Deputy Trade Commissioner APAC (North East Asia) and Country Director Japan

Job summary

As an international economic department, the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) is at the centre of delivering the UK Government's economic growth mission – helping businesses export, driving inward and outward investment, negotiating and shaping market access as well as championing free trade. ​

​The role of Deputy Trade Commissioner APAC (North East Asia) and Country Director Japan, is a crucial role in the APAC network. As a key member of the APAC Senior Leadership Team, you will be responsible for leading economic growth work across Japan, South Korea and Taiwan. The APAC region is at the centre of global economic growth and this is therefore a challenging and demanding role at a crucial time for the United Kingdom. ​

We are looking for someone that can successfully lead and deliver across all three markets in NE Asia, recognising the unique operating environments. They should be familiar with the challenges and opportunities, while ready to take an innovative approach in one of the most exciting regions in the world. The successful candidate will be a very strong team player experienced at working across geographies, functions and cultures to meet ambitious objectives in export, investment, market access and market shaping, as well as trade policy and FTA utilisation.​

​They will need to build excellent working relationships across a diverse range of business and government departments both in APAC and back in the UK. You will also model and promote a highly motivated and inclusive team reflecting the values of the UK Civil Service. ​

​If you thrive in an exciting and demanding environment and can bring the experience and skills needed to succeed, then we hope to receive an application from you.

Candidate Information Call

The hiring managers for this position; Martin Kent and Julia Longbottom, will be hosting a virtual call for any interested applicants to discuss the role and answer any questions. Please note this is not part of the formal assessment process.​

​This will be held via Microsoft Teams at 12:00-12:45 UK time on Thursday 25 June 2026. Please contact HMTC.APAC@fcdo.gov.uk for the meeting link.

Job description

Key Responsibilities:​

• Supporting the HMTC by overseeing strategic policy initiatives at both the Asia Pacific and North-East Asia level, including identifying sectors and technologies that present emerging opportunities for the UK; this includes ensuring effective use of UK Export Finance to support Regional Trade Plan objectives​
• Supporting UK ambitions for the strongest possible trading relationship with North-East Asia; maximising the benefits of the UK-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and CPTPP; our UK-South Korea FTA; maximising UK-Taiwan economic co-operation and delivery against agreed market access priorities; ​
• Driving improvements in staff engagement and building capability and resilience across DBT’s North-East Asia Network, and effective forecasting and financial management; ​
• Key member of the Japan Network senior leadership team, working closely with the Ambassador, DHM, Consul General Osaka and other senior leadership team members to ensure join up, working across policy, technology and business support areas in Japan to maximise impact and maintain a motivated and effective workforce.​
• Demonstrate ability to harness extensive cross‑Whitehall and senior business engagement across Japan and North‑East Asia to deliver maximum economic growth outcomes for HMG. This includes exercising strong strategic judgement to prioritise the most impactful opportunities, driving delivery through influence rather than direct control, and mobilising partners to achieve results at scale.

Person specification

• Experience of a successful senior leadership role in a large, diverse and hierarchial organisation, providing strategic prioritisation and clear evidence ofempowering others to achieve organisational goals, particularly through a period of change; ​
• Evidence of a first-class understanding of international trade and investment from experience gained either inside or outside government; ​
• Evidence of delivering results in a complex and demanding situation through working positively with external stakeholders, and demonstrating high impactservice delivery and outcomes; ​
• Evidence of having built successful business relationships and strategic contact networks at a very senior level; and a track record of working very effectivelywith colleagues, including across organisational boundaries;​
• Strong strategic and analytical skills, with an ability to provide clarity and direction in the midst of complex and rapidly evolving environments;​
• Proven ability to ensure delivery against demanding and evolving objectives, showing outcome-focus, initiative, resilience and flexibility;​
• Highly effective strategic communication skills, networking and influencing skills to be a credible and influential interlocutor, including in public.

Languages

Candidates will be expected to have Japanese language skills to an operational level upon arrival at post in Japan.

The successful candidate will demonstrate either:
•a pre-existing command of Japanese or
•evidence of the capability and willingness to reach the level of fluency required.
Either of these should be reflected in your application.

The ability to speak Japanese is not a prerequisite to the role. We will support you fully with the tuition needed to reach this level as a core part of your preparation and personal development.
This will include a full-time language learning programme where required, up to 22 months.
If the successful candidate has an existing command of Japanese, an aptitude test will need to be taken to verify the candidate’s level.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £81,000, Department for Business and Trade contributes £23,465 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

How to apply​​​

Please follow the online instructions on the Civil Service Jobs website to apply for this role. Applications must be submitted no later than 23:55 on 05/07/2026. ​

​You will be asked to upload the two documents outlined below.

It is essential you add your full name to both documents:​​

1. A CV setting out your career history, highlighting specific responsibilities and achievements that are relevant for this role. Please provide reasons for any gaps within the last two years.​​​
2. A Supporting Statement of around two pages of A4, providing examples of how your experience meets the essential criteria.​​​

​Failure to submit both documents will mean the panel only have limited information on which to assess your application against the criteria in the person specification. ​​

For further information on the recruitment process ​please review the Candidate Information pack.

​If you encounter any issues or are unable to apply online please contact SCSRecruitment@businessandtrade.gov.uk in the first instance​.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Medical

Successful candidates will be expected to have a medical.

Nationality requirements

Open to UK nationals only.

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : SCS Recruitment Team
• Email : SCSRecruitment@businessandtrade.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : SCSRecruitment@businessandtrade.gov.uk

Further information

Our recruitment process is underpinned by the principle of appointment on the basis of fair and open competition and appointment on merit, as outlined in the Civil Service Commissioners’ Recruitment Principles. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with these principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should in the first instance contact DBT by email at SCSRecruitment@businessandtrade.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive, you can contact the Civil Service Commission, which regulates all Civil Service recruitment. For further information on bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission please visit their web pages: Civil Service Commission Complaints​

Attachments

26-06-02 - DTC NEA Recruitment Pack Opens in new window (pdf, 5317kB)Accessible Candidate Pack - Deputy Trade Commissioner APAC (North East Asia) and Country Director Japan Opens in new window (docx, 155kB)