View Vacancy - JPN - Head of Technology Trade Team C4(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)
DIT

Main purpose of job:

The UK has a thriving tech sector, accounting for 7.7% of the UK economy and growing nearly 6 times faster than the rest of the economy in 2020. The UK tech start-up and scale-up ecosystem is Europe’s biggest and we have more tech unicorns than anyone except the US and China. The sector has huge export potential and the Japanese market presents significant opportunity for UK tech businesses, that you will seek to capitalise on in this exciting role

As post-holder, you will lead the Technology Trade team, delivering a programme of activity to increase UK tech exports to Japan through supporting UK businesses to enter and grow in the Japanese market, and creating the right conditions for tech exports through collaboration with key UK and Japan stakeholders.

You will manage a highly skilled team to identify priority sub-sectors for focus, matching high potential UK businesses with opportunities in the Japanese market and promoting Japan as a tech export destination. You will plan and prioritise effectively, enabling the team to deliver sustained, impactful engagement in the fast-moving tech sector. Current areas of focus include AI, fintech, smart cities and deep tech, and you will identify innovative ways to bring leading UK businesses in these and other areas to the Japanese market. 

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

Lead and manage the Japan Trade Technology Team:

  • Motivate and develop team members, and provide direction on the work of the team.
  • Lead on business planning and strategy for technology, taking account of evolving tech trends, changes in the Japanese market and how those link to opportunities for UK business.
  • Research, organise and analyse facts and data to guide the work of the team
  • Act as Deputy Chair and Secretariat for the cross-Japan Network tech virtual team, moving forward cross-Embassy objectives

Deliver effective strategic relationship management:

  • Build up strong relationships with the most important stakeholders in the Tech sector, including large Japanese corporates, and develop relationships with relevant UK companies who show greatest potential to enter and thrive in the Japanese market.
  • Implement a strategic account management approach with key businesses (both UK and Japanese).

Create the conditions for UK businesses to enter and thrive in the Japanese market:

  • 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  tech sector.
  • Provide expert advice in support of UK-Japan initiatives to develop the policy environment and other forms of support for UK tech companies to thrive in the Japanese market
  • Support the implementation of the UK-Japan Free Trade Agreement relating to tech exports to Japan and support wider efforts to reduce entry barriers into the Japanese market for UK tech companies.
    Work closely with the Department for International Trade in the UK, whose role is to support UK companies on the UK side and provide specialist support.
    Build strong collaborative relationships with key organisations in the UK and Japan supporting UK tech exports, such as JETRO, BCCJ, Export to Japan and Tech Nation.

Deliver high quality representation and trade promotion activity

  • Deploy strong organisational and project management techniques to deliver an ambitious programme of engagements and events during each financial year.
  • Deliver presentations and engage in other public speaking opportunities on a regular basis in support of UK tech exports

The Japan Network supports and promotes flexible working as a crucial part of our inclusive offering. This particular role allows for flexibility, for example in start and end times, working compressed hours, working remotely on one or a couple of days in 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.

Resources managed (staff and expenditure):

Direct line management of 1x B3 and counter-signing 1 x A2; responsible for managing Technology Trade team budget

  • Proven ability to work with industry (from experience either in the private or public sector)
  • Proven stakeholder relationship management skills
  • Proven ability to lead and manage a team
  • 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 tech sector in the UK or Japan
31 October 2021
Higher Executive Officer (HEO)
Full-time, Permanent
37.5
Asia Pacific
Japan
Tokyo
British Embassy
1
JPY
703,399 JPY
27 December 2021
  • 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)
  • 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.

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 note that the deadline for applications is 23:55 on the day mentioned in the above field “Application deadline”.

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.

Please be aware that the deadline for submitting applications is considered to be the time zone for the country where the vacancy has arisen.

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.

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.

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.