Japanese speaking Research Assistant

Centre People; London; On-site; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Japanese-speaking Research Assistant to enhance awareness in commercial industries across Europe and Japan. This role involves supporting business and research activities, including event management, information collection, and report preparation. The ideal candidate will possess strong language skills in both Japanese and English, alongside excellent communication and networking abilities. This temporary full-time position offers a unique opportunity to work closely with various organizations and contribute to impactful projects within a dynamic team environment. If you're passionate about bridging cultures and enhancing business relations, this position is perfect for you.

Qualifications

• Fluent in Japanese and English, with strong communication and networking skills.
• Experience in research and administrative tasks is beneficial.

Responsibilities

• Assist in event preparation and management for seminars and study sessions.
• Collect and prepare information on politics, economics, and business.

Skills

Japanese language proficiency

English language proficiency

Information-gathering skills

Networking skills

Communication skills

Summarisation skills

Flexibility

Reliability

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft PowerPoint

Job description

A Japanese governmental organisation is seeking a Japanese speaking Research Assistant. The role will focus on developing awareness in commercial industries in both Europe and Japan. A strong ability to communicate in Japanese (written & spoken) is essential in addition to totally fluent English. Additional experience of living in Japan and/or working in a Japanese corporate office, or knowledge of Japanese business culture would be beneficial.

TYPE: Temporary, full-time
WORKING HOURS: Monday to Friday, 9:30 - 17:30 with 1 hour lunch break
SALARY: c.£12.21 + Holiday Pay (£1.47 – £2.22 depending on the length of working) per hour
START: April until the end of March 2026 (with view of renewal at the end of March each year)
LOCATION: City of London (5 days a week in-office)

Job Description:

Business-Related Support:

1. Assisting with the preparation and management of events, such as seminars and study sessions, primarily organised by the Africa Desk (including venue arrangements, sending out invitation emails, handling applications, preparing and enclosing materials, setting up the venue, reception and guidance, etc.)
2. Coordinating and liaising with government bodies, organisations, companies, and experts for meetings necessary for business operations
3. Building networks with government bodies, organisations, companies, and experts required for the operation of seminars by the Africa Desk and others

Research-Related Support:

1. Collecting information on politics, economics, and business in various countries, including the UK and Africa (gathering various statistics, legal systems, industry information, etc., mainly through the internet, newspapers, participation in various seminars, and interviews)
2. Preparing various materials using the collected information
3. Proofreading reports prepared by contractors (as needed)
4. Creating PowerPoint presentations (as needed)
5. Drafting business bulletins and regional/analytical reports (more than 20 annually)
6. Compiling UK news (checking various reports daily and summarising key articles in Excel)
7. Coordinating, attending, and taking notes at meetings with government bodies, organisations, companies, and experts necessary for research
8. Other miscellaneous tasks within the research and business support team
9. General administrative tasks necessary for the team’s operations (handling phone calls, registering visitors, booking meeting rooms, various procedures, filing, sending out mail, etc.)

IDEAL APPLICANT

ICT: Solid skills in Word, Excel & PowerPoint
Language: Totally fluent English and conversational Japanese language, written and spoken
Soft skills:

• Flexible, sociable and cooperative, with excellent language, communication and summarisation skills
• Information-gathering and strong networking skills
• Reliable person, with the ability to juggle multiple tasks during busy periods

Visa status: Valid visa to work in the UK (visa sponsorship is not possible for this position)