View Vacancy - JPN - Trade Policy Officer A2(L)

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Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Policy & Political roles)
Economic and Prosperity

Main purpose of job:

The British Embassy Tokyo is seeking to recruit a Trade Policy Officer to work in our busy and dynamic Trade Policy Team. The team works with a wide range of stakeholders in UK and Japanese governments, industrial groups and business to deliver UK trade policy objectives in Japan and the Asia Pacific region, in particular the future bilateral economic partnership between the UK and Japan.

The role of the Trade Policy Officer is to support the Senior Trade Policy Advisor and Trade Policy Team on bilateral and regional trade policy issues. The jobholder will work closely with internal and external stakeholders to gather intelligence on trade policy issues, prepare reports for readers in London and Tokyo, organise calls and meetings, and help prepare ministerial and senior official visits.

Working within the Trade Policy Team presents an opportunity to learn the dynamics of trade discussions as we seek a new trade and investment relationship with Japan, and consider broader trade relationships in the Asia Pacific region. Working with teams across the Japan Network and UK ministries will give the jobholder experience across a wide range of sectors and issues affecting UK companies in Japan.

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

  • Research and report on trade policy issues in Japan such as developments in on-going trade negotiations and existing trade deals, including the EU-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement, the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement on Trans Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), US-Japan trade talks and other regional trade discussions.  Monitor the trade and business environment in Japan with a view to impact on UK interests.
  • Support the Senior Trade Policy Advisor and wider Trade Policy team in delivering objectives around the future bilateral trade relationship with Japan, and potential UK interest in regional trade initiatives such as CPTPP.
  • Develop and maintain relationships with Japanese and UK government departments and other stakeholders, to assist lobbying and information gathering on trade policy issues.
  • Assist in planning and delivering visit programmes for ministers and senior government officials, working closely with the Senior Trade Policy Advisor and the Embassy Visits Officer. Provide support to intergovernmental meetings and dialogues. Provide administrative support to the Trade Policy Team, and wider Embassy activities

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

The British Embassy and UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office provides a range of training opportunities in core diplomatic and commercial skills, from networking and communication to project management. The British Embassy works closely with Embassies across the Asia-Pacific region to share experience and learning. Working within the Embassy Trade Policy team presents an opportunity to learn the dynamics of bilateral and multilateral trade policy discussions as we seek new trade relationships with Japan and with the Asia Pacific region. 

Alongside a number of Embassy-specific courses that will need to be completed on arrival, the Embassy is supportive of learning and development. We offer five development days per year, and regular opportunities for learning and development delivered both within the mission and regionally in Asia. We also focus on using coaching and a buddying system to support new arrivals.

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.

  • Japanese (fluent) and English (business level) language ability.
  • Experience working in an English and Japanese language international environment.
  • An active interest in government policy, trade policy and industrial policy issues.
  • Experience of working with Japanese and British businesses and/ or governments.
  • Experience of visit planning and coordination.
23 July 2019
Administrative Officer (AO)
Fixed Term, Full-time
37.5
7 months
Asia Pacific
Japan
Tokyo
British Embassy
1
JPY
329,460
2 September 2019
31 March 2020
  • 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)
  • 24 days paid annual leave (calculated pro rata)
  • Health Insurance and Employee pension (kenko hoken/kosei nenkin)
  • Employment Insurance (koyou hoken)
  • Alongside a number of Embassy-specific courses that will need to be completed on arrival, the Embassy is supportive of learning and development. We offer five development days per year, and regular opportunities for learning and development delivered both within the mission and regionally in Asia. We also focus on using coaching and a buddying system to support new arrivals.

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.

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.