View Vacancy - JPN- Senior Investment Officer (Cross Sector and Venture Capital) B3(L)- TO BE BASED EITHER IN TOKYO OR OSAKA

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

As both the Japanese and UK economies evolve new growth areas emerge as opportunities for collaboration and investment.  In the automotive sector autonomous cars and electric and hydrogen powered vehicles will revolutionise mobility.  This role will lead on devising & implementing strategies on new technologies and hot new sub-sectors particularly in the Advanced Engineering and Manufacturing Sectors. 

The role will also cover innovative ways of working with external partners (multiplier organisations) and venture capital funds as well as supporting the wider teams relationship management of its biggest 30 investors.

Responsibilities

Engaging with dynamic new sub-sectors in Japan

• You will work together with specialists and partners in UK and the Japan sector teams to develop long and short term strategies for UK investment from new sub-sectors particularly those with a focus on new and emerging technologies in Japan.
• You will design a plan to promote the UK in areas starting with automotive ( autonomous cars, electronic and hydrogen powered vehicles) and moving on to other areas within the Advanced Engineering and Manufacturing Sector and elsewhere. 
• You will map the scale of the opportunity, set realistic and ambitious long and short term targets for lead generation and identification of new projects for each sub-sector.

Building relationships with companies about the new sectors

• You will be expected to meet with target investors from day 1, having on average 5 external meetings per week, which will be a key part of gaining an insight into formulating the strategy and as well as companies, this could include Government organisations, trade associations and multipliers. 
• You will produce a list of 30-40 target companies with potential for investment from the sectors in question and then engage with the investors one by one promoting the UK and generating leads.
• The goal will be to generate around 20 new opportunities for investment each year resulting in around 5 new investments (projects) into the UK each year.

Relationship management with cross sector organizations

• You will develop innovative new ways for DIT Japan to manage relationships with our Top 30 most important investors.
• You will pilot new approaches learning from HQ & other posts and communicate best practice to the rest of the team.
• You will lead on relationship management with multipliers (including the Big 4 but also other large Japanese multipliers), venture capital funds and GREAT investors. 
• You will build strong relationships with the key teams in the UK managing these areas (ie SRM team, VCU etc).

UK engagement, visits and events

• There are a wide range of UK organisations which can support your objectives including the Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles, Automotive Investment Organisation and the Transport Catapult.  You should actively engage with key UK stakeholders, to maximise the ‘sell’ to Japanese companies and get key presentational material from them to design your pitch.
• You will arrange visits from UK experts (around 3 per year) to meet companies, to give presentations at events and to promote the UK in the Japanese media. 
• You will also arrange at least one 1 inward mission from Japan to the UK each year, showcasing the strengths of the UK and sealing new investment.

Requirements

The successful candidate should have:

• Experience of working in or with private sector companies.
• 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