Job Specification | Global Advisor (International Strategy & Risk)

🎯 Role Definition

The Global Advisor serves as the organization's foremost expert and strategic counsel on international affairs, geopolitical risk, and global market dynamics. This is a senior, high-impact role responsible for providing the C-suite and executive leadership with the critical intelligence and foresight needed to navigate complex cross-border challenges and capitalize on international opportunities. The individual in this position shapes the company's global strategy, protects its assets and people abroad, and ensures that decision-making is informed by a deep understanding of the political, economic, and cultural nuances of the global operating environment. This is not just an analytical role; it's a trusted advisory function that blends sharp intellect with practical, actionable guidance.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Senior Management Consultant (with a focus on international strategy or risk)
Director of International Business Development or Corporate Strategy
Senior Diplomat, Foreign Service Officer, or Intelligence Analyst

Advancement To:

Chief Strategy Officer
Head of Global Public Policy / Government Affairs
Partner (in a consulting or advisory firm)

Lateral Moves:

Head of Geopolitical Risk & Intelligence
Principal, Corporate Development (M&A)

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Advise the CEO, Board of Directors, and other senior executives on the geopolitical implications of global events and trends on the organization's strategy, operations, and investments.
Develop, articulate, and champion the organization's overarching global expansion and market entry/exit strategies, including detailed country-level assessments.
Lead the continuous monitoring, analysis, and interpretation of international political and economic developments, legislative changes, and regulatory shifts to identify emerging threats and opportunities.
Conduct comprehensive, forward-looking geopolitical risk assessments for current and potential markets, providing clear "so what" analysis for business leaders.
Build and discreetly maintain a high-level global network of contacts within governments, diplomatic circles, industry associations, academia, and think tanks.
Provide strategic counsel and deep-dive analysis for cross-border mergers, acquisitions, and strategic partnerships, focusing on non-financial and political risks.
Act as the organization's primary subject matter expert on international affairs, providing context and insight on complex global issues to internal stakeholders at all levels.
Translate complex geopolitical and macroeconomic intelligence into concise, actionable business recommendations and executive-level briefing materials.
Author and disseminate internal thought leadership, such as white papers and risk outlooks, to foster a globally-aware culture within the organization.
Represent the organization with authority and diplomacy at high-level international forums, government meetings, and industry conferences.
Lead multi-disciplinary project teams tasked with solving complex international business challenges, from supply chain disruptions to market access issues.
Develop and oversee the implementation of crisis management and business continuity plans related to political instability, security threats, or sudden policy shifts in key countries.
Guide the company's global public policy and government affairs strategies to proactively shape the regulatory environment in alignment with corporate objectives.
Evaluate the impact of international trade agreements, sanctions regimes, export controls, and tariffs on the company's global value chain and profitability.
Provide sophisticated cultural intelligence and guidance to support effective cross-cultural negotiations, leadership, and team collaboration.

Secondary Functions

Mentor and develop junior analysts and regional team members, building the organization's internal capacity for global intelligence and analysis.
Manage the selection and ongoing relationships with external political risk consultancies, intelligence providers, and in-country experts.
Establish and refine the methodologies, frameworks, and tools used for country risk assessment and geopolitical monitoring across the enterprise.
Collaborate closely with regional leadership teams to ensure global strategies are effectively localized and executed on the ground.
Support corporate communications and investor relations by providing expert context on the company's positioning within the global landscape.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Geopolitical Risk Analysis: Master-level ability to analyze the interplay of politics, economics, and security on a global and regional scale and translate it into business impact.
International Policy Analysis: Deep expertise in monitoring and interpreting legislative, regulatory, and public policy developments across multiple jurisdictions.
Market Entry & Expansion Strategy: Proven ability to develop and scrutinize business cases for entering new international markets.
Macroeconomic Analysis: Strong understanding of global economic indicators, currency fluctuations, and their effect on business performance.
Scenario Planning & Foresight: Skill in developing a range of plausible future scenarios to help leaders stress-test strategies and build resilience.
Foreign Language Proficiency: Fluency or professional proficiency in at least one language beyond English (e.g., Mandarin, Spanish, Arabic, French) is highly desirable.

Soft Skills

Executive Presence & C-Suite Communication: The ability to command respect and convey complex, sensitive information with clarity, confidence, and gravitas to the most senior audiences.
Diplomacy and Tact: Exceptional interpersonal skills and the ability to navigate delicate situations and build consensus among stakeholders with competing interests.
Cross-Cultural Acumen: An innate and learned ability to understand, appreciate, and effectively operate across diverse cultural contexts.
Unflappable Under Pressure: A high degree of composure and sound judgment, especially when dealing with ambiguity, crises, and rapidly changing information.
Influence without Authority: The capacity to persuade and guide senior leaders and cross-functional teams toward a common goal through logic, relationship-building, and expertise.
Absolute Discretion: A profound sense of integrity and the ability to handle highly confidential and market-sensitive information.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Bachelor's degree in a relevant field.

Preferred Education:

Master's degree (e.g., MBA, M.A. in International Relations/Affairs, Public Policy) or a Ph.D. in a related discipline.

Relevant Fields of Study:

International Relations
Political Science
Economics
International Business
International Law

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

15+ years of progressive experience in roles directly related to international strategy, geopolitical risk, or foreign affairs.

Preferred:

Extensive experience gained within a premier management consulting firm's strategy practice, a corporate headquarters' global strategy function, a high-level government or diplomatic role (e.g., State Department, Foreign Ministry, intelligence community), or a leading political risk advisory firm. Direct experience living and working outside of one's home country is a significant asset.