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Enda Brogan

Relocations leader is expanding and looking for  people with various skill levels to meet demand

International relocation  operators in China are benefiting from firms appointing more expatriates to positions in the mainland.

Companies are creating new jobs and seeking multilingual candidates with overseas experience.

Leading the way is Crown Worldwide Group, the world's largest privately owned relocations company. It is looking to hire 40 staff in Beijing as it gears up for the opening in July of a 23,000 square metre 'ultra-centre', costing US$15 million.

The facility will combine state-of-the-art storage and office space, and act as a fully integrated logistics centre. It is strategically positioned near the Beijing to Tianjin highway and will support the mainland expansion of the company's logistics, records management and relocations services.

Within three years Crown Worldwide will directly operate and own nearly 40,000 square metres of warehouse and office space in the mainland.

'We're actively seeking Hong Kong candidates in operational and customer service areas,' regional manager for Greater China, Jim Thompson,  said. 'We find these positions hard to fill on the mainland.'

Crown focuses on relocations, logistics and records management. All three areas are growing at an average rate of 15 per cent a year, creating a need for operations managers, customer services managers and co-ordinators.

'We've got an immediate opening for an operations manager in records management, but we'll be looking to hire people in various high-level positions as we expand throughout the year,' Mr Thompson said. Candidates must speak Putonghua and English because the positions involve regular interaction with international clients and local staff and contractors. A university degree is an advantage but is not essential.

'More important than speaking Putonghua is understanding the mentality,' said Mr Thompson, who grew up in Hong Kong. 'It took me 10 years to figure it out, to be able to read the outcome of situations in advance.' He emphasised that applicants must have relevant experience in the sector, be good at dealing with people and have customer service skills. A good work ethic and a responsible attitude towards the company are equally important.

Average salaries for co-ordinators and managers range between HK$15,000 and HK$25,000 a month, depending on the position. The company also offers suitable relocation packages for candidates moving to the mainland.

Some training of mainland staff is done in the global headquarters in Hong Kong. The firm has offices in eight mainland cities, including Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen, which employ about 200 staff, and is all set for sustained growth.

'Our business is linked with the global economy. If [it] is good, then global companies will expand more internationally, including to China,' he said.

Mr Thompson said major customers included Google, Yahoo and the British government. Relocating an average family and their belongings from the United States or Europe to China can cost US$10,000 to US$20,000 just for the physical move.

However, relocation needs are becoming increasingly sophisticated with many new elements involved.

'Call them global mobility services. This refers to all other services around the actual physical move, such as finding expatriate employees and their families a place to live, providing them with an orientation of the city, and setting up cross-cultural training, visa arrangements, and other services.'

The company usually does this by assigning one individual to a client to take care of the full range of issues.

Crown's logistics services are mainly for the import and distribution of hi-tech and other goods that require special customs procedures and expert know-how.

'We don't deal with exports, but this may change in the future. Our services are all aimed at international companies.

'But this could also change over the next 10 years as Chinese companies grow internationally and start to move more employees abroad.'

Crown Worldwide Group

International relocations firm planning for growth in China

Global headquarters in Hong Kong; eight mainland offices

It offers clients a range of specialist services, such as arranging visas and cross-cultural training

Openings for operations managers, and customer service managers and co-ordinators

Candidates must have relevant experience and a good work ethic

Fluent Putonghua and English are required

The company expects to expand as more executives relocate to China

Future developments may include building up an export logistics business



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