Guides to the Nordic pavilion, “The Nordic Circle” at EXPO 2025 Osaka

The World Expositions, or Expo, is a main venue for showcasing achievements of nations globally and a platform to share ideas for a better future. The next World Expo will be held 2025 in Osaka, Japan, and will host a Joint Nordic Pavilion.
Background
Expo 2025 in Osaka will gather 160+ countries under the theme "Designing Future Society for Our Lives." It aims to showcase innovative solutions, promote international cooperation, and inspire sustainable and inclusive future conversations. An estimated 28 million visitors are expected.
The Nordic Pavilion, “The Nordic Circle”, is a collaboration between Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden, showcasing the region's culture, innovation, and sustainability on the global stage. Together, these countries represent a powerhouse of creativity and forward-thinking solutions, making the Nordic Pavilion a must-visit destination at EXPO 2025 Osaka.
The overall purpose for the Nordics participation at Expo 2025 Osaka is to drive environmental and sociable transformations, increase Nordic-internal collaboration, with focus on Japan and Japanese companies, as well as to position the Nordics as front-of-mind business partner in environmentally and socially sustainable transformations for a better global future.
Business Sweden is given the responsibility to lead the joint Nordic presence at Expo 2025 Osaka in coordination with the other Nordic countries and together with Nordic partner companies to ensure successful participation.
The Nordic pavilion

Built by Rimond Architects, the Nordic Pavilion is a 1,200 m2, 17 m high wooden structure that illustrates a timeless and sustainable mindset. The pavilion houses a joint Nordic exhibition, a shop and a roof terrace with a restaurant that will be open to the public approximately twelve hours a day.
The second floor of the pavilion hosts the conference section, where participating companies and organizations can book and organize their own events, as well as the roof top terrace and restaurant open to the public.
About the position

The Nordic pavilion is recruiting guides who will contribute to create an enjoyable and pleasant experience for all visitors (both public, business and high level) to the pavilion during the 184 days of EXPO. The guides will act as “ambassadors” for the Nordic Pavilion and professionally represent the Nordics and the Nordic Circle towards the visitors.
The assignment as Pavilion guide includes working in shifts and rotate between work-areas e.g. the Exhibition, the front yard and the Conference section.
Responsibilities include greeting visitors, facilitating queues and people flow, guiding through the exhibition, and assisting visitors with special needs. In the conference section, guides will handle arrangements and events, prepare premises, welcome guests, and support during events.
The pavilion guide should be hospitable, friendly, outgoing, stress-tolerant, and service-minded. with strong communication and collaborative skills. Experience from living (studying and/or working) in one of the Nordic countries is an advantage. Proficiency in English and a Nordic or Japanese language is mandatory, other languages e.g. Korean and Chinese are a plus.

SKILLS & REQUIREMENTS
Core competencies and collaborative skills:

- Demonstrate commitment, honesty, and accountability in tasks.
- Collaborate effectively to achieve good results with a positive can-do attitude.
- Contribute to team spirit and transparent communication with the ability to support and help out when needed.
- A problem solver who easily adapts to new ways of working.
- Good communication skills, hospitable, self-confident and interested in people

Formal requirements

- Academic degree, minimum age 20 years.
- Preferably experience from living/studying/working in one of the Nordic countries or working for a Nordic organization.
- Preferably experience from hospitality sector and/or events in an international environment.
- Service-minded and able to professionally represent the Nordics towards all visitors in the Nordic pavilion, both public, business and high level.
- Proactive, and used to take own initiatives to deliver quickly.
- Proficiency in English and at least one Nordic language and/or Japanese. Other languages, e.g. Korean or Chinese are a plus.
- Advantageous to have a work permit for Japan and live in Osaka/Kansai.

Contract Period

- Temporary employment at the Nordic Pavilion at Expo 2025 in Osaka, from 15 March to 15 October 2025 (Exact dates to be decided between the Candidate and the Joint Nordic PMO).
- Training in March in Osaka.
- Salary level according to agreement.

Employment and Application
The employment will be handled via a Japanese HR Agency.

Welcome to submit your interest, your CV and cover letter in English, as soon as possible (but no later than December 6). Application screening on a rolling basis and handled confidentially.

GREAT PLACE TO WORK

Global exchanges and career opportunities

Exclusive focus on our client’s growth agenda

Extensive responsibility

Diversified teams with world class colleagues

Training academy for continuous development

Entrepreneurial environment

ABOUT THE COMPANY
Diversity powering global growth
At Business Sweden we value and encourage applications from candidates with diverse backgrounds and perspectives. We strive for a workplace where all colleagues can explore their full potential and contribute with their unique experiences. By embracing a wide range perspective, we can better drive sustainable growth and customer-centric excellence.
About Business Sweden
Business Sweden helps Swedish companies grow global sales and international companies invest and expand in Sweden. With a unique mandate from the Swedish government and the business sector, we offer strategic advice and practical support in more than 40 markets worldwide.
Our mission is to help lay the foundation for sustainable, inclusive, and digital growth – in Sweden and around the world. We do this by providing startups, small- and medium sized companies and multinationals with tailored services, coupled with access to key stakeholders in the public and private spheres.
We help our clients build relationships, accelerate time-to-market, and comply with local standards and regulations. Visit business-sweden.com for more information.

OUR VALUES
Our high performance culture rests on that all our employees live our core values. We will never have guidelines for every situation we will meet, but if all of us are guided by a strong sense of our values, we will always navigate in the right direction.
RESPONSIBILITY
This is the foundation of our culture. Taking responsibility is a way to show commitment to our work. We take ownership of the relationships with our clients and stay true to our word.
COLLABORATION
Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much. Collaboration knows no geographical borders. At Business Sweden, we act as one global team to create the best possible value for our clients.
IMPACT
By monitoring the world around us and identifying possibilities , we make a difference by helping companies to seize new, sustainable business opportunities. We create impact both for our clients and for Sweden.