilateral organisation, diplomatic service, government or international institution would be a strong advantage.
• Strong understanding of international politics and geopolitical developments, with the ability to assess their implications for governments and businesses.
• Good knowledge of sanctions and economic security issues. We are not looking for a purely technical sanctions compliance profile, but for someone who understands sanctions as an instrument of foreign policy and their wider political, economic and commercial implications.
• Experience with international trade issues, trade disputes, tariffs or related economic policy matters would be an advantage.
• Strong diplomatic judgement and confidence working with senior stakeholders from different political, institutional and cultural environments.
• Exceptional analytical and writing skills. The successful candidate must be able to take complex and sometimes fragmented information, connect the relevant issues and produce concise, high level documents with clear conclusions and recommendations.
• A horizontal thinker. Someone who is intellectually curious and comfortable moving between geopolitics, sanctions, trade, diplomacy, business and reputation rather than specialising in one narrow policy area.
• International experience and genuine interest in developments beyond Brussels and the European Union.
• Excellent command of English is required. Fluency in several languages is highly valued, particularly languages relevant to our international client base.
• Comfortable working under pressure and on sensitive matters where developments can move quickly