Main Purpose of Job:

Based in the British Embassy in Tokyo, the post-holder will lead a small team and represent Invest Northern Ireland (Invest NI) in Japan, South Korea and Taiwan (the Region). Reporting to the Head of Asia Pacific (based in Singapore), the post-holder will be Invest NI’s key representative in the Region, responsible for developing and delivering an agreed market strategy with the ultimate goal of securing trade and investment wins for Northern Ireland. The primary focus of the position will be:

• Trade development across specific business sectors, helping Northern Ireland companies to increase export sales to the Region,
• Specific business sectors are determined by INI HQ and are based on the export needs of the INI client companies and the Northern Ireland economy.
• Liaising with INI Trade team in Belfast and the respective UK Government posts in Seoul, South Korea and Taipei, Taiwan to triage and provide assistance, where able, to INI Client companies requesting in-market assistance in South Korea and Taiwan.
• Promotion of Northern Ireland as a location for inward investment and infrastructure investment.

Note, specific business sectors may change from time to time – currently specific business sectors for active trade development in Japan are Agri-Food & Drink, Technology, and Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering.

When carrying out his / her work, the post-holder will be required to forge effective working relationships with a wide range of businesses, our partners, Department for Business and Trade (DBT), Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), and other UK stakeholders, senior officials and government and business representative organisations across Japan, South Korea and Taiwan and Northern Ireland.

The post-holder will develop and co-ordinate targeted activities such as marketing, promotional events and exhibitions and represent Invest Northern Ireland at business conferences and speak at events as needed.  Outputs and outcomes activity reports will be submitted monthly to the Head of Asia Pacific.  Invest NI clients are primarily businesses, and the post-holder will undertake research and prepare reports and meeting programmes and provide advice to them about doing business in Japan. The post holder will be required to monitor expenditure and deliver activities within a pre-allocated budget. The post holder will also work closely with the wider Invest NI teams based in its Belfast headquarters, Asia Pacific and other locations.

The post-holder is expected to undertake travel on a regular basis, either within Japan, the Region, Asia Pacific or to the UK and other countries as required.

What the Jobholder will be Expected to Achieve:

Exports & Investment:

• Leading and directing Invest NI’s operations in the Region to deliver export and investment targets, by working in tandem with Invest NI’s client relationship managers and the Trade & Investment team and colleagues in Northern Ireland, in APAC and in other international locations.
• Developing and overseeing the successful implementation of Invest NI’s operating strategy in the Region; and communicating the same to colleagues in APAC and in Northern Ireland.
• Leading in-market teams in the Region to promote Northern Ireland’s key business sectors and find new markets and export opportunities for Northern Ireland companies.
• Overseeing the development and execution of innovative investment and sales propositions which align the Northern Ireland product to customer requirements and negotiating with customers to achieve a successful conclusion.
• Conducting Business Development work to identify sales opportunities for NI companies and provide market access advice to existing exporters and new market entrants.
• Being the trusted business partner to C-suite executives of companies in the Region who have invested in Northern Ireland, providing them with regular briefings on the political and economic climate in Northern Ireland.
• Working with INI APAC Marcoms Director to develop marketing strategies for exports and FDI in the Region that aligns with business development activity to promote exports and strengthen Northern Ireland’s impact in the Region.
• Supporting Northern Ireland companies interested in the Region by providing information required to make informed business decisions by handling market research and assessment enquiries, conducting visits and arranging business development meetings and writing appropriate reports. In this regard the post holder will be able to leverage the Invest NI’s appointed Trade Advisory Support providers in the Region in the delivery of support services to NI client companies and in relation to sector relevant market research.
• Identifying and attending sector trade exhibitions and conferences, deliver in-market physical events and virtual webinars, arrange and attend client and customer meetings to represent NI, to promote industry excellence from NI and to highlight key market opportunities for NI companies.
• Driving foreign direct investment activities for Northern Ireland in the Region. This includes identifying and working strategically with senior business and government stakeholders as well as other external organisations and industry bodies to help develop relationships, build collaboration and enhance Northern Ireland’s reputation.
• Co-ordinating VIP (including Ministerial delegations) visit programmes to the Region prepare briefing and manage the necessary logistics and protocols.

Effective Strategic Relationship Management:

• Building a strong network of strategic relationships, particularly at senior and C-suite level, with industry leaders and senior government officials both in the Region and in Northern Ireland, to maximise opportunities for the long-term benefits of Northern Ireland’s and the wider UK economy.
• Leading the in-market teams to work collaboratively with other UK government agencies (such as DIT, Northern Ireland Bureau, and FCDO offices) and in-market business associations and economic development agencies.
• Leveraging the strategic Northern Irish diaspora and acting as the lead representative for the Northern Irish Connections diaspora initiative throughout the Region.
• Working effectively in partnership with wider teams based in Northern Ireland, Asia Pacific and other locations.

Database & Budget Management:

• Manage relevant information sources and maintain accurate recording of customer and stakeholder information on Invest NI’s CRM and management systems.
• Manage a pre-allocated budget appropriate to the agreed operating strategy in the Region.

Resources Managed (staff and expenditure):

The post-holder will manage two members of staff, who are also located in the British Embassy in Tokyo.

• Educated to degree level ideally in a business or related function
• Over 7 years’ working experience in a private or public sector organisation
• A significant and successful track record in Business Development, including market research, analysing market data, preparing reports, presenting information to clients and securing contracts / sales
• A sound commercial knowledge of Japan and the business opportunities across sectors, being aware of the issues (& solutions) relating to doing business in this region
• Experience in developing and maintaining effective working relationships at senior levels with excellent communication skills
• An ability to work collaboratively with business contacts and colleagues in the UK, Japan and other locations
• Excellent organisational, IT and administrative skills such as Microsoft software including PowerPoint, Excel and Word
• Existing previous experience of using MS Teams and MS SharePoint/ECM
• Successful team management experience and a good leader
• Fluent in both English and Japanese, spoken and written
• Ability to work at pace and independently as part of a remote team; and to prioritise and manage an often heavy workload in a multi-location environment and liaising with team members in these locations

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.