The country's leading aircraft manufacturer has launched an unprecedented global recruitment drive to find top executives to help it explore the international market, the group said Thursday.

The Aviation Industry Corp of China is looking for vice-presidents with experience in the global aviation industry to improve production, marketing and management in 13 of its subsidiaries, Gao Jianshe, executive vice-president in charge of the drive, said at a press conference in Beijing.

One of the positions on offer is vice-president of the corporation's defense division, which makes fighter jets and missiles, he said. The hiring blitz is not a direct response to the expected fallout from the financial crisis that began on Wall Street, Gao said.

"Rather, we think the time is now ripe," he said.

AVIC was set up in November following the merger of the country's top two aircraft manufacturers. It has a revenue target of 1 trillion yuan ($145 billion) by 2017, up from 166 billion yuan last year.

"The recruitment drive is a bold move that we hope will not only bring fresh blood to our management team, but also help in achieving our goals in terms of technological innovation," Gao said.

Apart from the high-profile defense post, most of the positions are in civilian areas, such as the helicopter, aircraft engines and general aviation divisions, he said.

"All of the jobs are open to foreigners; the search will not be limited to China-born managers abroad," Gao said.

As long as the candidates can meet our selection criteria, they are all very welcome to apply."

Naturally, however, as all of the jobs will involve dealing with some of the corporation's restricted information, background checks will be performed on all candidates and those that are selected will be asked to sign confidentiality agreements, he said.

Ni Xianping, executive vice-president of AVIC Defense, said that although the recruitment drive is a new strategy for the corporation, working with foreign talent is very much a growing trend in the pursuit of technological progress.

"As long as everyone shares the same goal the cooperation will be a success," he said

The deadline for receipt of applications is March 31.

(China Daily February 27, 2009)