View Vacancy – JPN – Investment Adviser – Life Science / Advanced Engineering and Manufacturing A2(L) (Tokyo or Osaka)

Main purpose of job:

Japanese investment into the UK has been a huge success story over recent years with over 1,000 Japanese companies established in the UK and 150,000 people employed directly by Japanese companies. The aim of this position is to support and grow Japanese investment in the UK in two of the most active and vital sectors for the UK economy, Life Sciences and Advanced Engineering and Manufacturing (AEM). Your base in Osaka will allow you to leverage the strong Life Sciences base in this region as you work with a team of 15 people in our Tokyo Embassy and Osaka Consulate, as well as a range of sector experts and partner agencies in the UK. AEM is also a priority sector for investment with the cutting edge UK R&D base and once in a century technological shift into EVs etc that the global automotive industry is currently facing with. You will also cover multiple sectors – chemicals, engineering, aerospace and space.

Your base in Osaka (please see more details on job locations below) will allow you to leverage the strong Life Sciences base in this region as you work with a team of 15 people in our Tokyo Embassy and Osaka Consulate, as well as a range of sector experts and partner agencies in the UK.

You will work in a friendly and dynamic environment engaging both with colleagues in Japan and in the UK. This job offers excellent experience both of business and of government so can be a great career step for you. 

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

Promote the UK’s strengths to Japanese companies:

The Life Sciences and AEM teams support dozens of investment projects into the UK each year and your role will be to support Japanese companies based in western Japan with projects to invest in the UK.

• Support the Senior Investment Adviser (responsible for Life Science & Advanced Engineering & Manufacturing) by aiming to deliver investment projects (new investments into the UK and existing investors’ expansion) from this sector per annum and generate new project leads p/a. 
• Support promotional events, inward and outward missions.

Engage effectively with Japanese target companies:

• Research, analyse and develop a target list of key Japanese companies to work with and then follow up either engaging directly with the companies yourself but also support the Senior Investment Adviser to deliver targeted company engagements.
• You will aim to support 3-4 investment projects from these sectors per annum and generate around 10 new project leads p/a on your own.
• Working to the senior managers of the team you will support including the Consul-General and arrange/accompany her company visits in western Japan.

High growth – engaging with the most dynamic start-up and scale up companies

Japan’s start up ecosystem is developing at pace and there are many smaller companies who are now looking to go global.

• You will support campaigns aimed at getting the most innovative smaller companies to set up in the UK.
• You will build up a rolling list of the key companies in your sectors of responsibility located in western Japan that do not currently have a significant base in the UK.  You will build propositions for these companies and then set up meetings to present UK opportunities to them.
• You will develop a strong understanding of the life sciences and advanced manufacturing ecosystems in Japan as well as the UK through your expanding list of business contacts.

Provide support to the team:

• Develop and update key documents on statistics, projects, budgets, and make sure that our database is updated. 

10%

Contribute to the wider work of the Embassy, including active role in the crisis response plan and exercises.

Collaborate with other teams to support on wider Embassy activities.

Resources managed (staff and expenditure):

Profile and manage admin and specific project budgets.

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

Two key areas of focus will be:

(i) building up a knowledge of the key sectors which the post holder will work in. On the job training, presentations from sector specialists and potential Developing Sector Knowledge course in the UK.

(ii) building up influencing and sales skills through on the job training and DIT run courses like Effective Account Management or Consultancy Based Sales training courses would be useful.

 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.

The Embassy supports flexible working patterns, and can be agreed in consultation with your line manager.

***Applications are welcome from all over Japan. We will make assessment based on the candidates’ preference and business needs

• Fluent Japanese language skills (JLPT level 1 or equivalent).
• Business level in English (IELTS band 7 or TOEIC 875 points or above or equivalent), with experience of working in an English speaking environment.
• Ability to work effectively in an increasingly digital environment (strong IT skills, ability to present online, knowledge of social media platforms)