View Vacancy – JPN (Tokyo) – Senior Science and Technology Officer, EO
/*generated inline style */
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Policy & Political roles)
/*generated inline style */
Main Purpose of Job:
The UK Science and Technology Network (STN) is a global network within the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. STN works to develop international partnerships in science, technology and innovation and to deploy science diplomacy in support of UK Government priorities.
The Science & Technology Team’s work at the British Embassy Tokyo is highly collaborative and focuses on science, research, data and technology policy cooperation in areas of complementary strengths for the UK and Japan, to support UK growth over the long term. With this goal in mind, we engage daily with government officials, research agencies, academics and other embassies in Japan and the region.
This is a dynamic short-term role in a broad policy area of growing significance to diplomacy and UK economic growth. It requires an interest in science and technology, management skills, experience in planning and delivering projects and events, and strong communication skills to maintain relationships with varied counterparts.
This role will work directly to the Data and Digital Attache, along with the STN North East Asia Regional Director and others in the Science and Technology Team, – supporting specific workstreams across digital technologies; currently these include AI, semiconductors, robotics and advanced connectivity technologies. This role has the potential to contribute to the development of UK-Japan collaborations across a wide range of research fields including, life sciences, medical sciences, space, physical sciences, and social sciences, and the translation of this research into innovative technologies, through our existing partnerships. Priorities may change, requiring adaptability and offering opportunities to shape the scope of the team’s activities as they evolve.
What the Jobholder will be Expected to Achieve:
- Increase UK-Japan scientific and innovation collaboration in priority scientific and technology fields by identifying opportunities, advising key UK stakeholders, developing plans and delivering projects, visits and events. This will include providing support for major Embassy events and senior UK visitors. You will identify and build relationships with contacts in Japanese ministries, funding agencies and the wider scientific community.
- Support UK technology innovation and tech-based trade and investment by working with UK Government departments to enable compatible approaches to technology and innovation policy, facilitate opportunities for UK technology-based exports to Japan and promote the UK as a highly innovative destination based on scientific excellence and technological expertise.
- Report on Japan’s science, innovation and technology developments to the UK, and vice versa, analysing Japan’s policies and news to identify and highlight opportunities and lessons for the UK.
- Contribute to the wider work of the Japan network, including taking an active role in the Crisis response plan and participating in crisis exercises. You will assume substantive corporate responsibility, supporting the wider Japan Network as needed, particularly during Network-wide events, and accompany major visits to the UK where appropriate.
- Line manage two Science and Innovation Officers, ensuring they have the knowledge, skills, confidence and clarity of direction to manage key tasks for the team, including administrative tasks, project management, financial management, and wider priorities of the team and the UK Japan Network.
Resources Managed (staff and expenditure):
- Line manage a team of least two Science and Technology Officers
- Budget responsibility to deliver events
/*generated inline style */
- Ability to take the initiative and proactively develop clear proposals and plans
- Adaptability to be able to respond to changes in the government and business context
- Strong communication and teambuilding skills
- Evidenced interest in learning about the UK and science and technology issues
- Willingness to develop working knowledge across a number of technological sectors
- Ability to handle technical (e.g. scientific / financial) information
- Experience of working in an international environment or with senior leaders
- Proficient computer literacy
Language requirement:
This role requires written and spoken proficiency in English and Japanese. fluency (minimum of C2 level for CEFR framework*) in English is required.
*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.
/*generated inline style */
- Management experience
- Experience of project management
- Direct experience of government or policy work
- Report writing skills
- A scientific or engineering educational or vocational background
- Communications or marketing experience
/*generated inline style */
Communicating and Influencing, Delivering at Pace, Working Together
/*generated inline style */
2 August 2026
/*generated inline style */
Executive Officer (EO)
/*generated inline style */
Full-time, Temporary, Fixed Term
/*generated inline style */
37.5
/*generated inline style */
6 months
/*generated inline style */
Asia Pacific
/*generated inline style */
Japan
/*generated inline style */
Tokyo
/*generated inline style */
British Embassy
/*generated inline style */
1
/*generated inline style */
JPY
/*generated inline style */
JPY 587,800
/*generated inline style */
monthly
/*generated inline style */
1 October 2026
/*generated inline style */
This role is advertised as a 6-month fixed term contract with possibility of extension based on operational needs.
- 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.
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 regular learning and development opportunities that will be 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. The jobholder will learn about a wide range of diplomatic and international issues from working daily with talented and committed people.
/*generated inline style */
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.
/*generated inline style */
/*generated inline style */
/*generated inline style */
To apply please copy and paste this link: https://fco.tal.net/vx/appcentre-ext/candidate/jobboard/vacancy/1/adv/
To help us track our recruitment effort, please specify on the application form/indicate in your cover letter where (ngotenders.net) you saw this job posting.
