The North Bund Group has recruited a deputy general manager and seven professionals through a global recruitment with an annual salary of up to 1.5 million yuan (US$232,200).

Zheng Ke, former general manager of a property firm under Vanke who has three master’s degrees from Shanghai’s Tongji University as well as the Harvard and Stanford in the United States, has been recruited as the deputy general manager to oversee planning and projects on the Huangpu River waterfront in Hongkou District.

Zheng, 44, who once took charge of many local key projects such as the World Expo 2010 site in Shanghai, was recruited among some 430 candidates, including 91 from overseas.

“I was mostly attracted by the central global position of the North Bund,” said Zheng. “I’d like to use my experience and knowledge to contribute to its development and leave some landmark works of mine.”

The group launched the recruitment campaign in July 2020, marking the first time a state-owned enterprise in Hongkou has sought candidates from around the world. The practice aims to develop the North Bund region with a global vision, according to the Hongkou government.

The deputy general manager will assist the general manager with urban renewal planning, project development and management over a 3-year period.

The successful candidate should drive regional development as well as the shipping and finance sectors, according to the online global recruitment notice released globally.

The group has received a total of 432 applications. An experts panel selected 50 among them to take part in an online exam. Fourteen candidates were chosen, said Zhang Shun, deputy Party secretary of the group.

Several rounds of interviews were held with the candidates and a panel, led by Zhang Wei, vice director of Hongkou, decided to recruit Zheng.

“We’ve found the most suitable talent to support the development of the North Bund,” Zhang Shun said.

Apart from Zheng, the group also recruited seven professionals for engineering and operation supervision through global recruitments. They include Chen Zhiyi, the newly recruited operation supervisor of the group, who has two master’s degrees from Jiao Tong University and University of Edinburgh.

“I have always regretted not being able to take part in the development of Lujiazui in Pudong, but now I feel lucky to join in the constructions of the North Bund,” Chen said.

The group has received a total of 3,500 applications for the posts. The recruited professionals have graduated from prestigious universities such as Peking, Tsinghua, Fudan and Jiao Tong universities with overseas studies experiences, Zhang said.

Yao Yi, 27, a University of Melbourne graduate, is the youngest among new recruits. She is now assistant planner of the group’s culture and tourism center.

“The profound culture and history of the North Bund will be fully exploited during the development,” Yao said.

Zhang Shun said many officials, who were promoted or appointed by the government, are familiar with the policies or government affairs, but lack the international vision and broad interpersonal network. That’s why the group recruitment was launched.

Along with the Lujiazui financial hub on the east bank of the river across from the Bund, the North Bund forms downtown Shanghai’s “golden triangle.” Riverside regions have already been transformed with greenery and paths.

The new-look North Bund will include a central business district with office buildings and commercial facilities.