View Vacancy - JPN- Senior Investment Officer (Financial Services and Retail) B3(L)

The British Government is an inclusive and diversity-friendly employer.  We value difference, promote equality and challenge discrimination, enhancing our organisational capability. We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We do not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, colour, ethnicity, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, age, veteran status or other category protected by law. We promote family-friendly flexible working opportunities, where operational and security needs allow.
Department for International Trade roles (DIT)
Department for International Trade (DIT)

The purpose of the Japan Network (incorporating the British Embassy (BE) in Tokyo and British Consulate General (BCG) in Osaka) is to promote the British Government’s prosperity, security and consular interests in Japan.

 

The UK Trade and Investment teams are an integral part of the Japan Network mandated to support UK companies exporting to Japan and Japanese companies investing in the UK. 

 

Japanese investment in the UK has been hugely successful, providing great impetus to the UK’s automotive, rail and nuclear sectors over recent years.  The investment team has ambitious targets for the number of investment projects they support each year, delivering new jobs and economic growth in the UK.

 

Main Duties

The Japanese financial services industry is an integral part of the City of London with all major Japanese players present. The post-holder will be responsible for relationships with the Japanese mega banks and other key players in the industry to promote the UK as a location for continued investment. 

 

In recent years Japan’s retail industry has been successful in setting up operations in the UK with ‘Cool Japan’ gaining recognition as a brand.  The successful candidate will be responsible for thinking up new innovative ways of driving interest in the UK among Japanese retail companies.

 


Responsibilities

Account-management

 

  • You will account manage a number of large existing investors, adopting a strategic and planned approach to the relationship and involving key colleagues in the trade team and capital investment team in your planning.
  • Relationships with the financial services sector including the 3 mega banks and other large financial services companies will be particularly key in this regard. 
  • You will put in place an annual plan of senior level meetings and develop new contacts in key positions in the company, while providing in depth support for their current and planned investment projects.

 

Driving new investment

  • You will develop and deliver compelling pitches to sell the UK offer to Japanese companies, continually updating and increasing their knowledge of the UK’s strengths in the relevant sectors. 
  • You will regularly engage with companies to move projects through the pipeline, prioritising high value projects.
  • They will engage regularly with delivery partners in the UK and Japan to jointly identify and manage projects and overcome obstacles to investment.

Promoting the UK

  • You will identify and implement the most appropriate methods for improving perceptions of the UK and generating new leads in these sectors.  These could include use of media including social media, GREAT events, trade fairs UK sector specialist visits, Ministerial roundtables and working with multipliers. 
  • You will build up a rolling list of the key companies in the sector, that do not currently have a significant base in the UK, to build propositions for and target for new investment into the UK.
  • You will advise on the design and manage the delivery and follow up of visits and events that contribute to sector targets.  Plan and manage practical and logistical aspects of VIP visit programmes and working with multipliers and partners to deliver cost efficient solutions.

Management

  • Line manage 1 investment officer – coaching them to deliver a strong performance. In addition you will matrix manage 1 investment officer in Osaka who spends a small proportion of their time on retail.
  • Provide effective budget forecasting and deliver VfM from spending public money on events and other activities. 

Requirements

The successful candidate should have:

  • Experience of working in or with private sector companies in the field of financial services or retail. 
  • Ability to develop network of contacts and to present well.  Candidates from a sales background would be particularly suited to the role.
  • Native speaker/ fluent level Japanese (N1 - Japanese Proficiency Test level).
  • Fluent English with TOEIC score of 800 points or above.

 

The successful candidate must also be able to demonstrate that they meet the following competences at interview:

 

Seeing the bigger picture

  • Showing an in-depth understanding and knowledge of how your role fits with and supports organisational objectives and the wider public needs.
  • Focusing your contribution on the activities which will meet Civil Service goals and deliver the greatest value.

 

Managing a Quality Service

  • Encourage customers to access relevant information or support that will help them understand and use services more effectively
  • Take ownership of issues, focus on providing the right solution and keep customers and delivery partners up to date with progress

 

Collaborating and Partnering

  • Listen to the views of others and show sensitivity towards others
  • Seek help when needed in order to complete own work effectively

 

Changing and Improving

  • Review working practices and come up with ideas to improve the way things are done
  • Be constructive in raising issues with managers about implemented changes and the impact these are having on the service
  • Respond effectively to emergencies 
10 September 2017
Executive Officer (EO)
Full-time, Permanent
37.5
Asia Pacific
Japan
Tokyo
British Embassy
1
JPY
413,000
1 October 2017

Our Values

As part of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) the Embassy/ Consulate-General aims for excellence by:

  • Taking responsibility
  • Encouraging innovation
  • Working together

 

Our values support a vibrant culture where all staff takes on stretching responsibilities, where ideas thrive and the status quo can be fearlessly challenged. We work together effectively with all our partners to make a greater difference for the UK

 

Benefits package includes: 

  • This is a permanent role and the position will be based in Tokyo.
  • Working hours: Full time.
  • Salary: 413,000 yen (note: Salary may be reduced due to tax status)
  • Commuting allowance of up to JPY35,000 per month (paid on an actual cost basis)
  • 24 days paid annual leave (calculated pro rata)
  • Health Insurance and Employee pension (kenko hoken/kosei nenkin)
  • Employment Insurance (koyou hoken)
  • Excellent training and development opportunities
  • Work-related travel in Japan/the region/ to the UK
  • Expected interview mid- September
  • Start date in Oct 2017.

All applications must be received on or before 23:55, 10 September 2017.


Incomplete applications will not be considered.


No accommodation or relocation expenses are payable in connection with this position.


The applicant must have work authorisation for Japan however if a foreign national, the British Embassy/ Consulate General will support a visa application if required.


Please be aware that you will only be able to apply to vacancies for Country Based Staff roles with the British Government through this official tal.net site (operated by Oleeo). Jobs may be advertised on third party websites, however our adverts will always link back to the official tal.net site. If you complete and send an application through any other site, we will not receive it.

This opportunity is closed to applications.