View Vacancy - JPN (Tokyo) - Senior Media Manager, HEO

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. The FCDO operates an agile workforce and to facilitate this, you may be required to undertake other duties from time to time, as we may reasonably require.
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Operations and Corporate Services)
Communications, Press and Media

Main Purpose of Job:

This is a key role at the heart of the Japan Network, where you will lead the planning and delivery of communications and marketing campaigns aligned with the Japan Network’s key strategic communication themes as an expert in media. Providing strategic planning and advice on media engagement and comms channel mix to others in the Japan Network, covering from traditional media to digital media, you will contribute to effective media plans for campaigns and broader communications strategies.

Spearheading the Japan Network’s strategic media relations approach, you will ensure that appropriate media in Japan are effectively utilised to promote UK values, government policy, and achieve the Japan Network’s Country Plan objectives. By cultivating and maintaining effective relationships with Japanese media (TV, print, news agency, radio, digital) and international media based in Japan you will further the strategic objectives of the Japan Network. You will provide guidelines on style, ensuring appropriate quality and tone of translated Japanese language materials for public dissemination, such as press releases, opinion pieces, brochures, speeches, and advertisements. 

As part of the leadership of the Communications section, and reporting to the Team Leader, you will ensure colleagues deliver against an ambitious communications strategy while building team capability and maintaining high levels of motivation and wellbeing. You will have direct line management/oversight of three to four team members.

What the Jobholder will be Expected to Achieve:

Excellent people management and leadership (25%): 

  • Line management of Communications Officers up to four staff.  
  • Oversight of staff’s internal/external stakeholder engagement (partners across government, private sector partners, sponsors and outside agencies) 
  • Confident engagement with senior management, providing recommendations and supporting Head of Communications Section; deputise for Head of Communications Section when required; role in Crisis Media team. 

Deliver strategic communications campaigns and effective project management (50%): 

  • Devise and deliver value-added cross-departmental campaigns for the Japan Network that deliver on key multi-year Country Plan objectives, working with colleagues across the network to develop robust and well-resourced communications strategies.  
  • Develop effective strategic media engagement/comms channel mix plans that enhance the delivery, outcomes and impact of the Japan Network objectives.
  • Evaluate targeted, project-based communications strategies in line with the Japan Network’s regular business planning.  
  • Advise and work with relevant FCDO departments and Department of Business and Trade to focus communications and marketing activity on the areas of greatest opportunity, improving perceptions of the UK and delivering measurable outcomes. 
  • Ensure that media monitoring tools are used effectively to evaluate, inform and improve communications activities and campaigns. 
  • Direct and maintain oversight of Japan Network’s channels and means of communications, such as social media and media engagement, through clear forward planning tools.
  • Apply media trend insight and deep understanding of Japanese market and trends to appropriate global HMG campaigns to targeted audiences.  

Act as Japan Network’s media manager (15%):

  • Develop and update Japan Network digital channel guidelines and strategy. Evaluate the channel strategies to improve communications activities and campaigns. 
  • Responsible for consistency in quality and tone in the output of Japanese written communications products, from brochures, advertorials and press releases to briefings and speeches, created for the Japan Network. Ensure any material translated into Japanese are of a high quality and suitable for targeted audiences.
  • Create and update style guidelines on editorial standards for Japanese language materials from the Japan Network that help build understanding and capacity. 

Cultivate and maintain a powerful media network (10%):

  • Pro-actively develop and maintain a network of media contacts and influencers and use these to effect change in Japanese press reporting and public perception on the UK, engaging support of senior/relevant Japan Network colleagues as appropriate. 
  • Build an extensive network of relationships across government communications individuals in Whitehall, including the FCDO, DBT and the Prime Minister’s office, to confidently adapt or deliver successful media support to campaigns or VIP visits.

Resources Managed (staff and expenditure):

  • Reporting to the Head of Communications Section
  • Responsible for team of up to 4 communications staff
  • Budgets: media monitoring spend, content creation costs, GREAT campaign and project-based funding. Access to wider departmental budgets for travel, entertainment and learning and development, external agencies (project based)
  • 7+ years professional experience, including in communications positions with a public or private-sector organisation
  • Experience managing diverse staff
  • Proven experience working with Japanese media and experience in digital media channels
  • Proven skills in strategy design and managing complex communications campaigns
  • Deep knowledge of Japanese media landscape and proven ability to engage Japanese audiences
  • Experience working with external agencies
  • Strong IT skills, (including standard Microsoft Office programmes and familiarity with latest digital tools)
  • English language at IELTS band 7 or TOEIC 875 points or above or equivalent, with experience of working in an English-speaking environment

Language Requirements:

This role requires written and spoken proficiency in both English and Japanese. Fluency (minimum of C2 level for CEFR framework*) in Japanese and business level (minimum of high B2) in English.

*Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) for Languages sets the following mastery or proficiency levels:

  • C2: Can understand with ease virtually everything heard or read. Can summarise information from different spoken and written sources, reconstructing arguments and accounts in a coherent presentation. Can express themself spontaneously, very fluently and precisely, differentiating finer shades of meaning even in more complex situations.
  • B2: Can understand the main ideas of complex text on both concrete and abstract topics, including technical discussions in their field of specialisation. Can interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes regular interaction with native speakers quite possible without strain for either party. Can produce clear, detailed text on a wide range of subjects and explain a viewpoint on a topical issue giving the advantages and disadvantages of various options.
  • Experience in journalism
  • Holds relevant industry qualification or certification in communications, marketing and/or project management
  • Experience in publications
  • Expertise in relevant digital platforms, production and techniques
  • Familiarity with government communications, policy and priorities
  • Budget management skills and experiences
Changing and Improving, Delivering at Pace, Seeing the Big Picture, Working Together
25 June 2025
Higher Executive Officer (HEO)
Full-time, Permanent
37.5
Asia Pacific
Japan
Tokyo
British Embassy
1
JPY
JPY 818,000 per month
monthly
1 September 2025
  • 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 British Embassy 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. 

The Embassy operates a time off in lieu TOIL system to compensate for additional hours worked during busy periods. Occasional out of hours working is required to support Embassy events.

This role will be offered pending successful reference and security checks and is subject to the appropriate permissions to work. Staff recruited locally by the British Embassy Tokyo is subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local Japan employment law.

No accommodation or relocation expenses are payable in connection with this position. All candidates must be legally able to work and reside in Japan with the correct visa/work permit status or demonstrate eligibility to obtain the relevant permit. Any costs related to obtaining or renewing permits and visas are the responsibility of the successful applicant. 

Employees who are not liable to pay local income tax on their Mission salary may have their salaries reduced by the equivalent local income tax amount.

The FCDO operates an agile approach to delivery. To facilitate an agile workforce, you may be required to undertake other duties from time to time as we may reasonably require.

Learning and Development Opportunities (and any specific training courses to be completed):

The British Embassy offers comprehensive learning and development opportunities that will be fully available to the jobholder. We regularly run both work area specific training, as well as more general skills development in project management, finance, and leadership. Each year the job holder will be encouraged to use 5 development days to pursue job related and personal development goals.

All staff are required to take a role in the embassy’s crisis preparation and response. Full training will be provided for this, 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”.

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      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.

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      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.

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      This opportunity is closed to applications.