View Vacancy - JPN - Senior Inward Investment Adviser, Life Sciences / Advanced Engineering & Manufacturing (Tokyo or Osaka) B3(L)

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Department for International Trade roles (DIT)
DIT

Job purpose

Japanese investment into the UK has been a huge success story over recent years with over 1,000 Japanese companies established in the UK and 150,000 people employed directly by Japanese companies. The aim of this position is to support and grow Japanese investment in the UK in two of the most active and promising sectors for the two nations, Life Sciences and Advanced Engineering and Manufacturing (AEM). Your base in Osaka will allow you to leverage the strong Life Sciences base in this region as you work with a team of 15 people in our Tokyo Embassy and Osaka Consulate, as well as a range of sector experts and partner agencies in the UK. AEM is also a priority sector for investment with the cutting edge UK R&D base and strong business investment environment attracting many foreign companies into the UK.  

Your base in Osaka (please see more details on job locations below) will allow you to leverage the strong Life Sciences base in this region as you work with a team of 15 people in our Tokyo Embassy and Osaka Consulate, as well as a range of sector experts and partner agencies in the UK.

Your role will be to implement strategies (i) to maintain and enhance relationships with large life sciences and AEM companies already in the UK to support new high value investments, and (ii) to generate new investment from fast growing life sciences/automotive technology companies and also increase R&D investment from Japanese companies into UK research institutions.  The role will mainly cover the two sectors noted, but an individual with the interest to work across other sectors will be helpful. In carrying out these duties in an increasingly digital world, you will leverage digital platforms and social media to support existing and prospective Japanese investors and technology partners on an on-going basis.

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

Support investment projects into the UK

The Life Sciences and AEM teams support dozens of investment projects into the UK each year and your role will be to support Japanese companies based in western Japan with projects to invest in the UK.

  • You will develop and deliver compelling pitches to sell the UK offer to Japanese companies, continually updating and increasing your knowledge of the UK’s strengths in Life Sciences, Advanced Manufacturing and other relevant sectors. 
  • You will regularly engage with companies to move projects through the pipeline against numerical targets prioritising the top investment projects, putting in place a plan about what needs to happen for the Top Investment Projects and working together closely with a team of people in the UK.
  • You will engage regularly with delivery partners in the UK and Japan to jointly identify and manage projects and overcome obstacles to investment.

Improve perceptions of the UK & generate leads for new investment projects

  • You will identify and implement the most appropriate methods for improving perceptions of the UK and generating new leads among Japanese companies. These could include use of traditional and, especially, social media, seminar events, trade fairs, UK sector specialist visits, Ministerial roundtables and cooperative projects with multipliers. 
  • You will take an active role in our thematic campaigns to create interest in the UK and generate leads. 
  • You will work closely with our Media, Communications and Marketing Team to increase the profile of the UK Life Sciences and Manufacturing sectors, as well as the activities of the respective sector teams in Japan.
  • You will build and maintain close relationships with influential Japanese industry organisations and use these relationships to improve perceptions of the UK and to generate new project leads.
  • You will coordinate with colleagues focused on UK export promotion in assigned sectors, giving and receiving cross-referrals according to the business opportunity and under DIT’s authorities and policies.

High value – relationship manage top existing investors.

At the heart of our focus on bringing high value investments into the UK is top class account management of the largest investors already present in the UK.

  • You will account manage a number of large existing investors, adopting a strategic and planned approach to the relationship, meeting them on a regular basis and gaining an in depth understanding of their Global and UK operations.
  • You will put in place an annual plan of senior level meetings and develop new contacts in key positions in the company, while providing in depth support for their current and planned investment projects.
  • You will regularly provide briefings on the larger investors to the UK teams and DIT senior staff and help advance the work of C(4) Life Sciences & AEM Investment lead officers

High growth – engaging with the most dynamic start-up and scale up companies

Japan’s start up ecosystem is developing at pace and there are many smaller companies who are now looking to go global.

  • You will support campaigns aimed at getting the most innovative smaller companies to set up in the UK.
  • You will build up a rolling list of the key companies in your sectors of responsibility located in western Japan that do not currently have a significant base in the UK.  You will build propositions for these companies and then set up meetings to present UK opportunities to them.
  • You will develop a strong understanding of the life sciences and advanced manufacturing ecosystems in Japan as well as the UK through your expanding list of business contacts.

Resources managed (staff and expenditure):

You will have direct line management responsibility for 1 person.

Learning and development opportunities (and any specific training courses to be completed):

Two key areas of focus will be:

(i) building up a knowledge of the key sectors which the post holder will work in.  On the job training, presentations from sector specialists and potential Developing Sector Knowledge course in the UK.

(ii) building up influencing and sales skills through on the job training and DIT run courses like Effective Account Management or Consultancy Based Sales training courses would be useful.

The British Embassy and Consulate-General offer 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.


Working patterns: 37.5 hours per week.


If the job is suitable for flexible working patterns, please provide details: This job is full time but happy to support flexible working pattern


As many of the clients are based in West Japan the role would suit someone living in our near Osaka and being based out of our British Consulate General in Osaka.  However, we could also consider applications from people based in Tokyo who could work from our Tokyo Embassy.


  • Proficient in both English and Japanese.  Japanese level should be fluent at JLPT N1 or equivalent.  English level should be over 850 TOEIC or over.    
  • Experience of collaborating with and managing people.
  • Ability to work effectively in an increasingly digital environment (strong IT skills, ability to present online, knowledge of social media platforms).
  • Degree in business or economics is desirable but not essential.
  • Experience in a sales role in a private sector business or a role in a governmental organisation with links to businesses (METI, JETRO, MHLW, etc.). 
  • Experience working in an English speaking environment.
  • Knowledge of the UK business environment and institutions.
  • Experience of working in the AEM or Life Sciences sectors.
30 October 2020
Executive Officer (EO)
Permanent
37.5
Asia Pacific
Japan
Osaka, Tokyo
British Embassy
1
JPY
436,174 JPY monthly (6,106,436 JPY annually)
2 December 2020
  • 1 month salary bonus equivalents payable in June and December
  • Commuting allowance of up to JPY35,000 per month (paid on an actual cost basis)
  • 24 days paid annual leave (calculated pro rata)
  • Health insurance and Employee pension (kenko hoken/kosei nenkin)
  • Employment Insurance (koyou hoken)

This role requires a specific week-long training and induction course that will most likely take place in Manila as soon as possible after the job holder starts work.

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 British Embassy, Tokyo supports and promotes flexible working as a crucial part of our inclusive offering. This particular role allows for flexibility in start and end times, working compressed hours, working remotely for one day a week, and the possibility of a job share arrangement, subject to agreement with management.

This role will be offered pending successful reference and security checks, and is subject to the appropriate permissions to work. If the successful candidate requires a visa to work in Japan, the Embassy will support that application.

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.

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.