View Vacancy – JPN (Tokyo) – Communications Officer, AO

Main Purpose of Job:

The British Embassy Tokyo is looking for a Communications Officer to join its dynamic Media, Communications and Marketing (MCM) team. This role offers an exciting opportunity to contribute to the UK’s public diplomacy efforts in Japan by helping to deliver strategic, high-impact communications across a wide range of sectors including trade, science, culture, defence and security. You will be part of a dynamic team that shapes the public narratives of the UK’s presence in Japan.

As part of the Strategic Communications team, you will work alongside colleagues to support the embassy’s communication strategy, including social media management, media engagement, and content creation. You will also play a key role in promoting and shaping key UK government messages to Japanese audiences, aligning communications with embassy priorities, and working closely with various embassy sections to ensure cohesive messaging.

What the Jobholder will be Expected to Achieve:

Media Engagement and Relationship Building

• Identify opportunities to promote UK-Japan cooperation in areas such as international policy and build and maintain strong relationships with key media contacts in Japan.
• Help coordinate media opportunities, including press conferences, interviews and briefings, to ensure effective coverage of key UK events and initiatives in Japan are covered effectively.
• Monitor media coverage of issues relating to the UK and provide updates to the Embassy’s senior leaders as appropriate.
• Develop and produce communication tools for media such as press release.

Digital Communications and Content Production

• Drafting and posting of digital communications to promote a range of UK interests, including trade, education and innovation, through the Embassy’s social media channels (mainly in Japanese).
• Develop and produce engaging content, including infographics, videos and other digital media, to communicate key messages to a wide range of audiences, from business leaders to the general public.
• Ensure consistent application of UK Government branding across all digital communications.

Strategic Communications and Campaign Planning

• Write draft communications plans for key Embassy events, including VIP visits, and implement the delivery with oversight from team leaders to ensure strategic direction is applied.
• Work closely with Embassy colleagues to information-gather key messages and tailor communications for Japanese audiences in line with UK Government priorities.
• Assist in preparing briefing materials and communication plans for high-level visits and events.

Evaluation and Reporting

• Track and analyse the success of communications through social media and media coverage, measuring effectiveness using internal tools.
• Report results to the MCM Communications and Marketing Manager to contribute to ongoing evaluation and improvement of communications strategies.

Teamwork and stakeholder engagement

• Work closely with other MCM colleagues to promote the UK in Japan with a unified approach.
• Build strong relationships with other sections within the Embassy, such as the Political, Defence, Economic and Trade teams, to support cross-departmental communications initiatives.
• Liaise with external partners, including UK government departments and agencies, to coordinate joint communication efforts and ensure message consistency.
• Support Japan Network priority moments such as VIP visits, large events and cross-team activities.

Resources Managed (Staff and Expenditure): Occasional management of interns

• Have proven experience in communications
• Have excellent digital communication skills, including content creation and social media management
• Have excellent written and verbal communication skills in both English and Japanese
• Excellent organizational skills to manage multiple projects and priorities
• Familiar with social media platforms and tools, as well as experience in creating multimedia content
• An understanding of Japanese media landscape and public opinion trends

Language Requirements:

This role requires written and spoken proficiency in both English and Japanese. Fluency (minimum of C2 level for CEFR framework*) in Japanese and business level (minimum of high B2) in English.

*Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) for Languages sets the following mastery or proficiency levels:

• C2: Can understand with ease virtually everything heard or read. Can summarise information from different spoken and written sources, reconstructing arguments and accounts in a coherent presentation. Can express themself spontaneously, very fluently and precisely, differentiating finer shades of meaning even in more complex situations.
• B2: Can understand the main ideas of complex text on both concrete and abstract topics, including technical discussions in their field of specialisation. Can interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes regular interaction with native speakers quite possible without strain for either party. Can produce clear, detailed text on a wide range of subjects and explain a viewpoint on a topical issue giving the advantages and disadvantages of various options.