JOB DESCRIPTION

View Vacancy – TW – Head of Investment, SEO

The British Government is an inclusive and diversity-friendly employer. We value difference, promote equality and challenge discrimination, enhancing our organisational capability. We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We do not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, colour, ethnicity, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, age, veteran status or other category protected by law. We promote family-friendly flexible working opportunities, where operational and security needs allow. The FCDO operates an agile workforce and to facilitate this, you may be required to undertake other duties from time to time, as we may reasonably require.

Job Category

Department for Business and Trade roles (DBT)

Job Subcategory

Department for Business and Trade (DBT)

Job Description (Roles and Responsibilities)

Main purpose of job:

The UK is globally renowned as a world class destination for investment and a world leader in important industries of the future, such as AI, semiconductors, future telecoms, Quantum, space sector and automotive / EV. The UK presents a unique and at present an under-recognised investment opportunity for Taiwanese companies.

We are seeking a well-networked, ambitious investment professional to help change that by promoting the UK’s investment propositions and world-leading business environment here in Taiwan. This person will focus on attracting a) high value investment/ R&D investment and b.) matching Taiwanese VC funding with UK innovation / technology companies.

Working directly to the Director of Technology you will lead a team of two Investment Advisors to attract high-value investment into the UK, taking shared responsibility for setting strategic priorities, leveraging and directing resources, building team capability and driving performance.

This will be a life-changing opportunity that affords you the opportunity to engage and influence a wide range of senior stakeholders, utilising strong interpersonal skills to build deep and trusting relationships with senior executives across a wide range of sectors. You will balance a number of competing priorities; collaborate with teams across the British Office and in the UK; utilise data and analysis to develop strategy; and deliver a high quality, reliable and efficient service.

The role is suited to a confident, commercially-minded professional who will relish the opportunity to engage with C-Suite businesspeople across a wide range of innovative sectors – and, in doing so, strengthen both the UK and the Taiwanese economies. We are looking for someone with an incredible ability to network, influence and someone who is flexible and open-minded.

Roles and responsibilities / what will the jobholder be expected to achieve:

Head of Investment

Working to the Director of Technology, with the support of the Director of Trade and Investment (T&I) – you will share responsibility for the strategic decision making of the team, including:

• Responsible for pipeline and business development and building the network of the British Office Taiwan and acting as the face of our investment drive.
• Building and maintaining relations with:

1. The major Taiwanese companies and global investors
2. A network of VCs
3. Large Capital Institutional Investors

• Identification of priority sectors and accounts; establishment of team KPIs; commissioning of business planning, data analysis and UK policy/strategy alignment; and improving systems and tools
• Effective management of the performance of the wider investment team against KPIs, and reporting these to the Director of Technology, T&I Director and London Investment team
• Developing wider investment team capability, including through sharing best practice
• Leveraging visits and events to support investment priorities and managing visit programmes and events
• Representing UK strengths and investment opportunities in Taiwan across all sectors
• Management of an agreed list of key stakeholders, including Taiwanese corporate and institutional investors, industry advisers and multipliers, government of Taiwan officials, UK industry organisations, and UK Government colleagues.
• Representation at investment-related meetings and events
• Deputising for the Director of Technology where necessary

Business Development

You will be responsible for business development for the Investment team, out and regularly networking at events and dinners to build a wide and illustrious ‘black book’ of connections that can be utilised by the British Office. You will be face of the UK’s Investment offer and will be expected to connect with mid-to-senior level business executives credibly.

The Director of Technology will work with you by holding the relationships in the UK (Companies / VCs / Uk Government teams) and leveraging those for you wherever possible.

Delivering against targets

You will design and promote campaigns across critical sectors (e.g. Technology, Automotive/Battery supply chains, Energy and Financial Services) to attract Taiwanese businesses, private sector R&D, capital and talent to the UK, in order to deliver against the team’s targets. This will be through planning and leading a programme of investment activities, such as seminars, inward missions, and company meetings and engagements, through account management of existing accounts and target companies, and through supporting projects, including high value projects that are outside of campaigns.

Account management

You will directly manage the team’s most important company accounts, and oversee the team’s wider accounts, with the goal of influencing senior business leaders to invest in the UK; understanding corporate strategies and barriers to investment; and influencing UK policy design to improve the investment environment. Working with the Director of Technology you will use research, data, and analysis to ensure we are focussed on the highest value accounts – and consider new and innovate ways of maintaining close and productive client relationships. You will also be responsible for ensuring that the team are accurately reporting activity on our bespoke CRM system.

Sector expertise

You will work with the Director of Technology and Director of Trade and Investment to develop big picture knowledge and expertise of key sectors, and stay up to date on developments, including UK strategies and funding, investments, opportunities and barriers, and relevant trade policy changes. You will ensure that these developments are understood at the appropriate level across the Taiwanese network.

Particular expertise in either technology (semiconductors), energy or finance will be extremely useful.

Team management

You will line manage two Investment Advisors taking responsibility for agreeing objectives, performance management and employee development. You will also monitor your own and your team’s performance against agreed targets and act to keep work on track.

