Main Purpose of Job:

We are currently recruiting for the following roles in the Department for Business and Trade in Japan:

• Head of Performance and Delivery
• Head of Clean Energy – Trade
• Head of Life Sciences – Trade
• Head of Technology, Innovation and Life Sciences – Investment

The British Embassy Tokyo is a busy and diverse post at the heart of HMG’s work in the Indo-Pacific. Our work on security, digital and technology, trade and economic, and climate and energy partnerships with Japan is at the centre of the Foreign Secretary’s foreign policy agenda and our commitment to the region.  

The Department for Business and Trade operates in 108 countries. Establishing new relationships around the globe, DBT promotes UK trade to ensure the UK takes advantage of the huge opportunities open to us, securing and improving economic well-being, stability, and helping to create tens of thousands of jobs. His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner (HMTC) is responsible for Trade and Investment work in the APAC region. With over 280 staff over 14 markets, DBT APAC is a fast-paced, exciting place to work. 

This is a great opportunity to be part of an international team that contributes to the success of the UK’s trade goals.

• Head of Performance & Delivery:

This is a new role to lead the DBT Performance and Delivery Team that carries out key business functions. The role will support the (i) Deputy Trade Commissioner for Northeast Asia (DTC NEA) to deliver their objectives for the region and (ii) the Director of Trade and Investment Japan (Director Japan), Japan Head of Trade and Head of Investment (together the DBT Japan leadership team) to deliver their objectives for Japan. This is a regional role with a focus on Northeast Asia but also with a strong link to the wider Asia Pacific Region and its HQ in Singapore. The role will help build synergies between Japan, South Korea and Taiwan, sharing best practice and ensuring join up on visits and events.  There will be some scope for travel to South Korea and Taiwan.

• Head of Clean Energy – Trade:

As Head of Clean Energy – Trade, you will lead on all Trade activities for the Clean Energy sector. Collaborating with key UK and Japan stakeholders across government and industry, you will develop and deliver the strategy to shape the right market conditions and resolve market access barriers to exports and FDI into Japan. You and your team will support UK businesses to enter the market and grow their exports to Japan. You will lead your team to drive performance in delivering the sector strategy through events, company engagements, external stakeholder engagements etc.

• Head of Life Sciences – Trade:

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) Trade Team focuses on key sectors covering exports. Life Sciences is one of those key priority sectors for both Trade and Investment. As Head of the Life Sciences Trade team, you will lead a three-person team, to promote the UK Life Sciences sector in Japan and commercial opportunities between UK and Japanese companies.

• Head of Technology, Innovation & Life Sciences – Investment:

Working to the Head of Tech, Innovation and Life Sciences Investment at the British Embassy in Tokyo, and as part of the Investment Team, you will work to promote investment by Japanese companies and funds in those sectors in the UK. The main focus of the team will be securing FDI and venture capital investment from Japanese tech and life sciences corporates and funds, particularly in support of the UK’s ambition to be a science and tech superpower. You will ensure that the team is focussed on the investment opportunities that will create the most value for the UK economy, which will include working with existing investors as well as exploring opportunities in emerging areas such as AI and quantum. 

What the Jobholder will be Expected to Achieve:

Head of Performance & Delivery:

• Oversee and have responsibility for all operational, people plan and business functions across the team, including business planning, knowledge management, finance, events, visits, recruitment as well as learning and development. The postholder will have direct responsibility for some of these and will also oversee functions of team members with responsibilities for (i) providing personal assistant support to DTC NEA/Director Japan, (ii) providing direct support to the trade and investment teams on their core work and (iii) work on media, communications and marketing.
• Lead and manage the business planning process for DBT, including assessing performance against targets for Japan and the NEA region as well as DBT’s approach to campaigns and key accounts.
• Coordinate work between DBT offices in NEA
• Lead reporting and updates for DBT reporting requirements.
• Set and implement approach to knowledge management.
• Set and implement approach to key documents across DBT.
• Manage project to embed Salesforce in DBT, managing DBT’s engagement with the Salesforce pilot, ensuring Salesforce is linked to existing CRM system, setting guidance for good usage, building capability across the team, identifying and solving issues by working across network and with London teams.
• Set up governance and secretariat functions for Japan Network trade and investment business groups.
• Account management of cross cutting business accounts
• Working with the DBT Directors and Section Heads to support the implementation of the cross-Japan People Plan for DBT
• Resources managed (staff and expenditure): Line management of up to 5 staff at Administrative Officer (AO) grade

