View Vacancy - JPN (Tokyo) - Deputy Head of Trade, SEO
Main Purpose of Job:
As Deputy Head of Trade, you will work with the Head of Trade to lead and provide direction and pastoral support to a 20-person trade team. You will share responsibility for leading the team, leveraging resources, improving capability and driving performance. You will deputise for the Head of Trade where necessary, supporting cross-sector approach on areas such as income generation, external stakeholder management and regional (cross Asia-Pacific) priorities etc.
You will monitor and oversee the performance of the Export Support Service (ESS) team in Japan, who handle non-priority sector enquiries from UK companies and liaise with the ESS hub in Vietnam on policy issues.
You will have a wide management span, leading the Life Sciences, Tech, Financial Services, Professional & Business Services (FPBS) team (financial services, legal services, asset management, education) and Export Support Service. You will deliver a strategy with a high-level programme of activity to increase UK exports to Japan to support UK businesses and banks to enter and grow in the Japanese market. In addition, you will collaborate with key UK and Japan stakeholders across government and industry to resolve market access barriers and shape the right market conditions for exports and foreign investment into Japan.
The British Embassy Tokyo is a busy and diverse post at the heart of the UK government’s work in the Indo-Pacific. Our work on security, digital and technology, trade and economic, and climate and energy partnerships with Japan is at the centre of the Foreign Secretary’s foreign policy agenda and our commitment to the region.
The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) operates in 108 countries. Establishing new relationships around the globe, DBT promotes UK trade to ensure the UK takes advantage of the huge opportunities open to us, securing and improving economic well-being, stability, and helping to create tens of thousands of jobs. His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner (HMTC), based in Singapore, is responsible for Trade and Investment work in the APAC region. With over 280 staff over 14 markets, DBT APAC is a fast-paced and exciting place to work.
What the Jobholder will be Expected to Achieve:
- Act as Deputy Head of the DBT Japan Trade Team, including motivating and developing staff; developing strategy, identifying and reviewing priority sectors, monitoring performance against KPIs, business planning, data analysis, etc. in accordance with DBT HQ policy and strategy.
- Lead and line-manage the Japan ESS team, including the digital platform “Export to Japan”, providing advice, promoting best practice and escalating issues to the Regional ESS Manager. Developing and deciding on the strategy on the future of Export to Japan during the first half of 2024-25.
- Management and oversight of priority sectors of Life Science, Technology and the Financial, Professional & Business Services, with direct line management of 2 HEOs, 1 EO and 1 AO. Establish strong relationships across the sectors with the most important clients in the pharmaceutical, tech and financial institutions.
- Supervise the running of the Japan ESS team responding to company enquiries and advise HQ Sectors Teams and ESS Hub on ESS policy issues relating to Japan.
- Oversee business planning and sector strategy for the above sectors, taking into account changes in the Japanese market and how those link to opportunities for UK business.
- Deploy strong organisational and project management techniques to deliver an ambitious programme of engagements and events over the course of each fiscal year, including delivering speeches and presentations.
- Develop innovative strategies for lead generation and work on an integrated marketing approach to the sector, including leading campaigns to raise the profile of the UK financial services.
- Work with the Japan Network Trade Policy teams to bring policy and market access barriers through to commercial outcomes and contribute to the organisation of relevant visits.
- Advance the implementation and promote utilisation by companies of the UK-Japan Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
Resources Managed (Staff and Expenditure):
Management of the budget of £45,000 P.A. for the Export to Japan contract with oversight of possible additional funding from other sources for supplementary elements.
- Proven ability to work with business (either in the private sector or public sector)
- Proven stakeholder relationship management skills
- Proven ability to lead and manage a team
Language Requirements:
- Japanese and English Language ability
- Level of language required: Fluent in one and business level in the other
- Experience working in a cross-cultural environment
- Experience or knowledge of the professional and business services in the UK or Japan beneficial
- Analytical / statistical background
- Comfortable / experience in assessing import and export data to understand preference utilisation of the UK-Japan CEPA across sectors and able to identify trends
- 1 month salary bonus equivalents payable in June and December
(Note: Salary may be reduced due to tax status) - Commuting allowance of up to JPY35,000 per month (paid on an actual cost basis)
- 25 days paid annual leave (calculated pro rata)
- Health Insurance and Employee pension (kenko hoken/kosei nenkin)
- Employment Insurance (koyou hoken)
Working Patterns:
The Japan Network supports and promotes flexible working as a crucial part of our inclusive offering. This role allows for flexible working e.g. start and end times, working compressed hours, working remotely on one day a week, and the possibility of a job share arrangement, subject to agreement with management.
This role requires flexibility to sometimes work outside of conditioned hours e.g. during Ministerial visits and Embassy events.
Learning and Development Opportunities (and any specific training courses to be completed):
The British Embassy Tokyo and the UK Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) provides a range of training opportunities in core diplomatic and commercial skills, from networking and communication to project management. The British Embassy Tokyo works closely with missions across the Asia-Pacific region to share experience and learning.
Alongside several specific courses that must be completed upon arrival, the Japan Network is supportive of learning and development. We offer five development days per year and regular opportunities for learning and development delivered both within the mission and regionally in Asia. We also use coaching and a buddying system to support new arrivals.
All staff are required to take a role in the Japan Network’s crisis preparation and response. Full training will be provided and regular opportunities will be available to test and develop your skills
Please note that the deadline for applications is 23:55 on the day mentioned in the above field “Application deadline”.
Please be aware that the deadline for submitting applications is considered to be the time zone for the country where the vacancy has arisen.
We advise you to allow enough time to complete and submit your full application, since only applications completed and submitted before the deadline will be considered.
Note: All applicants are required to mandatorily fill the online application form completely including the employment and educational details, experience, professional skills and behaviour-based questions. We will be thoroughly reviewing the applications and incomplete form in any respect may not be considered while shortlisting for the next stage.
Only shortlisted candidates for interview will be contacted. Interviewees will be assessed on the core behaviours/qualifications listed above. Unsuccessful candidates will be notified via the system in due time. Appointable candidates who were unsuccessful may be placed on a ‘reserve list’. If during the reserve period of 6 months the same or a largely similar role becomes available, that role may be offered to the second or subsequent candidate.
To ensure a successful application it is important that you explain how you demonstrate these behaviours, including through your experience. You are strongly advised to read the Success Profiles Civil Service Behaviours Framework, which provides detailed guidance on how the behaviours are defined.
Applicants are encouraged to use the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) format to prepare specific examples of when they have demonstrated these behaviours in their application. Using the STAR format to provide evidence of your skills and experience in your application and at interview helps to give a structure. You briefly describe the situation in which you showed the behaviour, and then explain your task in addressing the situation, what action you took and the result of this.
For inclusivity and diversity, please remove the following personal information when uploading your CV: name, address, email address, age, date of birth, gender and nationality.
The start date mentioned in the job advert is a tentative start date and the successful candidate will be required to undergo security vetting procedures. Any offer of employment will be subject to the candidate achieving suitable clearances.
This opportunity is closed to applications.
