View Vacancy - JPN (Tokyo) - Trade Policy Officer, AO (Maternity Cover)
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 during a period of maternity leave. The Trade Policy works with a wide range of stakeholders in the UK and Japanese governments, industrial groups, and businesses to deliver UK trade policy objectives in Japan and the Asia Pacific region, in particular the bilateral economic partnership between the UK and Japan.
The role of the Trade Policy Officer is to support the Head of Bilateral Trade Policy 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 implement the commitments made in the Hiroshima Accord, play an active role as the newest member of CPTPP, implement our bilateral Free Trade Agreement with Japan, and work on other high-profile issues such as the G7 and G20. 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.
What the Jobholder will be Expected to Achieve:
- Support the Trade Policy team in delivering objectives around our bilateral trade relationship with Japan, particularly the implementation and utilisation of our bilateral Free Trade Agreement and resolution of outstanding non-tariff barriers. Support the Trade Policy team on our broader multilateral and regional trade interests with Japan.
- 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 Head of Bilateral Trade Policy and the Embassy Visits Officer. Provide support to intergovernmental meetings and dialogues. Provide administrative support to the Trade Policy Team, and wider Embassy activities.
- Research and report on trade policy issues in Japan such as developments in Japan’s on-going trade negotiations and existing trade deals and other regional trade discussions. Monitoring the trade and business environment in Japan with a view to impact on UK interests and engaging with companies on our trade priorities will also be a core part of the role.
Resources Managed (staff and expenditure): None
- Interest in developing trade policy knowledge
- Strong analytical, research and stakeholder management skills
- Strong organisational and planning skills
Language Requirements:
- Japanese (business level) | English (business level)
- English – IELTS band 8, or TOEIC 850
- Japanese - JLPT N2
- 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 planning and coordinating projects with multiple stakeholders
This is a maternity cover role, advertised as fixed term contract until 31 December 2024.
- 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)
Working Patterns:
Normal working hours are 37.5 per week, with at least four days per week working from the office. Flexible working opportunities including working-from-home possible as discussed with hiring manager ahead of appointment and, for the successful candidate, on an ongoing basis following appointment. The Embassy is supportive of flexible working patterns.
Applicants must be able to secure a local work permit.
Learning and development opportunities (and any specific training courses to be completed):
- FCDO on-line learning courses
- Embassy learning and development fund available for bids for non-job specific training.
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.
Please note that the deadline for applications is 23:55 on the day mentioned in the above field “Application deadline”.
Please be aware that the deadline for submitting applications is considered to be the time zone for the country where the vacancy has arisen.
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.
Note: All applicants are required to mandatorily fill the online application form completely including the employment and educational details, experience, professional skills and behaviour-based questions. We will be thoroughly reviewing the applications and incomplete form in any respect may not be considered while shortlisting for the next stage.
Only shortlisted candidates for interview will be contacted. Interviewees will be assessed on the core behaviours/qualifications listed above. Unsuccessful candidates will be notified via the system in due time. Appointable candidates who were unsuccessful may be placed on a ‘reserve list’. If during the reserve period of 6 months the same or a largely similar role becomes available, that role may be offered to the second or subsequent candidate.
To ensure a successful application it is important that you explain how you demonstrate these behaviours, including through your experience. You are strongly advised to read the Success Profiles Civil Service Behaviours Framework, which provides detailed guidance on how the behaviours are defined.
Applicants are encouraged to use the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) format to prepare specific examples of when they have demonstrated these behaviours in their application. Using the STAR format to provide evidence of your skills and experience in your application and at interview helps to give a structure. You briefly describe the situation in which you showed the behaviour, and then explain your task in addressing the situation, what action you took and the result of this.
For inclusivity and diversity, please remove the following personal information when uploading your CV: name, address, email address, age, date of birth, gender and nationality.
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.
This opportunity is closed to applications.