Head of Clean Energy – Trade tendersglobal.net Head of Life Sciences – Trade

• Responsible for management and oversight of your team, developing and delivering strategy for your sector and supporting UK companies to grow their exports.
• Lead and line-manage the team and deputise for your line manager.
• Establish strong relationships across government and industry senior stakeholders in the sector in both the UK and Japan and use these relationships to maximise UK export potential
• Implement and deliver an effective account management approach with key businesses (both UK and Japanese)
• Work closely with the relevant policy teams in support of UK policy objectives to ensure that policy and commercial synergies are fully realised and to bring policy and market access barriers through to commercial outcomes.
• Develop and deliver the strategy to shape the right market conditions for exports and FDI into Japan in the sector.
• Understand technological developments in the sector and apply this knowledge to maximise UK export potential.
• Support the implementation and promote utilisation by companies of the UK-Japan Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and wider efforts to reduce barriers to entry to the Japanese market.
• Carry out business planning and sector strategy development, taking into account changes in the Japanese market and how those link to opportunities for UK business.
• Work closely with the Sector Teams in the Department for Business and Trade Headquarters in the UK and other UK government departments to leverage sector specialist knowledge and effectively bridge between Japan and the UK.
• Work closely with the Investment team to ensure trade and investment synergies are maximised.
• Deploy strong organisational and project management techniques to deliver an ambitious programme of engagements and events.
• Contribute to the broader goals of the Japan Network, including a role in crisis response and supporting visits and cross-Network events.
• Resources managed (staff and expenditure): 1x EO and 1x AO

Head of Technology, Innovation & Life Sciences – Investment:

• Lead the delivery of activity on Tech, Innovation and Life Sciences for the DBT Japan Investment team. Using data and analysis and through engaging widely with sector experts in the UK and Japan, work with the Investment Leadership Team and the DBT APAC Operations Team to set and deliver the strategy of the team to maximise delivery against investment targets (foreign direct investment and capital investment) and economic growth for the UK.
• Work with the Investment Leadership team to ensure that we are focussed on the biggest opportunities, in the short to long term. Develop and maintain a business/delivery plan, including campaigns, other top projects, account management, and events and promotion.
• Deliver campaigns in priority technology and life sciences themes to attract Japanese businesses, private sector R&D, capital and talent to the UK, in order to deliver against targets. Lead sector investment activity, such as seminars, inward missions, and company meetings and engagements, through account management of existing accounts and target companies, and through supporting projects, including high value projects that are outside of campaigns.
• Ensure strong management of all of the team’s priority accounts. Use research, data, analysis to ensure focus on the highest value accounts. Ensure that all the team’s account management activities are recorded on the CRM system.
• Deploy your team leadership and management experience and expertise to ensure the team is appropriately equipped, resourced and motivated to deliver an ambitious business plan, including effective use of data to track delivery and performance.
• Proactively build and sustain a strong understanding and network in the UK and Japan across the tech, innovation and life sciences sectors (including industry, government, and multipliers) to drive investment outcomes to deliver the strategy. Build strong relationships across the Japan Network to leverage senior stakeholders and other teams in support of your goals, in particular DBT colleagues working on trade/exports.
• Contribute to the broader goals of the Japan Network, including a role in crisis response and supporting visits and cross-Network events.
• Resources managed (staff and expenditure): Direct line management of 5 FTE, wider team leadership responsibility.

• Experience of inward investment or trade promotion experience as relevant to the role, or other relevant sales experience
• Proven ability to work with business (either in the private sector or public sector)
• Proven stakeholder relationship management skills
• Proven ability to lead and manage a team
• Excellent communication skills

Language Requirements:

• English and Japanese (except for Head of Performance and Delivery – requires only English)
• Level of language required: Fluency in Japanese and business level English (except for Head of Performance and Delivery – requires only English)