Main Purpose of Job:

This is a new role based in the British Consulate General Osaka to strengthen the Consulate General’s ability to engage strategically and project influence across West Japan. This role combines communications delivery with political and stakeholder engagement, supporting both digital content creation and senior-level interaction across West Japan.

The role will sit in the newly created Connection Unit and provide communications support for priority Consulate General activity, regularly recording and producing digital social media content that resonates with priority audiences across West Japan. 

The role will support the Consul General and Deputy Consul General’s engagement with political and elected officials in West Japan, including Governors, Mayors, regional politicians, and city and prefectorial representatives. 

The role will also support the Head of the Connection Unit to deliver priority events and initiatives, including regional MUSUBI and place-based activity. 

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 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 to support comms activity including photography and videography. 

What the Jobholder will be Expected to Achieve:

• Create and deliver professional digital comms content. Work with the Consul General, Deputy Consul General and comms / media colleagues (in Tokyo and Osaka) to help identify, develop and deliver comms and media opportunities to achieve the Consulate-General’s vision and the Japan Network’s Country Business Plan goals in West Japan. Accompany the Consul General and other seniors to capture content (audio, photograph and video), and this for publication on relevant accounts with a focus on speed and accuracy. Manage the Consul General’s social media accounts (X and Instagram). The role will be closely supported by the wider Japan Network communications team to deliver the Consulate General’s comms.
• Professional press handling and media relations. Work with the Osaka Comms Officer to build and maintain positive relationships with broadcast, print and online media organisations across West Japan. Respond to routine media enquiries (seeking senior advice where necessary), support identification of media opportunities for seniors including the Consul General and visiting VIPs and support the delivery of media activity such as (press conferences, interviews, media briefings, and lunches).
• Media Monitoring. Use online media and social media monitoring tools to report on coverage of West Japan comms activity and produce clear and concise regular and ad-hoc media monitoring reports, sharing with relevant sections and incorporating “lessons learned” in future activity.
• Political engagement and reporting. Support targeted and regular political engagement across West Japan by the Consul General and other seniors with Governors, Mayors, regional politicians and other elected officials. Act as a coordination point for engagement and activity with specific political groupings such as the Osaka Prefectural Assembly UK Friendship Group. Provide factual reporting and basic analysis when necessary on political developments in West Japan and implications for Japan and UK-Japan relations (drawing on guidance from colleagues). Circulate reporting to colleagues in Osaka, Tokyo and London.
• As a member of the Connection Unit flexibly support delivery of other team priorities, including MUSUBI initiatives and delivery of place-based partnerships between the UK and West Japan, working with DBT West Japan on business elements.
• Build and maintain your own strong network of relevant contacts across West Japan and the Japan Network to support delivery of objectives. This will include media and press contacts, and political contacts including think tanks and academia.
• 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 attendance) and 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 managed (staff and expenditure):

Support the management of budgets and costs related to comms activity, ensuring accurate record keeping and compliance with policy.

• 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
• Experience of photography, videography and editing
• Experience of tools and platforms such as Canva and social media platforms (LinkedIn, X, Instagram) and how to use them for business

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.