Corporate

10% of your time will involve contributing to the broader goals of the British Office Taiwan, including crisis preparedness exercises, and acting as a champion of the UK – Taiwan relationship, and wider UK Government values (e.g. gender equality)

Resources managed (staff and expenditure):

• 2 x Investment Advisors (1x EO and 1x AO)
• Travel and Business Hospitality budget
• Opportunity to bid for regional / post funds for projects

Essential qualifications, skills and experience

• Strong communication skills, including fluency in both Mandarin and English, and a willingness to be frequently out networking
• Proven ability to lead and manage a small team
• At least eight years professional experience
• Commercial skills, well versed in how companies contract and structure projects
• Prior experience of business origination or business development
• Network of contacts in business and/or financial world in Taiwan
• Proven ability to take the initiative pursuing the objectives in the job description
• Proven competence in leading strategy development and business planning
• Proven advisory and negotiation skills at senior levels –able to express ideas and messages clearly and concisely, both orally and in written communication
• Confident public speaking and networking skills
• Flexibility and Agility to respond to a changing political context
• Able to fulfil the travel requirements of the role and willingness to work outside normal office hours as required

Language requirements:

Language: English & Mandarin

Level of language required: Expert

Desirable qualifications, skills and experience

• Experience of inward investment promotion
• Experience of using data and analysis to set strategic direction and manage performance
• Experience working in a cross-cultural environment
• Experience in a relevant field, e.g. tech sector, space sector or finance

Required behaviours

Communicating and Influencing, Managing a Quality Service, Seeing the Big Picture, Working Together

Application deadline

7 October 2025

Grade

Senior Executive Officer (SEO)

Type of Position

Full-time, Permanent

Working hours per week

40

Region

Asia Pacific

Country/Territory

Taiwan

Location (City)

Taipei

Type of Post

British Office

Number of vacancies

1

Salary Currency

TWD

Salary

136,275

Type of Salary

monthly

Start Date

24 November 2025

Other benefits and conditions of employment

We offer:

• Pro-rated 13.5 month bonus
• Access to a global network of experts
• Opportunities to travel including to the UK
• Annual leave starting at 18 days (Pro-rated) with one additional day added each year up to maximum of 30 days (in addition to UK and Taiwanese national holidays)
• Centrally located office, with a modern, spacious and well-lit working space.
• Options for flexible working where necessary – e.g. working from home.
• Reasonable working hours and respect for your work/life balance.

Learning and Development Opportunities:

Alongside a number of specific courses that must be completed upon arrival, British Office is supportive of learning and development. We offer five development days per year, and regular opportunities for learning and development delivered both within the mission and regionally in Asia. We also focus on using coaching and a buddying system to support new arrivals.

Working Patterns:

Monday – Thursday 09:30 – 17:45, Friday 09:30 – 17:30

Employment offers are subject to successful clearance of pre-employment checks. Staff recruited locally by the British Office are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local Taiwan employment law. Candidates must have the correct permit to work in Taiwan in order to apply.

No accommodation or relocation expenses are payable in connection with this position. You must have or be able to obtain correct permit to work or work authorisation in Taiwan in order to apply. Any costs related to obtaining or renewing permits and visas are the responsibility of the successful applicant.

Employees who are not liable to pay local income tax on their Mission salary may have their salaries reduced by the equivalent local income tax amount.

The FCDO also operates an agile workforce. To facilitate this, you may be required to undertake other duties from time to time as we may reasonably require.

Additional information

Please note that the deadline for applications is 23:55 on the day mentioned in the above field “Application deadline”.

Please be aware that the deadline for submitting applications is considered to be the time zone for the country where the vacancy has arisen.

We advise you to allow enough time to complete and submit your full application since only applications completed and submitted before the deadline will be considered.

Note: All applicants are required to mandatorily fill the online application form completely including the employment and educational details, experience, professional skills and behaviour-based questions. We will be thoroughly reviewing the applications and incomplete form in any respect may not be considered while shortlisting for the next stage.

Please ensure that your application is authentically written based on your own experiences. If AI tools are used, their usage must only be limited to specific tasks such as ensuring formatting consistency and keyword relevance. The core content, personal narratives, and responses to behaviour and skill-based questions must genuinely reflect your professional journey, experiences, and achievements. We place great importance on originality and individual effort throughout the application process. Any form of plagiarism will result in immediate disqualification

Only shortlisted candidates for interview will be contacted. Interviewees will be assessed on the core behaviours/qualifications listed above. Unsuccessful candidates will be notified via the system in due time. Appointable candidates who were unsuccessful may be placed on a ‘reserve list’. If during the reserve period of 6 months the same or a largely similar role becomes available, that role may be offered to the second or subsequent candidate.

To ensure a successful application it is important that you explain how you demonstrate these behaviours, including through your experience. You are strongly advised to read the Success Profiles: Civil Service behaviours which provides detailed guidance on how the behaviours are defined.

Applicants are encouraged to use the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) format to prepare specific examples of when they have demonstrated these behaviours in their application. Using the STAR format to provide evidence of your skills and experience in your application and at interview helps to give a structure. You briefly describe the situation in which you showed the behaviour, and then explain your task in addressing the situation, what action you took and the result of this.

For inclusivity and diversity, please remove the following personal information when uploading your CV: name, address, email address, age, date of birth, gender and nationality.

The start date mentioned in the job advert is a tentative start date and the successful candidate will be required to undergo security vetting procedures. Any offer of employment will be subject to the candidate achieving suitable clearance.

Please be aware that you will only be able to apply to vacancies for Country Based Staff roles with the British Government through this official tal.net site (operated by Oleeo). Jobs may be advertised on third party websites, however our adverts will always link back to the official tal.net site. If you complete and send an application through any other site, we will not receive it.

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: No requirements