View Vacancy – JPN – Senior Regional Manager, Trade, Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering, Northeast Asia C5(L)

Main purpose of job:

Based in the British Embassy in Tokyo or the British Consulate in Osaka, Japan and reporting to the Regional Director of Northeast Asia, the post-holder will be Invest Northern Ireland’s (Invest NI) sector lead of Advanced Manufacturing & Engineering (AME) in Japan, South Korea and Taiwan (collectively referred to as Northeast Asia).

The primary focus of the position will be business development, to increase Northern Ireland exports in the AME sector by helping Northern Ireland companies with market access and market development in NEA. When carrying out their work, the post-holder will be required to forge effective working relationships with a wide range of businesses: Northern Ireland client companies and customers in NEA, stakeholders, senior officials and government representatives. Whilst AME is Northern Ireland’s most significant business sector in NEA and in Asia Pacific (APAC), the post holder will also be expected to support the wider Invest NI team to meet the collective goals and objectives of INI in NEA and APAC.

Linked to Invest NI’s International Business strategies and the strategies of Invest NI’s sector teams based in Northern Ireland, and working with our international partners and stakeholders, the post-holder will develop and agree an annual operating plan and objectives that support the growth of Northern Ireland exports in the AME sector and ultimately economic growth for Northern Ireland.

As well as one to one support for Northern Ireland businesses, the post-holder will lead and co-ordinate activities such as marketing events and conferences, represent Invest Northern Ireland at business conferences and speak at events, prepare activity reports to summarise information for the Regional Director of NEA.  A significant part of the role is to undertake research, conduct business development work to identify sales opportunities for Northern Ireland companies and provide market access advice to new market entrants. The post holder will also be required to monitor expenditure and deliver activities within a pre-allocated budget. 

The post holder will work closely with the wider Invest NI teams based in its Belfast headquarters, in APAC and other locations. The post-holder is also expected to undertake travel on a regular basis, either within NEA, within APAC, to the UK and other countries.

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

Trade & Business development

• Develop and implement specific national action plans for the AME sector in Japan, South Korea and Taiwan to primarily increase the export value from Northern Ireland;
• Proactively identify relevant business opportunities of the AME sector for Northern Ireland companies in Japan and NEA through market intelligence, connections and research and promote the Northern Ireland capability to key decision makers;
• Work with INI APAC Marcoms Director to develop marketing strategies for the AME sector in Japan and NEA that aligns with business development activity to promote export and strengthen Northern Ireland’s impact in the NEA region;
• Support Northern Ireland companies interested in Japan, South Korea and Taiwan by providing information required to make informed business decisions by managing 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 Japan, South Korea and in Taiwan in the delivery of support services to NI client companies and in relation to sector relevant market research.
• Identify and articulate specific business opportunities to colleagues in Northern Ireland including International Trade Advisers and trade organisations and work with NI companies to help them respond to these opportunities.
• Identify and attend sector trade exhibitions and conferences, deliver in-market physical events and virtual webinars, arrange and attend client and customer meetings to promote industry excellence from NI and to highlight key market opportunities for NI companies;
• Co-ordinate VIP (including Ministerial delegations) visit programmes to NEA, prepare briefings and manage the necessary logistics and protocols;

Effective Strategic Relationship Management

• Develop strong C-level relationships with targeted customers, stakeholders and influencers in the region and enable Northern Ireland companies to engage with them;
• Work effectively in partnership with wider teams based in Northern Ireland, Asia Pacific and other locations.
• Build strong relationships in Japan, South Korea and Taiwan within: the British Embassy network , the UK Department of International Trade (DIT), the British Council, and other key stakeholders, and business and industry organisations and where appropriate work on joint planning and delivery of events;
• Contribute to Invest NI’s development of a network of Northern Ireland diaspora working in the region and work with Northern Irish Connections to deliver economic returns to Northern Ireland;

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 regional business sector plan.

Resources managed (staff and expenditure):

• The post-holder will not have direct reports.
• The post-holder will be responsible for managing a pre-allocated budget appropriate to the agreed regional business sector plan.

Due to time difference with the UK, the post-holder may be required to work some evenings in order to meet deadlines or attend conference calls.

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

Induction training will be provided at Invest Northern Ireland’s Head office subject to travel restrictions and locally in Japan. The post-holder will be able to access learning and development opportunities afforded by the British Embassy in Tokyo and by Invest Northern Ireland.

This position is 1-year fixed-term with possibility of renewal.

• Educated to degree level ideally in a business or related function;
• A significant and successful track record in Business Development, including market research, analysing market data, preparing reports, presenting information to clients and securing sales and commercial outputs;
• A sound commercial knowledge of Japan in particular and Northeast Asia in general and the respective business opportunities, issues and solutions in the AME sector;
• Over 7 years’ working experience in a private or public sector organisation, with at least three years’ relevant experience in Japan;
• Experience in developing and maintaining effective working relationships at senior levels with excellent communication skills and an ability to work collaboratively with business contacts and colleagues in the UK, Japan and NEA;
• Excellent organisational and administrative skills;
• Excellent IT skills (using Microsoft software including PowerPoint, Excel and Word);
• 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;
• Fluent in Japanese – speaking and written
• Fluent in English – speaking and written