View Vacancy – JPN – Senior Trade Policy Advisor C4(L) – Internal Vacancy

Main purpose of job:

The jobholder will provide expertise, analysis, advice and coordination to develop and implement the UK’s trade policy, market access and regulatory diplomacy strategy in and with Japan and the Asia Pacific region. Provide analysis, reporting and lobbying on bilateral and regional trade policy, including with respect to the negotiation and implementation of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). Support the Head of Trade Policy Team in delivering UK trade policy objectives in Japan and the Asia Pacific region. Co-ordinate work on specific policy areas during CPTPP accession negotiations. Build and maintain strong relationships with government contacts in Japan and be a contact point for overall CPTPP coordination in APAC. Participate in CPTPP negotiations.  Support the Head of Trade Policy team and the Her Majesty’s Trade Commissioner in taking forward UK trade and investment priorities in the region.

Roles and responsibilities / what will the jobholder be expected to achieve?:

Lead and coordinate UK engagement with Japan and coordination in Asia Pacific on regional trade negotiation objectives, in particular CPTPP

• Engage directly with the Government of Japan (GoJ)- the 2021 CPTPP Chair-  on UK membership of the CPTPP regional trade deal in support of the Head of Trade Policy Team and Her Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for the Asia Pacific region.
• Engage with colleagues at British Missions in existing CPTPP member countries (and other aspirant economies/ countries) on engagement and reporting of CPTPP developments, providing advice on UK and Japanese trade policy to colleagues in the Department for International Trade (DIT) and other relevant ministries.
•  Act as a contact point for the GoJ on CPTPP coordination, responsible for arrangement and coordination of engagement between UK and Japan from working level to Ministerial level.
• Analyse and identify risks and underlying issues based on in-depth and fact-finding research. Using this information, provide advice to seniors at Post and in Whitehall on negotiating positions and handling.
• Provide bilateral and regional policy insights and expert input to trade reviews and reporting, particularly on plurilateral agreements and dialogues. Identify and advise on the best option, approach and action to senior management in Post and UK departments (DIT, FCDO, DEFRA, BEIS, MoJ).
• Monitor the Japanese domestic political situation and advise on impact on the UK trade policy agenda. Identify key players in Japanese governmental and political stakeholders for lobbying. Where appropriate, lobby the GoJ on the UK’s behalf.

Lead UK engagement with Japanese government and industrial group to deliver bilateral and regional trade policy priorities for the UK.

• Enhance the UK engagement and develop relationships with key business, academic, regulatory and government stakeholders on key trade policy objectives to set priorities, identify synergies and advise on opportunities for senior engagement.
• Plan and deliver bilateral engagement to take forward the future UK-Japan trade relationship, in close collaboration with the DIT and other relevant UK ministries.
• Contribute to, support and participate in negotiations on UK’s future bilateral trade and investment relationship with Japan, taking forward work on areas for enhanced ambition beyond existing UK-Japan arrangements. Including providing advice on Japanese policy, negotiating positions and sensitivities (and making judgement calls on Japanese red lines).
• Provide a bridge between the UK negotiating team and UK implementation team in trade agreement implementation, to ensure that both the UK and Japan fully comply with their obligations.
• Proactively seek opportunities to promote the UK trade policy agenda and priorities though co-ordination of meeting and speaking opportunity for senior engagement including visiting Ministers.
• Draft speeches for HMA and senior members in both Japanese and English.
• Working closely with Media and Communication team to prepare effective trade and investment promotional messaging and advise translation from English original to Japanese.  

Lead and deliver on arranging inward visits by UK ministerial and senior officials and engagements in Japan on trade policy objectives.

• Lead on arrangements (including securing involvement of Japanese ministers) and contribute to policy input into regular UK ministerial and senior official visit to Japan, taking ownership of arrangements for visit and meetings programmes. Draft and co-ordinate briefing and provide necessary domestic policy input.  

Trade expertise for capacity building in Japan and the Asia Pacific region.

• Lead the development of UK trade policy expertise in Japan and the Asia Pacific region by sharing knowledge and expertise with colleagues in Tokyo and regional Embassies.  Provide learning and development programme on trade policy for DIT colleagues to contribute to trade policy capacity building in Japan.

Manage the Trade Policy Team’s Trade Policy Officer

• Direct line management of the Trade Policy Officer (A2), responsible for monitoring and reporting on Japan’s trade policy developments. Provide guidance and support in the Officer’s delivery of work taking forward the CEPA implementation and preparation of the CPTPP negotiation, as well as delivery of logistics around ministerial and senior official engagement with Japan.

Resources managed (staff and expenditure):

A2(L) x 1

Learning and development opportunities (and any specific training courses to be completed):

The British Embassy and UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office provides a range of training opportunities in core diplomatic and commercial skills, from networking and communication to project management. The British Embassy works closely with Embassies across the Asia-Pacific region to share experience and learning. Opportunity to travel within the region and to the UK. Working within the Embassy Trade Policy team presents an opportunity to learn the dynamics of bilateral and plurilateral trade policy discussions as we seek new trade relationships with Japan and with the Asia Pacific region.

Alongside a number of Embassy-specific courses that will need to be completed on arrival, the Embassy is supportive of learning and development. We offer five development days per year, and regular opportunities for learning and development delivered both within the mission and regionally in Asia. We also focus on using coaching and a buddying system to support new arrivals.

Working patterns:

Full-time, five days a week; occasional work outside core hours to during negotiations. We are open to flexible working arrangements including part time/ job-share.

This job is in a very busy team. Given the extensive amount of direct contact required with colleagues in the UK (and in Posts across the world), the jobholder will be expected to be flexible in their working hours during negotiations (where possible).

This position is open for internal candidates and spouses only.

– On the job or academic experience of trade policy, trade negotiations and/or regulatory work

– Knowledge of (and/or qualifications in) trade policy

– Experience of working with, and extensive networks in, the UK and Japanese government, industrial groups and business

– Excellent influencing and written/ verbal communications skills

– Knowledge of Japanese and UK government systems, policy making and the legislative process