View Vacancy – JPN (Tokyo) – Events and Corporate Entertainment Manager, EO
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Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Operations and Corporate Services)
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Protocol, Visits and Events
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Main Purpose of Job:
The Events and Corporate Entertainment Manager plays a pivotal role in the Japan Network, shaping how the Embassy delivers impactful, well‑designed events that support the UK’s objectives in Japan. Each year, we host a large and varied programme ranging from lunch meetings and seminars to major set‑piece receptions.
This is a highly visible role that combines strategic planning with hands‑on leadership. You will work with the Transformation Manager and Chief of Staff to devise event strategy and advise colleagues on the effective use of the Ambassador’s Residence and external venues. You will also play a key part in establishing how future event venues in the Embassy will run.
As the leader of the Events and Corporate Entertainment Team, which supports departments across the network, you will foster a collaborative and resilient team culture and champion a positive stakeholder experience from concept to delivery. Your focus will also be on strengthening operational performance by overseeing budgets and procurement, driving process improvements, and developing user‑friendly toolkits that enhance capability and consistency.
What the Jobholder will be Expected to Achieve:
Event strategy and operations (45%)
- Lead on event strategy, scheduling, and the bidding process for use of the Ambassador’s Residence.
- Use data‑driven insight and stakeholder feedback to shape event design and prioritisation.
- Set the strategic approach for use of external venues, including criteria and standards.
- Develop clear, user‑friendly guidance and toolkits to support effective event delivery.
- Drive continuous improvements by standardising processes and updating event formats as the Embassy estate evolves.
- Provide hands‑on leadership of logistical and operational aspects of major set‑piece events, including the annual King’s Birthday Party.
Leadership and stakeholder engagement (45%)
- Lead and develop the Events and Corporate Entertainment Team, fostering a kind, collaborative, resilient and high‑performing culture.
- Line‑manage three Events and Venue Officers and one Executive Chef, ensuring a balanced division of responsibilities.
- Build strong relationships with the Ambassador, Private Office and stakeholders across the Japan Network, setting clear expectations and communicating team capacity openly and constructively.
- Build capability across the network through training and tailored support.
- Champion a positive stakeholder experience for all event leads and users of the Residence.
Collaboration across the Japan Network and corporate contributions (10%)
- Work closely with corporate teams including Finance, Security, Estates and IT to ensure joined‑up processes throughout event planning and delivery.
- Contribute to the network’s crisis preparedness and response through corporate responsibilities.
Resources Managed (Staff and Expenditure):
- Directly line manage three Events and Venue Officers and one Executive Chef. The Events and Corporate Entertainment Team also consist of a team of stewards and chefs.
- Manage the team budget and event finance processes, with support from the Budget Holder and Corporate Services Finance Team.
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- Experience in events or hospitality management, ideally including work in a diplomatic mission or similar environment
- Strong interpersonal and leadership skills, with a proven track record of motivating others and collaborating effectively across teams
- Excellent communication skills in English and Japanese, with the ability to engage confidently with a wide range of stakeholders
- Ability to work proactively and independently, maintaining calm under pressure
- Have a positive, adaptable and solutions‑focused mindset when faced with challenges
- A good grasp of, or strong interest in, UK policy priorities with the ability to apply this understanding to event strategy and prioritisation
Language requirement:
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 (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.
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- Project management qualifications or equivalent practical experience
- Budget management experience
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Communicating and Influencing, Developing Self and Others, Making Effective Decisions, Managing a Quality Service, Seeing the Big Picture, Working Together
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19 March 2026
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Executive Officer (EO)
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Full-time, Permanent
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37.5
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Asia Pacific
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Japan
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Tokyo
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British Embassy
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1
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JPY
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JPY 587,800
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monthly
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11 May 2026
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- 1 month salary bonus equivalents payable in June and December
(Note: Salary may be reduced due to tax status) - Commuting allowance of up to JPY35,000 per month (paid on an actual cost basis)
- 25 days paid annual leave (calculated pro rata)
- Health Insurance and Employee pension (kenko hoken/kosei nenkin)
- Employment Insurance (koyou hoken)
Working Patterns:
The British Embassy supports and promotes flexible working as a crucial part of our inclusive offering. This role allows for flexible working e.g. start and end times, working compressed hours, working remotely on one day a week, and the possibility of a job share arrangement, subject to agreement with management.
The Embassy operates a time off in lieu TOIL system to compensate for additional hours worked during busy periods. Occasional out of hours working is required to support some Embassy events.
This role will be offered pending successful reference and security checks and is subject to the appropriate permissions to work. Staff recruited locally by the British Embassy Tokyo is subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local Japan employment law.
No accommodation or relocation expenses are payable in connection with this position. All candidates must be legally able to work and reside in Japan with the correct visa/work permit status or demonstrate eligibility to obtain the relevant permit. Any costs related to obtaining or renewing permits and visas are the responsibility of the successful applicant.
Employees who are not liable to pay local income tax on their Mission salary may have their salaries reduced by the equivalent local income tax amount.
The FCDO operates an agile approach to delivery. To facilitate an agile workforce, you may be required to undertake other duties from time to time as we may reasonably require.
Learning and Development Opportunities:
The British Embassy offers comprehensive learning and development opportunities that will be fully available to the jobholder. We regularly run both work area specific training, as well as more general skills development in project management, finance, and leadership. Each year the job holder will be encouraged to use 5 development days to pursue job related and personal development goals.
All staff are required to take a role in the embassy’s crisis preparation and response. Full training will be provided for this and regular opportunities will be available to test and develop your skills.
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Please note that the deadline for applications is 23:55 on the day mentioned in the above field “Application deadline”.
Please be aware that the deadline for submitting applications is considered to be the time zone for the country where the vacancy has arisen.
We advise you to allow enough time to complete and submit your full application, since only applications completed and submitted before the deadline will be considered.
Note: All applicants are required to mandatorily fill the online application form completely including the employment and educational details, experience, professional skills and behaviour-based questions. We will be thoroughly reviewing the applications and incomplete form in any respect may not be considered while shortlisting for the next stage.
Only shortlisted candidates for interview will be contacted. Interviewees will be assessed on the core behaviours/qualifications listed above. Unsuccessful candidates will be notified via the system in due time. Appointable candidates who were unsuccessful may be placed on a ‘reserve list’. If during the reserve period of 6 months the same or a largely similar role becomes available, that role may be offered to the second or subsequent candidate.
To ensure a successful application it is important that you explain how you demonstrate these behaviours, including through your experience. You are strongly advised to read the Success Profiles Civil Service Behaviours Framework, which provides detailed guidance on how the behaviours are defined.
Applicants are encouraged to use the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) format to prepare specific examples of when they have demonstrated these behaviours in their application. Using the STAR format to provide evidence of your skills and experience in your application and at interview helps to give a structure. You briefly describe the situation in which you showed the behaviour, and then explain your task in addressing the situation, what action you took and the result of this.
Please ensure that your application is authentically written based on your own experiences. If AI tools are used, their usage must only be limited to specific tasks such as ensuring formatting consistency and keyword relevance. The core content, personal narratives, and responses to behaviour and skill-based questions must genuinely reflect your professional journey, experiences, and achievements. We place great importance on originality and individual effort throughout the application process. Any form of plagiarism will result in immediate disqualification.
For inclusivity and diversity, please remove the following personal information when uploading your CV: name, address, email address, age, date of birth, gender and nationality.
The start date mentioned in the job advert is a tentative start date and the successful candidate will be required to undergo security vetting procedures. Any offer of employment will be subject to the candidate achieving suitable clearances.
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