Illustrative industry and engineering scene

INDUSTRY UNDERSTANDING

Know the industry.
Find the right talent.

Start with products, technology and real operations to understand the work behind each role. Connect relevant expertise with hiring needs in China and overseas.

Explore our industry focus Discuss your hiring needs

Questions we consider

BUSINESSWhat is changing in the business?

ROLEWhat does this role need to solve?

TALENTWhat experience will help someone succeed?

Illustrative industry scene

01 / SECTORS & SPECIALISMS

Choose an industry.
Start with the role.

Industry experience matters, and so does the context in which it was gained. Consider the product, work and stage of the team together.

Illustrative new energy R&D scene — Clean energy · Illustrative scene

R&D & product / Project engineering / Markets & operations

From technology to practical delivery.

R&D, project development and commercial operations need different capabilities, even within clean energy. Clarify the product, business activity and stage before defining responsibilities.

Three questions to start with

Which technologies and areas of responsibility will the role cover?
What must the new hire solve independently?
How does the role work with R&D, engineering and commercial teams?

Roles to discuss

Head of R&D Project engineering manager Commercial lead

For China-based roles, define technical and project responsibilities. For overseas operations, also clarify the target market, work location and headquarters support.

Discuss clean energy roles

Illustrative energy storage engineering scene — Energy storage · Illustrative scene

Systems R&D / Product & delivery / Market development

Separate R&D, delivery and commercial responsibilities.

Launching a product, delivering customer projects and building a sales team require different hires. Assess experience against the storage system, application and customer segment.

Three questions to start with

Which systems and applications are involved?
Does the role own R&D, delivery or business development?
What support can headquarters provide?

Roles to discuss

Head of systems R&D Energy storage product manager Project delivery manager Head of international markets

Local customer engagement, on-site delivery and remote technical support need distinct definitions. Confirm overseas site responsibilities before choosing sourcing channels.

Discuss energy storage roles

Illustrative robotics R&D scene — Robotics · Illustrative scene

Algorithms & software / Hardware & mechatronics / Applications & product

Connect technical depth with real applications.

Algorithms, software, hardware and mechatronics must work together. Clarify the product and stage, distinguishing research, module development and customer applications to identify the right technical background.

Three questions to start with

Is the work research, integration or production deployment?
Which module will the candidate own?
How will they work with site teams, customers and R&D?

Roles to discuss

Algorithm engineer Hardware engineer Application engineer Technical product lead

China-based R&D and overseas applications may need different profiles. Language is one requirement; engineering ability and judgement in the field also need assessment.

Discuss robotics roles

Illustrative cross-border e-commerce scene — Cross-border e-commerce · Illustrative scene

Platform operations / Brand marketing / Product & supply chain

Understand the operation and the target market.

An international business does not mean every role is overseas. Clarify the platform, category, stage and actual location before defining operations, brand, product and supply chain responsibilities.

Three questions to start with

Which platform, category and market?
Does the role own execution, a team or business results?
How are budget authority and collaboration responsibilities divided?

Roles to discuss

Head of platform operations Head of brand marketing Cross-border e-commerce product manager Head of supply chain

Discuss China-based operations and local overseas teams separately. Location, language and local experience requirements should reflect actual business needs.

Discuss cross-border e-commerce roles

Illustrative engineering R&D scene — Automotive · Illustrative scene

R&D engineering / Production & quality / Supply chain & operations

Understand the role within the product and engineering system.

R&D, production, quality and supply chain teams work with different customers and technical interfaces. Assess experience against the product, specialism and team stage rather than an automotive background alone.

Three questions to start with

Which products and technical modules are involved?
Is the priority development, validation or on-site improvement?
How does the role work with customers and adjacent teams?

Roles to discuss

R&D engineering lead Head of quality Supply chain manager Head of operations

Confirm the city, R&D centre and production site separately. For overseas plants or customer sites, clarify assignment arrangements and headquarters coordination.

Discuss automotive roles

Illustrative manufacturing site — Advanced manufacturing · Illustrative scene

Processes & equipment / Automation / Quality & manufacturing operations

Understand the role through the production environment.

Process improvement, equipment maintenance, automation and production management require different strengths. Explain current problems and improvement objectives, separating design, execution and people management.

Three questions to start with

Which production or delivery stage needs to improve?
What equipment, process or management experience is needed?
What resources can the role access?

Roles to discuss

Process & equipment engineer Head of automation Quality lead Manufacturing operations lead

Single key appointments and ongoing volume hiring can be arranged separately. Overseas projects also require clear location, language and on-site collaboration conditions.

Discuss advanced manufacturing roles

Illustrative warehouse and supply chain scene — Supply chain · Illustrative scene

Procurement & suppliers / Planning & logistics / Warehousing & fulfilment

Define ownership across the supply chain.

Supply chains span procurement, planning, logistics and fulfilment. Define the activity, decisions and cross-functional relationships against the product and delivery model.

Three questions to start with

Which products and suppliers are involved?
Is the priority planning, inventory or delivery?
Who does the role work with, and which decisions does it own?

Roles to discuss

Procurement manager Supply chain planning manager Head of warehousing & fulfilment Supply chain director

Start with the part of the supply chain the role will manage. For cross-border procurement and local fulfilment, clarify site conditions, languages and coordination with headquarters.

Discuss supply chain roles

02 / ONE INDUSTRY, DIFFERENT CONTEXTS

One industry.
Different hiring contexts.

Define where the person works and what they own before deciding how to search and collaborate.

Key appointments in China

Start with the city, business objectives and team relationships to define management and specialist searches.

Technical & industry experience
Authority & reporting lines
Compensation & onboarding arrangements

Executive & specialist search

Local hiring overseas

Discuss local experience and headquarters collaboration around the country, customers and work on the ground.

Local business & languages
Market or site responsibilities
Headquarters & local responsibilities

Explore local hiring overseas

International assignments & expansion

Discuss location, travel or relocation, interest in the role and relocation preferences and ongoing hiring needs against the stage of team development.

Assignment terms & location
Team stage & hiring priorities
Interviews across time zones

Explore cross-border recruitment

03 / A BETTER STARTING POINT

Four questions
for a clear hiring brief.

Without a full job description, start with the business context and current tasks.

Define your hiring brief with us

Why is this hire needed now?

Expansion, a technical challenge, a team vacancy or entry into a new market?

What must the person deliver first?

Describe practical tasks and distinguish essential experience from skills that can be developed.

Who will they work with?

Explain reporting lines, working relationships, available resources and decision authority.

What are the practical conditions?

Location, languages, salary range, travel and expected start date.

KEEP EXPLORING

Bring industry insight
into hiring decisions.

Explore insights & resources

RESOURCES

Let's discuss your industry
and the role that matters.

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Know the industry.
Find the right talent.