Vice President, Defense

Job Description

The Asia Group (TAG) is now accepting applications for a Vice President to join our office in Tokyo, Japan, to support and pursue business opportunities with defense clients.

TAG is a leading strategic and capital advisory firm that positions clients – ranging from Fortune 100 multinationals to innovative startups – for success in established and emerging markets across the Indo-Pacific region. Our expertise is delivered through a network of offices in key cities including Washington D.C., Taipei, New Delhi, Mumbai, Tokyo, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Bangkok, and Hanoi. Our team is a diverse mix of partners, senior advisors and talent with extensive backgrounds in government, the private sector, and the military.

We champion a corporate culture that values teamwork, collegiality, creativity, and an entrepreneurial spirit. Operating at a brisk pace, we maintain a demanding yet adaptable and enjoyable work environment. At TAG, we’re committed not only to professional excellence but also to the growth of our firm. We dedicate ourselves to mentoring and leading our staff, recognizing the importance of nurturing talent as part of our journey to continued success.

The Vice President will report to the Chair of the Defense and National Security Practice, Christopher Johnstone, and be supervised by Principal Luke Collin based in Washington, D.C. The Vice President will work in Tokyo under management of Japan Managing Director Tokuko Shironitta. The Vice President will play a key role in all aspects of the firm’s work with defense clients, including client management, development, and strategy execution in Japan. Responsibilities include crafting and leading market access and expansion campaigns, enhancing political brand equity, and offering policy-driven solutions that enables TAG’s defense clients to mitigate risks and seize new opportunities in Japan and across the Indo-Pacific region.

The ideal candidate will bring recent mid-level professional experience in the Japanese government or industry—preferably the Ministry of Defense or defense-related industry. The candidate must possess a strong grasp of Japan’s political, security, regulatory, and geostrategic landscapes, as well as the ability to convert these insights into actionable strategies and recommendations for international commercial clients in the defense sector. Priority will be given to those applicants with demonstrated defense experience and team management, client and project management, and business development skills with native-level Japanese language proficiency.  Strong English language skills are preferred.

Responsibilities Include :

• Support the Washington, D.C.-based Defense and National Security Practice in developing engagement strategies to support defense clients’ business objectives in Japan;
• Lead planning and implementation of defense client engagements and activities in Japan, including senior level visits;
• Support TAG’s business development objectives for the defense sector by identifying potential targets, conducting outreach, and developing proposals;
• Develop regular, nuanced assessments of relevant political, security, economic, and regulatory trends in Japan that impact the client interests;
• Cultivate and maintain a robust network of stakeholder relationships in Japan and across the Indo-Pacific; and
• Contribute to thought leadership activities, representing TAG at conferences, think tank events and other industry-government gatherings.

Job Requirements

Required Experience and Qualifications :

Candidates must be eligible to work in Japan . Employees will work in an in-person environment. TAG provides competitive health benefits and paid time off, with training opportunities available for its employees.

All interested candidates should submit a cover letter, resume, a two-page analytical writing sample and a list of references (references will not be contacted without applicant permission) via the application portal on our website.

Due to the volume of applications received, responses from our recruiting team may be delayed. No phone calls or emails, please.