His Majesty's Trade Commissioner – Asia Pacific

Job summary

Overview​

We require an exceptional leader who will report to the British Ambassador to Japan and be accountable to the Secretary of State for BIST. The successful candidate will lead the UK’s trade and investment agenda across Asia Pacific (APAC) helping deliver the government’s growth priorities. In particular you will:​

• Lead a high performing international team of approximately 200 colleagues across Asia Pacific on export promotion and investment to the UK.​
• Drive exports, investment and market access across Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, the ASEAN countries, Australia and New Zealand.​
• Be a senior representative of His Majesty’s Government and be responsible for building influential relationships with ministers, senior officials, ambassadors and business leaders.​

Why this role?​

This opportunity offers breadth and profile, complexity and challenge, and the chance to shape the UK's future economic relationship with Asia Pacific. As HMTC you will be one of nine key leaders of BIST’s overseas network, delivering HMG’s investment, export and trade policy priorities.​

Candidate Information Call

The hiring manager for this position; Isobel Stephen and the current role holder Martin Kent 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 and the session will not be recorded. ​
​
This will be held via Microsoft Teams on 12th November 2026 at 9:30am (UK).​ Please click here for the meeting link ​​

Job description

• Provide visible, inspiring, strategic and operational leadership to a team of circa 200 staff, building high performing, expert, engaged and inclusive teams.​
• Develop and deliver an ambitious strategic plan for the region to ensure that British businesses and the UK economy gain maximum benefit.​
• Lead regional policy initiatives to improve business operating environment by addressing market access, regulatory and legislative challenges, and developing strategies to remove trade barriers in key sectors.​
• Build and maintain strategic, load bearing relationships with influential stakeholders including UK and Asia Pacific business leaders, government ministers and officials, investors, and senior officials across UK government departments.​
• Direct commercial teams to forecast and deliver high-value export and investment programmes, effectively leveraging UK Government resources and expertise.​
• Coordinate cross-sector efforts to attract direct investment into the UK in alignment with government strategic priorities.​
• Provide strategic insight, analysis and advice on pursuing an ambitious economic relationship across the Asia Pacific region.​
• As a member of BIST’s leadership team, contribute to the strategic and operational direction of the department, as well as acting as a very senior representative of HMG in the region.​​​​

Person specification

In your application you should provide evidence and examples of proven experience against the following essential criteria: ​

Leadership: ​

Experience of leading a complex, matrixed organisation, providing strategic leadership to geographically dispersed teams, managing significant budgets and empowering others to deliver organisational goals. A proven ability of leading through change, navigating tensions and building effective cross-cultural relationships with empathy and influence.​

Commercial Understanding:​

Highly developed commercial acumen and judgement, with a track record of successful delivery across a variety of commercial issues and opportunities, an understanding of the issues facing businesses overseas, and experience of making decisions and delivering deals based on a strong understanding of trade and investment issues.​

Innovation:​

Proven ability to create a culture of innovation and continuous improvement, capitalising on technological developments and emerging opportunities to deliver transformational outcomes at pace and scale.​

Strategic Collaboration: ​

Experience working in complex stakeholder, political and commercial environments, building effective partnerships to align diverse perspectives, influence and achieve shared outcomes with ability to successfully collaborate across different parts of UK government and key stakeholders. Skilled in building trusted senior relationships, applying sound judgement, commercial awareness and diplomacy to deliver sustainable results. Understanding of the UK devolution agenda and the role of Mayoral Authorities in driving regional growth.

Public Engagement: ​

Outstanding communications skills with the ability to advocate the UK’s position effectively to a range of different audiences, and the confidence and expertise to undertake public engagements, including media.​

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £125,000, Department for Business and Trade contributes £36,212 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

• 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​

Hays, an Executive Search firm, have been appointed to assist with this recruitment campaign. To apply for this post, you will need to submit documentation below via the following link.

Apply here​ by no later than​ 23:55 on 22/11/26. ​

​You will be asked to upload the two documents outlined below. It is essential you add your full name to both documents:​ ​

• A CV, maximum of two pages 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.​​​ ​
• A Supporting Statement, maximum of two pages, which sets out your interest in the role and explains how your experience meets the criteria listed in the Person Specification.​

​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. ​​​ If you have any issues accessing the link or questions regarding the documentation, please contact:

• Andrew.timlin@hays.com / 07887777735

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

​BIST now host Senior Civil Service (SCS) Candidate Support sessions for those wanting to learn more about the application and recruitment processes for SCS roles within BIST, if you are interested, please register for a session here - SCS External Candidate Support Sessions​​​​​

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) criminal record check.Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is developed vetting (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 : Hays Executive Recruitment Team
• Email : Andrew.timlin@hays.com
• Telephone : 07887777735 ​

Recruitment team

• Email : Andrew.timlin@hays.com

Further information

The law requires that selection for appointment to the Civil Service is on merit on the basis of fair and open competition as outlined in the Civil Service​
Commission’s Recruitment Principles. ​
If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should contact Georgia Defeo (at SCSRecruitment@businessandtrade.gov.uk) in the first instance.

Attachments

HMTC APAC Candidate Pack (1) Opens in new window (pdf, 3706kB)Accessible Pack- HMTC Asia Pacific Opens in new window (docx, 327kB)