Government Relations – Director, Japan (hybrid)
THE OPPORTUNITY
Honeywell Aerospace is seeking a Director of Government Relations, Japan, to lead engagement with the Japanese government, parliament, regulators, and key external stakeholders and serve as an expert guide within Honeywell Aerospace enabling business growth in Japan and the region. Based in Tokyo, this role will represent Honeywell Aerospace’s interests, guiding internal actions impacted by Japanese government policies and actions, while shaping external government community engagement across civil aviation, defense, industrial strategy, aviation safety and certification, tax and trade, sustainability, and emerging aerospace technologies to achieve optimal business outcomes.
This position reports to the Senior Vice President, Global Government Relations, located in Washington, DC and aligns with our international GR team led from Brussels.
The Director will serve as a senior strategic interface between Japanese government decision-makers and Honeywell Aerospace business leaders, ensuring alignment between public policy outcomes and the company’s operational, manufacturing, and technology priorities. A key responsibility is to drive a cohesive Japan government relations strategy and enable favorable business outcomes by building strong relationships personally and for company leaders across national and local governments, including relative to government bilateral relations with important counterparts such as the US, South Korea, Australia, the UK or the EU.
You will influence policy in aviation, defense, sustainability, trade and innovation, advocating on behalf of Honeywell Aerospace’s broad portfolio of advanced aerospace and defense technologies. This role represents a unique opportunity to design and execute an integrated Government Relations strategy that strengthens Honeywell Aerospace’s position with policymakers and strategic stakeholders in Japan and across the region.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Develop and execute Honeywell Aerospace’s government relations strategy for Japan, aligned with the company’s products, services, and overall business needs and priorities.
- Build and maintain strong, trusted relationships with key ministries – Ministry of Defense (MOD), Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), and Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) – Parliament, regulators, relevant industry bodies and key stakeholders in Japan.
- Advocate for policies and regulatory outcomes that support advanced manufacturing, aviation safety, defense capability, workforce skills development, and supply-chain resilience.
- Monitor, analyze, and proactively respond to Japanese legislative, regulatory, and policy developments affecting the aerospace and defense sectors. Support similar responses as needed across the region.
- Support the development and execution of Honeywell Aerospace’s government relations strategy in the broader Asia-Pacific region, supporting our business priorities and local footprint.
- Coordinate government engagement with broader international aerospace and defense policy priorities, working closely with global government relations and business colleagues.
- Serve as a strategic advisor to business leaders in the region on government affairs risks, opportunities, and stakeholder engagement strategies to support current business activities and future growth potentials and priorities.
- Enable and drive partnerships with major domestic aerospace and defense contractors (e.g., MHI, KHI, IHI) on joint government initiatives.
- Represent Honeywell Aerospace in industry forums, coalitions, and events.
- Drive brand recognition and excellence with key stakeholders.
DESIRED CANDIDATE PROFILE
- 10-12 years of experience in government relations or policy advocacy, ideally within the aerospace, defense, or advanced technology sectors.
- Education: Bachelor’s degree in Political Science, International Relations, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field (Master’s/JD preferred).
- Deep understanding of Japanese political institutions and legislative processes, and well as good understanding of landscapes across the region.
- Proven expertise in policy development, contracts and budgets pertaining to the Defense Ministry and/or the Transport or Research Ministries.
- Experience engaging with Japanese authorities, providing insight into, shaping and responding to emerging and new legislative developments relevant to the aerospace sector.
- Proven ability to identify and pursue Japanese government-funded research, development grants, and defense procurement programs.
- Demonstrated experience influencing high‑level policy, driving advocacy strategies, and shaping regulatory outcomes.
- Ability to develop and execute a comprehensive government relations strategy, ensuring alignment with Honeywell Aerospace’s business objectives and working in a matrix environment.
- Exceptional communication, negotiation, and relationship‑building skills alongside excellent skills working independently with a strong entrepreneurial spirit.
- Strong networking capability, engaging effectively with officials at local and national levels.
- Native-level Japanese and business-level English proficiency required for cross-border stakeholder communication. Fluency or good command of other languages would be a strong advantage.
OUR BUSINESS
Honeywell Aerospace became a fully independent company on June 29th, positioning itself as a global aerospace and defense leader. We total 36,000 talented employees globally. Honeywell Aerospace products and services are found on virtually every commercial, defense, and space aircraft in the world. We build aircraft engines, cockpit and cabin electronics, wireless connectivity systems, mechanical components, and navigation components. Our solutions create healthier air travel, more fuel-efficient and better-maintained aircraft, more direct and on-time flight arrivals, safer skies and airports, and more comfortable flights, along with several innovations and services that reflect exciting and emerging new transportation methods such as autonomous and supersonic flights. To learn more, please check our website here.
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