Working hours: Monday to Friday, 9:30am-6:00pm (Lunch hour: 12:45pm-1:45pm) with possibility of overtime work
Location: Embassy of Japan, London (on-site)

The Embassy of Japan seeks a highly qualified person who can perform as an assistant to the Economic Section. You will be required to support Japanese diplomats posted in the UK, as well as working within a team of locally employed staff to support the wider functions of the Embassy.

Duties include:

• Arranging meetings and visits for diplomats and delegations visiting from Japan. Accompanying the diplomats and delegations and keeping records.
• Keeping diplomats briefed and informed on current economic and political affairs by providing daily news updates, policy summaries and research on relevant economic sectors including contact with related organisations.
• Monitoring developments within the Japanese and UK business communities.
• Organising functions, such as seminars, in and outside of the Embassy, as well as speech writing and supporting other events hosted by the Embassy.
• Assisting other locally employed staff in the team, including producing daily economic newspaper reports.
• Attending meetings, seminars and conferences, reporting to the relevant diplomats and keeping records.

Requirements:

• Degree-level academic background, with English language as a mother tongue or equivalent, both spoken and written.
• Strong cooperation and communication skills.
• Competence in an office environment, including IT skills such as MS Word, Excel, Outlook and Powerpoint.
• A keen interest in Japan, and knowledge of Japan-related issues.
• Flexibility, a sense of responsibility, attention to detail, and perseverance to carry out complicated tasks with accuracy.
• Decision making skills and discretion to help build networks with UK government departments and other organisations.
• Fundamental understanding of economics and Japan-UK politics and business.
• Experience of Japan, and Japanese language skills, would also be preferable.

All applicants must have the legal right to work in the UK. All applicants must state that this right is obtained through citizenship, permanent residency or work permit in their application. A student visa is not acceptable for this position. Short-listed applicants will be asked to provide, prior to interview, documentation to certify their legal right to work in the UK.