Executive Assistant (Fluent Japanese & English language skills required)

Location:

Ditton Park

Job ID:

R0077696

Date Posted:

2025-02-06

Company Name:

HITACHI EUROPE LTD.

Profession (Job Category):

Administration & Facilities

Job Schedule: 

Full time

Remote:

No

Job Description:

Our Company

Hitachi drives Social Innovation Business, creating a sustainable society through the use of data and technology. We are a climate change innovator, partnering with cities, governments and companies to cut carbon. We are working to connect solutions with the help of Hitachi’s Green Energy and Mobility both physically and digitally to deliver net-zero. The company’s consolidated revenues for fiscal year 2023 (ended March 31, 2024) totalled 8,564.3 billion yen, and approximately 268,000 employees worldwide. For more information on Hitachi, please visit the company’s website at https://www.hitachi.com.

Hitachi Europe is made up of 5 legal entities in Europe (UK, Germany, France, Italy and Spain). The total revenue for Hitachi Europe is approximately £180 million.

Hitachi Europe Ltd. is a social innovation company with headquarters based in Datchet, England. The company’s European operations employ over 550 people to deliver services and solutions to customers in several key business areas. The company’s portfolio includes digital media products, industrial components and equipment, European procurement and sourcing, research and design and information systems.

HEU is also responsible for managing a Shared Services Group that provides the Company’s business units with a range of innovative and effective common services that deliver value, create ‘lean’ processes and support growth and development – including HR, IT, Legal, Finance, Public Affairs and Business Development.

What you’ll be doing

We are seeking a proactive, highly organized, and detail-oriented Executive Assistant fluent in Japanese and English to provide comprehensive administrative and strategic support to the Finance Director (FD) and Chief Strategy Officer (CSO). The ideal candidate will possess excellent communication skills, cultural awareness, and the ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, multinational environment.

Key Responsibilities:

Administrative Support:

• Manage and coordinate complex calendars, ensuring optimal time management for the FD and CSO.
• Schedule and organize internal and external meetings, video conferences, and appointments, often across multiple time zones.
• Prepare and edit correspondence, reports, presentations, and other documentation in English and Japanese as required.
• Organize travel arrangements, including flights, accommodation, and itineraries, ensuring seamless execution.
• Handle expense reporting and reconciliation.
• Working with the procurement team to raise purchase requisitions.
• Billing of recharges to BU and other Hitachi Companies in collaboration with the Finance team.

Strategic Support:

• Assist in the preparation of financial and strategic reports, ensuring accuracy and alignment with corporate goals.
• Translate documents and communications between English and Japanese to facilitate smooth interactions with stakeholders.
• Support strategic projects by tracking deliverables, deadlines, and follow-ups as directed.
• Conduct research and analysis on market trends, financial data, and strategic initiatives to support decision-making.

General Office Management:

• Maintain confidentiality of sensitive and proprietary information.
• Ensure accurate record-keeping and document management.
• Proactively identify and resolve administrative challenges to support operational efficiency.

What you bring to the team 

We’re looking for a team player, who is motivated by delivering great work and the Hitachi vision. The role will be a mixture of remote-hybrid work with 3 days in the Hitachi Office.

The office location is Hitachi Europe Ltd, Botanica Ditton Park, Riding Court Road, Datchet, SL3 9LL

Essential:

• Fluency in Japanese (native or near-native proficiency) and English (both written and spoken).
• Proven experience as an Executive Assistant or in a similar role supporting senior executives.
• Strong organizational skills with exceptional attention to detail.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) and familiarity with collaboration tools (e.g., Teams, Zoom,).
• Experience managing multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Key Competencies:

• Excellent Communication Skills: Ability to convey information clearly and professionally in both Japanese and English.
• Problem-Solving: Capable of anticipating challenges and proposing solutions.
• Proactive Mindset: Takes initiative and remains adaptable in dynamic circumstances.
• Cultural Sensitivity: Appreciation and understanding of Japanese and international business norms.
• Confidentiality and Integrity: Demonstrates trustworthiness and discretion.

Benefits Package

Along with a market competitive salary and discretionary bonus scheme, employees have the option to work flexibly in line with our hybrid working model and we would be happy to discuss this with you during the hiring process.

Benefits Package

Company Funded Benefits

• Market competitive salary and discretionary bonus scheme
• Generous holiday entitlement – with the option to buy up to an additional week per year.
• A Holiday Banking scheme allowing you to bank untaken holiday to use another year.
• Group Personal Pension
• Private Medical Insurance
• Employee Assistance Programme available to all employees
• Personal Accident Insurance

Voluntary Benefits (funded by employee) including.

• Cycle To Work scheme.
• Gym Membership
• Dental Insurance with option to include dependent children.
• Health screening
• Dining card

Our Values

We are proud to say we are an equal opportunity employer and welcome all applicants for employment without attention to any factor that doesn’t impact your ability to do the job, including race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status. We are proud of Japanese heritage, with our values expressed through the Hitachi Spirit:

Wa – Harmony, Trust, Respect

Makoto – Sincerity, Fairness, Honesty, Integrity

Kaitakusha-Seishin – Pioneering Spirit, Challenge

If, like us, you’re motivated by delivering first class services, thrive in a fast paced and supportive environment and want to help Hitachi to drive social innovation, we’d love to hear from you.

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