Main Purpose of Job:

This is a new role based in the British Consulate General Osaka that will oversee the West Japan Connection Unit. The role will strengthen the UK’s strategic presence across Kansai and West Japan, supporting people-to-people links in priority sectors. This includes progressing West Japan MUSUBI initiatives, public diplomacy, and place-based partnerships. The role will manage a small team and work closely with the Consul General, Deputy Consul-General and the Head of DBT West Japan. The creation of this role is a result of Osaka Expo 2025 and is designed to ensure UK momentum in West Japan is sustained and grows.

The British Consulate-General in Osaka represents the UK across Kansai and West Japan, delivering UK objectives on growth, security and people‑to‑people connections. The Consulate-General Osaka is a small team comprising Department of Business and Trade (DBT) and Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) staff working together under the leadership of the Consul General. The Consulate-General’s vision is to “Establish the UK as Kansai and West Japan’s most trusted international innovation and business partner by 2030, through deep institutional connections and a focus on high-impact growth sectors”. A key part of this work is through the MUSUBI initiative, a UK–Japan public-private initiative launched at Osaka Expo, which supports the next generation of leaders through scholarships, women’s leadership, and cultural and sports exchanges, helping to build long-term connections between the UK and Japan.

This role will suit someone who is organised, takes initiative and is a good team player. An ability to be flexible to successfully support delivery of evolving priorities is crucial. The candidate will need to be able on occasion to accompany the Consul General and other team members to events or on regional travel.

What the Jobholder will be Expected to Achieve:

• Work together with the Deputy Consul General and Consul General to support development and implementation of a West Japan Connection Plan to deliver the British Consulate General Osaka’s vision and Japan Country Business Plan objectives. The Connection Plan will include the delivery of the MUSUBI Initiative in West Japan, helping identify new regional partners and programmes. The role holder will coordinate inputs from stakeholders including the MUSUBI team in Tokyo, monitor delivery against agreed objectives and milestones, provide updates to the Consul General and Deputy Consul General at quarterly boards to support decision making, and track budget spend. Complex or higher-level decision making or problem solving should be consulted or escalated to the Deputy Consul-General and Consul General.
• As part of the West Japan Connection Plan support the design and delivery of targeted public diplomacy and soft power initiatives to enhance the UK’s influence and visibility across West Japan, utilising engagements and regional travel by the Consul General and working with comms to align and amplify messaging. The role will lead specific campaigns or events under the direction of the Deputy Consul General. These will continue the UK’s message at Expo, highlighting UK strengths (innovation, diversity, culture, education) and be targeted to positively shape perceptions and build and maintain the connections the UK-Japan needs for the future.
• Support place-based partnerships between the UK and West Japan. Act as a key contact for West Japan partnerships with regions of the UK, including the Osaka-Manchester relationship. Support region-to-region partnerships by helping coordinate inward and outward official and commercial delegations (working with DBT West Japan on business elements), linking up relevant UK and Japanese organisations, and supporting senior engagement.
• Line manage and support a small team, likely consisting of 1 x AO Visits and Events Officer and 1 x AO Political and Comms Officer in line with FCDO guidance, setting clear goals, having regular catch-ups and delegating effectively.
• Build your own strong network of contacts across the West Japan and the Japan Network to support delivery. Priority groups with connections to the UK across West Japan will include future leaders, female leaders, innovative individuals and diversity champions.
• Proactively and flexibly support Consulate-General priorities. This includes supporting top 1HMG priorities delivered by the Consulate-General such as the annual King’s Birthday Party (including attending the event); VVIP / Ministerial visits; taking on a corporate responsibility to support making the Consulate-General a better place to work; a crisis role to prepare and respond to any crisis; and flexing to support other urgent priorities when necessary.

Resources manged (staff and expenditure):

• Will likely line manage 1 x AO Visits and Events Officer and 1 x AO Political and Comms Officer
• Manage budget and costs for Connection Unit activity, monitoring expenditure and ensuring compliance with policies and value for money

• Ability to use standard Microsoft IT systems (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams)
• Excellent time management and organisational skills with an ability to juggle multiple priorities at once
• An ability to be flexible to successfully support delivery of evolving priorities
• The candidate will need to be able on occasion to accompany the CG to events or on regional travel

Language requirements:

This role requires written and spoken proficiency in both English and Japanese. fluency (minimum of C2 level for CEFR framework*) in one language and business level (minimum of high B2) in the other.

*Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) for Languages sets the following mastery or proficiency levels:

• C2: Can understand with ease virtually everything heard or read. Can summarise information from different spoken and written sources, reconstructing arguments and accounts in a coherent presentation. Can express themself spontaneously, very fluently and precisely, differentiating finer shades of meaning even in more complex situations.
• B2: Can understand the main ideas of complex text on both concrete and abstract topics, including technical discussions in their field of specialisation. Can interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes regular interaction with native speakers quite possible without strain for either party. Can produce clear, detailed text on a wide range of subjects and explain a viewpoint on a topical issue giving the advantages and disadvantages of various options.