Main Purpose of Job:

Working to the Head of Investment, you will lead the Advanced Manufacturing Investment Team, to promote investment by Japanese companies in those sectors in the UK. The main focus of the team will be automotive and automotive supply chain, particularly in support of the UK’s ambition to transition its automotive industry to zero emissions over the next decade. In addition, you will ensure that the team is focussed on the investment opportunities that will create the most value for the UK economy, which may include semiconductors, aerospace, batteries, electronic components, chemicals and plastics, and medical devices.

This is an exciting time to be joining a high-profile team in the British Embassy Tokyo. As one of the Chancellor’s five growth sectors, the UK is seeking to attract more investment into advanced manufacturing, including automotive manufacturing. Japanese automotive manufacturers produce nearly 50% of UK manufactured cars, making Japan critical to the UK’s ambitions to decarbonise the auto sector and compete globally in this industry. The UK’s Advanced Manufacturing Plan makes £4.5bn available to support investment in priority areas.

Together with the Head of Investment, Head of Energy and Infrastructure Investment, and Head of Tech and Innovation Investment, you will be part of the Investment Leadership Team. You will share responsibility for leading the team, leveraging resources, improving capability and driving performance. 

The British Embassy Tokyo is a busy and diverse post at the heart of the UK government’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 (DBT) 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), based in Singapore, is responsible for Trade and Investment work in the APAC region. With over 280 staff over 14 markets, DBT APAC is a fast-paced and exciting place to work.

What the Jobholder will be Expected to Achieve:

• Strategy and planning. You will lead the Advanced Manufacturing sector for the DBT Japan Investment team. Using data and analysis and through engaging with UK experts, you will work with the Investment Leadership Team and the DBT APAC Operations Team to set the strategy of the team to maximise delivery against investment targets (foreign direct investment and capital investment) and economic growth for the UK. Whilst your main focus will be opportunities within the electric vehicle (EV) supply chain and advanced manufacturing broadly, you will work with the Investment Leadership Team to ensure that as a team we are focussed on the biggest opportunities, in the short to long term. You will develop and maintain a business/delivery plan, including campaigns (target sectors/opportunities), target companies, other top projects, account management, and events and promotion.
• Transformation. You will support DBT Japan leadership in its transformation, which aims to improved structures, systems, and outcomes, in line with the findings of the Harrington Review of Foreign Direct Investment
• Delivering against targets. You will design and promote campaigns in EV supply chain and advanced manufacturing to attract Japanese businesses, private sector research & development, capital and talent to the UK, in order to deliver against the team’s targets. This will be through planning and leading a programme of sector investment activities, 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.
• Account management. You will be responsible for managing the team’s most important company accounts and ensuring strong account management of all of the team’s accounts, with the goal of influencing senior business leaders to invest more in the UK, understanding corporate strategies and barriers to investment, and influencing UK policy design to improve the investment environment. Working with the Investment Leadership team and the APAC Operations team, you will use research, data, analysis to ensure we are focussed on the highest value accounts. You will be responsible for ensuring that all the team’s account management activities are recorded on the CRM system.
• Driving performance. You will drive the performance of the team to deliver against your targets, through setting team priorities, using data and analysis to track, and through regular performance reviews.
• Sector lead. You will act as a focal point for the UK Government’s activity in the Advanced Manufacturing sector in Japan and proactively build and sustain a strong network across the sector (including industry, government, and multipliers) to drive investment outcomes to deliver the strategy. You will build strong relationships across the Japan Network to leverage senior stakeholders and other teams in support of your goals. This will include strategic planning of visits and engagement by senior officials including the HM Ambassador, preparing and delivering briefings.  You will ensure that sector priorities, strengths and news are widely understood across the Japan network.
• Sector expertise. Leveraging strong UK networks, you will develop big picture knowledge and expertise of your sectors in the UK, and stay up to date on developments, including UK strategies and funding, investments, opportunities and barriers, and relevant trade policy changes. You will ensure that these developments are understood at the appropriate level across the Japan network. Government policy across industry, energy, trade policy, transport and infrastructure is critical for delivering the UK’s ambitions to transition to zero emission vehicles. You will build strong links with No10, HM Treasury, Office for Investment, Department for Transport, Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, and Department for Business and Trade, to understand the impact of government policy on investment, and drive investment outcomes.
• Cross-Japan Network working. You will work with DBT senior leadership on DBT input into the Japan Network to ensure a joined up, impactful UK presence in Japan, and ensure that your sectors are represented appropriately at DBT and Japan Network wide initiatives.
• Trade synergies. You will lead and manage close cooperation with the wider Japan Network in the sector to ensure investment and trade synergies are maximised.
• Team management. You will line manage all members of your team (initially one HEO, one EO and one AO). You will be responsible for agreeing objectives, performance management and employee development. You will also monitor your own and your team’s performance against agreed targets and act to keep work on track.
• Deputy for Head of Investment. Together with the two other Investment Team leads, you will support the Head of Investment with investment team leadership priorities.
• Identification of priority sectors and accounts, establishment of team KPIs, commissioning of business planning, data analysis and UK policy/strategy alignment, and improving systems and tools.
• Effective management of the performance of the wider investment team against KPIs, and reporting to the Japan Network, APAC leadership, Ministers, and London Investment team.
• Developing wider investment team capability, including through sharing best practice.
• Leveraging visits and events to support investment priorities and managing visit programmes and events.
• Representing UK strengths and investment opportunities in Japan across all sectors.
• Management of key stakeholders, including Japanese corporate and institutional investors, industry advisers and multipliers, government of Japan officials, UK industry organisations, and DBT and cross Whitehall colleagues.
• Representation at investment-related meetings and events.
• Representing and communicating investment country-based staff views within the DBT Senior Leadership Team.
• Deputising for the Head of Investment where necessary.
• Corporate contribution. 10% of your time will involve contributing to the broader goals of the Japan network. This will involve a role in crisis response, as well as other roles such as leading a committee or a cross-network event.

Resources Managed (Staff and Expenditure):

Direct line management of 1 x HEO, 1 x EO and 1 x AO, who may be based in either Tokyo or Osaka. 

• Experience of inward investment promotion, and understanding of the investment promotion journey, or other relevant sales experience
• Experience working in advanced manufacturing or automotive industries in UK or Japan, OR experience working in UK government
• 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

Language Requirements: 

• Japanese and English Language ability
• Level of language required: Fluent in one and business level in the other