Project Director – Trade and Investment (Tokyo)

Do you have a track record in international trade promotion and investment attraction?

Do you want to put that experience to work, helping international trade delegations and government agencies make the right connections with Japanese companies, and driving business growth through international trade and investment?

If thats a yes to both, we want to hear from you. 

We're now looking for individuals with experience in trade promotion and FDI attraction to join our team in Tokyo.

You'll be working with our government clients, including trade promotion agencies, economic development organizations and investment promotion agencies, supporting their inbound trade delegations to Japan and their investment promotion programs.

With us, you'll be part of a diverse group of 180+ business development consultants with a deep specialism in international markets. Over 35 years in the business, we've generated $800+ million in export revenues and facilitated over $20bn in cross-border investment.

If you're ready to put your experience to work, read on, and apply.

What you'll be doing

As Trade and Investment Promotion Director, you'll lead our trade and investment promotion teams. This is a player-manager role: you'll direct the team while staying hands-on, designing and delivering visit programs that connect each delegation company with the right Japanese businesses.

In your day-to-day, you'll identify and contact Japanese companies, arrange onsite visits to their offices and facilities, and secure B2B meetings that match each delegation company's objectives. You'll accompany the delegations onsite as their local expert: interpreting, providing the cultural context to business conversations and making sure every meeting runs smoothly.

On the investment promotion side, you'll represent the investment arms of foreign governments: identifying, contacting and meeting potential Japanese investors, guiding the FDI process from lead generation to securing investment and post-investment support, and planning investment missions to Japan.

What you'll be getting

•  Competitive salary (range JPY 10-12.5m) and 20 days' vacation, plus flexible working arrangements
• A player-manager role that combines people leadership with hands-on delivery
• On-the-job experience across multiple industries, working at the forefront of international trade with government agencies and companies from around the world
• An opportunity to build and expand your network by meeting with key stakeholders in the Japanese business scene
• The chance to make a difference by enabling international collaboration and cross-border trade

What you'll need

• Full professional proficiency in spoken and written Japanese and English
• A minimum of ten years' experience in trade promotion and investment attraction
• A track record of managing teams while staying hands-on in delivery
• An understanding of the Japanese business environment and business culture, to identify the right companies and people to engage
• Desire to work in trade promotion and business development
• The ability to quickly grasp new concepts and communicate that knowledge to stakeholders