View Vacancy - JPN (Tokyo/Osaka) - Senior Regional Trade Officer, North East Asia, Invest Northern Ireland, EO

Main purpose of job:

Based out of the British Embassy Tokyo, or the British Consulate Osaka, this is an Invest Northern Ireland (Invest NI) (www.investni.com) role. Invest NI is the Northern Ireland government’s principal business development agency. As part of the Department for the Economy (DfE), Invest NI has responsibility for supporting the growth of the Northern Ireland economy through the development of its businesses locally and internationally, bringing greater economic benefit and prosperity to this region of the UK.

Invest NI in Asia Pacific operates in five regions (and eight offices), Australia & New Zealand, China, Hong Kong, South East Asia and North East Asia (‘NEA’ or the ‘Region’).  Invest NI’s overseas offices are responsible for supporting Northern Ireland companies in developing business overseas, increasing export sales and developing collaborations. They are also responsible for marketing and promoting Northern Ireland as an inward investment location.

Invest NI works closely with a wide range of clients including local businesses, multi-national companies, universities and colleges. Invest NI also works closely with business associations and stakeholders such as the UK’s Department for International Trade (DIT), Chambers of Commerce, industry bodies, and local councils in Northern Ireland.

Reporting to the Regional Director, North East Asia, the primary focus of the position will be business development and to increase Northern Ireland exports throughout a range of sectors but with a focus on the Food and Drink sector by helping Northern Ireland companies with market access and market development in NEA. When carrying out their work, the post-holder will be required to forge effective working relationships with a wide range of Northern Ireland client companies and customers in NEA, stakeholders, senior officials and government representatives. 

Linked to Invest NI’s International and Business strategies, the strategies of Invest NI’s sector teams based in Northern Ireland, and working with our international partners and stakeholders, the post-holder will follow an annual operating plan and objectives that support the growth of Northern Ireland exports and ultimately economic growth for Northern Ireland. 

As well as one to one support for Northern Ireland businesses, the post-holder will work with the Regional Director to organize and support activities such as marketing events and conferences, represent Invest Northern Ireland at business conferences, arrange meetings for clients, manage logistics plans (including Trade missions, VIP visits, and senior official visits from Northern Ireland), maintain data on the internal CRM system and prepare activity reports which summarise information in NEA. A significant part of the role is to undertake research, conduct business development work to identify sales opportunities for Northern Ireland companies and provide market access advice to new market entrants. The post holder will also be required to work with the Regional Director to deliver activities within a pre-allocated budget.

The post-holder will undertake market research for Northern Ireland companies, meet with them, prepare meeting schedules, assist them in formulating a strategy to export to North East Asia market and help them to resolve issues. After 6 months in post, the post-holder will be expected to develop a business strategy for their target sector(s) in which he/she will be responsible and they may also be assigned to lead or contribute to activities in the South Korean or Taiwanese markets.

The post-holder will be required to develop positive working relationships with the Department of International Trade (in Japan, South Korea and Taiwan), Northern Ireland officials, other business and trade organisations and chambers of commerce, work to gather market intelligence and insights, and communicate them. The post-holder will work with the Regional Director and the wider team on promotional initiatives including social media campaigns.

The post-holder will also assist with expense processing, procurement / purchasing work and work with the regional operations team based in Shanghai and Singapore on internal procedures and payment related matters, as well as making regional and international travel arrangements for the  Regional Director based in Tokyo.

The post-holder is expected to undertake travel on a regular basis, either within NEA, to the UK or to other countries. The post–holder will also be supporting the wider North East Asia and Asia Pacific team as required by the management team.

Roles and responsibilities / what will the jobholder be expected to achieve?:

Trade & Business development

• Conduct strong and effective business development activities and proactively identify relevant business opportunities, throughout a range of sectors with a focus on the Food and Drink sector, in NEA for Northern Ireland companies through market intelligence, connections and research, and promote the Northern Ireland capability to key decision makers;
• Support Northern Ireland companies interested in NEA by providing information required to make informed business decisions by handling market research and assessment enquiries, conducting visits and arranging business development meetings and writing appropriate reports.  In this regard the post holder will be able to leverage Invest NI’s appointed Trade Advisory Support providers in NEA in the delivery of support services to NI client companies and in relation to sector relevant market research;
• Identify and articulate specific business opportunities to colleagues in Northern Ireland including International Trade Advisers and trade organisations, and work with NI companies to help them respond to these opportunities;
• Work with the Regional Director and INI’s APAC and domestic Marcoms division to contribute to the development and delivery of the marketing and communication strategy that will support the business development strategy;
• Identify and attend sector trade exhibitions and conferences, deliver in-market physical events and virtual webinars, arrange and attend client and customer meetings to promote industry excellence from NI and to highlight key market opportunities for NI companies;
• Work with colleagues in Northern Ireland to deliver visit programmes and Trade Journeys for Northern Ireland companies, providing added value for participating companies by introducing them to your network of contacts and setting up 1-2-1 meetings for them while in market;
• Work with the Regional Director and other members of INI’s APAC team to co-ordinate VIP (including Ministerial) visit programmes to NEA, prepare briefings and manage the necessary logistics and protocols;
• Support business delegations by providing English / Japanese translations in an effective manner as required.

Effective Strategic Relationship Management

• Build strategic relationships with targeted companies, stakeholders and influencers in the region and enable Northern Ireland companies to engage with them;
• Develop close working relationships in NEA with other partners including Department of International Trade (DIT), British Chambers of Commerce and other in-market industry trade bodies who can add value to Invest NI’s work with Northern Ireland companies in-market and, as appropriate, work on joint planning and delivery of events;
• Work effectively in partnership with wider teams based in Northern Ireland, Asia Pacific and other locations.

Database Management & Market Intelligence

• Work with the Regional Director to produce data driven insights from market intelligence to scope and explore new opportunities for Northern Ireland companies;
• Manage relevant information sources and maintain accurate recording of customer and stakeholder information on Invest NI’s CRM and management systems.

Resources managed (staff and expenditure):

The post-holder is not required to manage staff.

The post-holder will be required to manage and deliver specific events within a pre-allocated budget.

The post-holder will be required to liaise actively and regularly with the Asia Pacific and other Invest Northern Ireland offices.

The post-holder will be expected to make decisions delegated to them by the team management, and act within Invest Northern Ireland policies and guidelines.

• Educated to degree level ideally in a business or related function;
• Over 3 years’ working experience in a private or public sector organisation, with relevant experience in Japan;
• A significant and successful track record in Business Development, including market research, analysing market data, preparing reports, presenting information to clients and securing contracts / sales;
• A sound commercial knowledge of NEA and the business opportunities across sectors, being aware of the issues (& solutions) relating to doing business in this region;
• Experience in undertaking market research, analysing market data, preparing reports, presenting information to clients and helping clients to achieve positive commercial outcomes;
• Good networking skills, experience in building and maintaining effective working relationships across all levels of businesses;
• Strong IT computer skills using Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Office, Internet and Social Media;
• Highly proficient in both spoken and written English and Japanese;
• Ability to work at pace; and to prioritise and manage an often heavy workload in a multi-location environment whilst liaising with team members in various locations; and
• Knowledge of UK’s key sectors and business drivers.

Language requirements:

Language:      English

Level of language required:  Excellent

Language:  Japanese

Level of language required:  Excellent