View Vacancy - ROK - Senior Investment Manager – Tech, HEO

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.
Department for Business and Trade roles (DBT)
Department for Business and Trade (DBT)

Main purpose of job:

The British Embassy Seoul’s Investment Team attracts and supports Korean companies to invest in the UK through both FDI and capital investment. The UK hosts the world’s third largest tech sector, with ambitious plans to further boost our AI capabilities through the AI Action Plan, secure more venture capital investment into UK startups and attract Korean deep tech startups to set up in the UK.

As our Tech Sector Investment Manager, the successful candidate will engage Korean potential investors to match UK needs, build and develop a network of industry contacts, and drive high-impact investment projects to help world-class companies expand into the UK’s thriving tech ecosystem. Specifically, you will aim to secure investment into UK AI Growth Zones / data centres, venture capital investment and from deep tech startups and scaleups.

We are seeking a strategic, proactive, networking, adaptable individual who can build strong relationships with potential investors, educate and influence them on the investment opportunities the UK offers and support them through the whole investment process.

The British Embassy Seoul is a post at the heart of HMG’s work in the Indo-Pacific, covering security, digital and technology, trade and economic, and climate and energy partnerships with South Korea.

The Department for Business and Trade operates around the world. Establishing new relationships globally, DBT promotes UK trade to ensure the UK takes advantage of the opportunities open to us, securing and improving economic well-being, stability, and helping to create tens of thousands of jobs. His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner (HMTC) is responsible for Trade and Investment work in the APAC region, a fast-paced, and exciting place to work.

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

Strategic direction – the job holder will have full accountability for designing, owning and implementing the Embassy’s strategy for attracting Korean tech investment. They will take independent decisions on priorities, resourcing and delivery approach to meet UK objectives.

  • Analyse UK objectives, sector capacity and Korean market dynamics to recommend priority sub-sectors, target companies and engagement strategies, anticipating policy, market and delivery risks.
  • Make evidence-based judgements on which opportunities to pursue, defer or stop, balancing impact, deliverability and effective use of HMG resource.
  • Act as the Embassy’s lead on tech investment, ensuring activity supports wider Embassy and UK Government objectives and working across HMG to deliver shared outcomes.
  • Advise senior leadership on strategic choices, risks and mitigations.

Build and maintain investment relationships – full responsibility for owning strategic relationship management with priority tech investors, from working level to C‑suite.

  • Proactively build and maintain a strong network across major tech companies, VCs, startups and relevant industry associations.
  • Develop trusted relationships with investors to understand business needs and create opportunities to promote the UK.
  • Shape engagement strategies, including securing access to companies from working level to C-suite, and advising when and how to deploy senior UK officials or Ministers, with clear objectives and recommended lines to take.
  • Prioritise and manage a portfolio of key accounts aligned to UK strategic objectives.

Pipeline development and delivery – full responsibility for creating, developing and landing investment opportunities.

  • Use sector expertise, market intelligence and data analysis to identify, assess and prioritise potential investors aligned to UK objectives.
  • Build a deep understanding of investor needs and barriers, positioning the UK as a compelling investment destination.
  • Analyse investor requirements, policy constraints and delivery risks, identifying barriers and recommending solutions across HMG and external stakeholders, supporting companies to progress their investments through a high-quality, tailored service.
  • Lead the progression of projects supporting the build of UK AI Growth Zones / data centres working with big tech companies (and related energy infrastructure companies), attracting Korean venture capital into UK startups and funds, and strategically significant Korean startups to establish a presence in the UK.
  • Track projects and stakeholder engagement, updating internal stakeholders at key milestones and escalating issues where appropriate with clear options and recommendations.

Sector expertise – act as the Embassy’s recognised lead and expert on Korean techinvestment.

  • Maintain and further develop expertise in tech businesses and technologies, including data centres, VC and start-ups, as well as relevant UK policies, regulations and grants.
  • Provide authoritative advice to investors on sector trends, UK policy, regulation and incentives.
  • Provide informal leadership and guidance to colleagues on tech investment work and the Korean market, sharing expertise and best practice.

Campaigns, events, visits and communication – the job holder will own the budget, planning and delivery of activities to progress and deliver the above strategy.

  • Design and deliver targeted investor engagement activity, including workshops, pitching sessions and delegations, and secure Korean participation at UK events such as London Tech Week.
  • Lead planning and delivery for visits by senior UK officials and Ministers to Korea to engage priority investors and stakeholders.
  • Use Embassy and media platforms strategically to strengthen the UK’s reputation as a leading destination for tech investment.

Cross-Embassy and Corporate Responsibilities

  • Work collaboratively across the Embassy to support UK economic growth objectives.
  • Work closely with the Embassy’s Digital Policy Team to align priorities, share insight and support investment outcomes.
  • Contribute around 5% of time to wider corporate responsibilities, supporting the effectiveness and culture of the Embassy.

  • Fluent in English and Korean. Highly capable in written and spoken communication in both languages.
  • Strategic thinking, proactive in leading and delivering, flexible and creative to overcome challenges, focused on supporting investors and hitting targets.
  • Confident at engaging senior external stakeholders with a proven record of doing so.
  • Investment promotion / international business development / commercial experience.
  • Experience working with UK or Korean tech companies, investors, or government agencies in investment or a similar international role.
Communicating and Influencing, Delivering at Pace, Making Effective Decisions, Managing a Quality Service, Seeing the Big Picture
17 May 2026
Higher Executive Officer (HEO)
Full-time, Fixed term, with possibility of renewal
36
Asia Pacific
South Korea
Seoul
British Embassy
1
KRW
6,624,161
monthly
1 August 2026

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 based on disability, race, colour, ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual orientation, age, veteran status or other category protected by law.   

Learning & development opportunities:

The British Embassy Seoul encourages all staff to develop their capabilities, through both formal training (courses) and informal (job-shadowing, coaching, on-the-job training etc). The majority of our formal L&D opportunities are drawn from FCDO resources. All staff are encouraged to share their skills and experience with colleagues, through informal training (‘lunch & learn’) or coaching/mentoring.

Working Patterns:

Monday – Thursday 09:00 – 17:15, Friday 09:00 – 17:00

Other Information:

Candidates must currently hold the right to live and work in the Republic of Korea.

Any costs related to obtaining or renewing permits and visas are the responsibility of the successful applicant.
Staff who are recruited by the British Embassy Seoul are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local employment law. 

Employment offers are subject to successful clearance of pre-employment checks. Staff recruited locally by the British Embassy Seoul are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local Korean employment law.  

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.

This is a fixed term role of 12 months, with possibility of renewal.

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 clearances.

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.

This opportunity is closed to applications.